---
title: "External Quality Control Testing (for Cellular and Molecular Therapies)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06b1bc"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06b1bc"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b1bc.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b1bc.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT"
published: "2026-06-10"
---

# External Quality Control Testing (for Cellular and Molecular Therapies)

Buyer: NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06b1bc

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## Summary

NHS Blood and Transplant, located in Bristol, UK, is in the planning stage of a procurement process for "External Quality Control Testing (for Cellular and Molecular Therapies)." This initiative aims to support the Clinical Biotechnology Centre with services relevant to Advanced Therapeutic Investigational Medicinal Products and biotechnology. Suppliers are invited to express interest by 5pm on 10th July 2026 via email to participate in an early market engagement exercise scheduled during the week of 3rd August 2026. The procurement focuses on various quality control testing capabilities, potentially including mycoplasma and mammalian cell bank testing among others. The process might launch formally in the future, with a high-value contract of approximately GBP 2,000,000 and services expected to commence from 1st January 2027, lasting until the end of 2030, with possible extensions up to 2032. This procurement falls within the services industry category and targets the UKK11 region.

This tender offers a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in high-standard regulatory and quality testing services, including those capable of providing validated assays and quality documentation under GMP and GLP standards. Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with expertise in system quality assurance and review services are particularly well-suited to engage, as the procurement indicates suitability for such organisations. By engaging in this market engagement exercise, companies can shape the requirements and potentially secure a long-term partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant, fostering growth and increased visibility in the healthcare and biotechnology sectors. The procurement process encourages proactive collaboration and innovation, presenting a strategic avenue for businesses aiming to expand their operations in advanced medicinal product testing.

## Notice

NHS Blood and Transplant is seeking to engage with the market in relation to the provision of external Quality Control testing services to support the Clinical Biotechnology Centre in the development and production of Advanced Therapeutic Investigational Medicinal Products, biotechnology products and biological products. The requirement is expected to include specialist QC testing services for in-process, final product and cell bank testing, with testing capabilities potentially including mycoplasma testing, bacterial cell bank testing, mammalian cell bank testing, specialised viral safety testing, viral clearance studies, sterility testing and cell-based sterility testing. The precise testing requirements may vary by project and NHSBT may require the ability to add or remove tests during the contract term. Suppliers would be expected to operate under appropriate regulatory and quality standards, including GMP and, where applicable, GLP, and to provide validated assays, appropriate quality documentation, Certificates of Analysis, comprehensive reports, support for quality technical agreements, audit access and out of specification investigations.

### Planning Information

Interested suppliers are asked to express their interest to rowena.thomas@nhsbt.nhs.uk by 5pm on Friday, 10th July 2026. Suppliers expressing an interest will be invited to attend an early market engagement exercise supplier meeting during the week of the 3rd August 2026 (note: date subject to change). Prior to this session, interested suppliers will be provided with a draft specification of requirements and short questionnaire related to requirements.
There is no guarantee that a formal procurement process will be launched as a result of this early market engagement exercise, nor that any contract(s) will be placed. No remuneration or compensation etc will be paid to organisations who take part in this early market engagement exercise. Suppliers should take part in this process only on the basis that they fully understand and accept this position.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054707-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 10 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,600,000 |
| 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 | TLK11 Bristol, City of |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 72225000 - System quality assurance assessment and review services

## Release History

- 10 Jun 2026 at 11:36 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054707-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054707-2026
  10th June 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-06b1bc. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b1bc.json.