---
title: "Human Research Tissue Bank System Integration"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-069be8"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-069be8"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069be8.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069be8.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST"
published: "2026-05-19"
---

# Human Research Tissue Bank System Integration

Buyer: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-069be8

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## Summary

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is currently in the planning stage for a procurement project titled "Human Research Tissue Bank System Integration." This initiative aims to develop an integrated solution for managing human tissue for research at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The procurement falls under the goods category, specifically in medical software packages, and is located in the United Kingdom. Interested parties should initially contact Mr Colin Carr, Project Manager, by 5th June 2026, with the project scheduled to commence on 1st October 2026 and conclude by 31st March 2029. This opportunity is above the financial threshold and utilises a tender procurement method.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specializing in medical software development and system integration, especially those experienced in healthcare and research environments. Companies offering secure, interoperable, and user-friendly solutions that comply with legal frameworks such as the Human Tissue Act 2004 would be well-suited to compete. The project seeks a partner to implement a state-of-the-art solution, potentially enriching business portfolios with advanced technological offerings and fostering collaborations with a notable NHS Foundation Trust. SMEs specifically are encouraged to participate, with the procurement process designed to support their involvement.

## Notice

Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) is seeking a development partner to scope, design and deliver an integrated solution for the collection, storage, use and release of human tissue for research. The state-of-the-art solution must be fully compliant with the legal framework of the Human Tissue Act 2004 and ensure that there is transparent and real-time auditable, tracking and ethical use of all human tissue samples, irrespective of their source, across the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The solution will also support ISO accreditation (ISO 20387 for biobanking and ISO 15189 for diagnostic laboratories) Central to the new system for tissue originating on the Campus, will be the use of the Epic electronic patient record at CUH. Streamlined and efficient interoperability between Epic and existing data systems - for example the Achiever Database used by research teams across the campus and the Edge Research Management system is essential. Human tissue sent from external organisations must also be tracked once it arrives on the Campus. User-centric interfaces and back-end services driven by secure AI-based processes will be central to the delivery of rich functionality which would include new case identification, timely specimen collection, real time data updates on specimens and linked data and continuous audit to detect potential statutory breaches. The collection, storage and release of tissue samples is the responsibility of the Human Research Tissue Bank (HRTB) in the Histopathology Department at 1000 Discovery Drive. Duplicate between-system data entry must be avoided. Full integration with the working processes in the Histopathology Department is required, including the Inpeco automated tissue management system and the Phillips Image Management System. The Histopathology Department uses the Epic Beaker Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) linked to the Epic electronic patient record. At its core the new system must be designed to support the day-to day work of all the HRTB staff and the statutory responsibilities of the Designated Individual for the Human Tissue Authority. The solution must support current and future consent models, including structured capture of research tissue consent status, consent versioning, selective permissions where approved, withdrawal/revocation, and auditable linkage of consent status to tissue requests and release decisions. The system must be designed so that future broad front-door research consent, wider data linkage and patient-facing transparency can be supported, and provide consenting participants with access (potentially through the NHS app or the Epic MyChart app) to a secure timely audit of how their tissue and data has been used. The tissue and linked data collected through this proposed system will be made available to approved academic and commercial researchers in the UK and abroad. All such access must ensure patient anonymity and confidentiality. The developed system must provide a detailed and easy to use search facility through which potential samples can be identified and requested. The system should allow users to request specific samples be collected and selected tissue cohorts to be supplemented. In line with Trust policy, human tissue will never be sold for profit. For the system to be sustainable, however, a full cost-recovery for tissue samples and data services will be applied where appropriate. The development partner in collaboration with commercial teams at CUH will review and evaluate existing and potential cost models which, once agreed, will require implementation.

### Planning Information

Company's interested in this project are in the first instance invited to contact Mr Colin Carr - Project Manager, Human Research Tissue Bank (colin.carr@nhs.net) no later than Friday 5th June 2026 to further discuss project scope, system solutions and potential future involvement in the procurement process.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045749-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 19 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 3 Aug 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 30 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,500,000 |
| 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 | CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST |
| Locality | CAMBRIDGE |
| Post town | Cambridge |
| Postcode | CB2 0QQ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| ITL 3 | TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC |
| Local authority | Cambridge |
| Electoral ward | Queen Edith's |
| Westminster constituency | South Cambridgeshire |
| Delivery location | TLH12 Cambridgeshire CC |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems

### Codes

- 48180000 - Medical software package

## Release History

- 19 May 2026 at 12:57 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045749-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045749-2026
  19th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

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

## 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-069be8. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069be8.json.