---
title: "Sample Tube DeCappers"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-068daa"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-068daa"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068daa.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068daa.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT"
published: "2026-04-29"
---

# Sample Tube DeCappers

Buyer: NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-068daa

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## Summary

The NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is currently in the planning stage to procure automated sample tube decappers for their Testing laboratories located in Filton, Bristol, and Manchester. This procurement falls under the medical equipment category and aims to support their extensive testing services involving blood grouping and microbiological screening of donations. The procurement process has commenced with a preliminary market engagement notice published on 29th April 2026, and suppliers are required to provide initial information on their offerings by 15th May 2026. The overall contract is valued at up to £600,000 GBP, with the devices needing compliance with requisite CE and UKCA marking regulations. Future notices for the formal tender phase are anticipated by 1st July 2026.

This tender presents substantial business growth opportunities for companies specialising in medical equipment, particularly those with expertise in automated laboratory devices. The NHSBT’s requirement for high-capacity decapping machines capable of handling thousands of sample tubes per day indicates significant demand, potentially benefiting businesses that focus on efficiency in lab operations. Companies providing additional functionalities such as sample sorting and re-racking are likely to be well-positioned to compete. Key prospects for inclusion involve ensuring devices meet regulatory standards for In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices, promising a competitive edge for compliant suppliers looking to expand their footprint in the healthcare sector.

## Notice

Within NHSBT, the Testing function in the Blood Supply Directorate performs a wide range of testing services, these include but are not limited to the large-scale blood grouping and microbiological screening of blood and tissue donations. The Authority has two main laboratories in England, in which approximately 1.9 million blood donations are tested each year. The laboratories are located in Filton (Bristol) and Manchester. Manchester is also the site of a third laboratory, which tests all donations in England for HAV/B19. Each donation collected includes a minimum of 4 x 6mL sample tubes, taken into K2 EDTA tubes which have colour coded caps for identification purposes. The Authority requires automated decapping equipment at each of the Authority's three Testing laboratories. Decappers must have sufficient capacity to process the daily workload of each laboratory within the required timeframe and with a minimum decapping success rate of 95%. In Filton and Manchester main laboratories, tubes are tested in 3 parallel workstreams, and therefore it is necessary that 70% of all tubes would be decapped within 3 hours. Approximate workload of each site: * Filton Testing: approximately 10,500 sample tubes per day * Manchester Testing: approximately 4,500 sample tubes per day * Manchester HAV/B19: approximately 5000 sample tubes per day. Testing occurs in two waves and does not impact the desired criteria Additional functionality such as sample sorting, recapping and re-racking of tubes would be considered. The Supplier must confirm the In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices (as defined by the regulations indicated below) are fit for their intended purposes and are:* CE marked in compliance with either European Commission Directive 98/79/EC on In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices (IVDMD) or Regulation (EU) 2017/746, and/or;* Devices must be UKCA marked in compliance with UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002, as amended, from 1st July 2024. To register your interest in this opportunity, please contact jo.murphy@nhsbt.nhs.uk by Friday 15th May 2026.

### Planning Information

As part of engagement, it is proposed the supplier will complete an initial supplier questionnaire and provide information as to what they are able to offer NHSBT, providing details in context the NHSBT Testing labs.
There may also be an opportunity for NHSBT to receive a loan decapper to evaluate.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039018-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 29 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Jul 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2031 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £500,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT |
| Locality | BRISTOL |
| Post town | Bristol |
| Postcode | BS34 7QH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England |
| ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire |
| Local authority | South Gloucestershire |
| Electoral ward | Filton |
| Westminster constituency | Filton and Bradley Stoke |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

### Codes

- 33100000 - Medical equipments

## Release History

- 29 Apr 2026 at 09:38 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039018-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039018-2026
  29th April 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-068daa. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068daa.json.