---
title: "Request for Information - Lyophilisation Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06c000"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06c000"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c000.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c000.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE ACTING AS PART OF THE CROWN THROUGH UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY"
published: "2026-06-30"
---

# Request for Information - Lyophilisation Services

Buyer: SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE ACTING AS PART OF THE CROWN THROUGH UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06c000

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06c000)  
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## Summary

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has initiated a planning phase for a public procurement process concerning Lyophilisation Services. This process is designed to enhance the agency’s understanding of supplier capabilities and market conditions for the provision of freeze-drying services necessary for pandemic preparedness. The procurement, categorised under pathology services, will take place in the UK, with a particular focus on the London area. Currently at the planning stage, a Request for Information (RFI) has been issued, with a response deadline set for 14th July 2026. This effort is a part of UKHSA’s strategic objectives to improve public health resilience against infectious diseases and other health threats.

This tender process presents significant business opportunities, particularly for suppliers specialising in freeze-drying and pathology services who can handle and optimise lyophilisation protocols for viral and bacterial materials. Businesses equipped with ISO 9001 quality systems and capable of conducting thorough quality control testing would be ideally positioned to respond. The contract aims to lyophilise up to 20 pathogens over the next four years, involving small batch sizes which can provide continuous engagement with UKHSA. This initiative not only offers potential revenue streams but also establishes valuable working relationships with a central government authority, fostering growth and enhancing industry reputation for innovative service providers.

## Notice

The purpose of this document is to enhance the Authority's understanding of the marketplace and its options for sourcing for a potential future requirement. The issuance of this request for information (RFI) does not constitute a sourcing exercise nor will the Authority pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a response to this RFI. The UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) key objectives for this RFI are: understand the ability of the marketplace to fulfil its requirements; refine the scope of the requirements to best align to the marketplace; and inform the Authority's chosen route to market to best enable competition The key dates for this RFI are as follows: RFI Published: 30th June 2026 RFI Response: 14th July 2026 Should you have any questions or queries relating to this RFI, please use the Atamis portal's messaging centre to direct your questions to us for a response. If a response is not received by the RFI response deadline this will have no impact on your ability to tender for the opportunity in the future. UKHSA will not enter into contracts on the basis of replies to this RFI. Description of Scope of Requirements: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for protecting every member of every community from the impact of infectious diseases, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents and other health threats. We provide intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage, to make the nation's health secure. Background: UKHSA is seeking to engage with the market to better understand supplier capability for the provision of lyophilisation (freeze-drying) services for X-ray irradiated pathogens to provide greater resilience and flexibility across use cases as part of UKHSA's Pandemic Preparedness strategy. UKHSA requires support in developing optimal formulations and lyophilisation processes to ensure that irradiated, inactivated pathogens can be safely stored, handled, and distributed for diagnostic use and pandemic preparedness. Lyophilisation is required to enhance the long-term stability and usability of these materials, supporting strategic resilience and response capabilities. Requirements: We need the supplier to have: * Ability to handle irradiated, inactive viral and bacterial material in liquid medium * Ability to develop and optimise lyophilisation protocols including assessment of different stabilisation matrices * Appropriate quality system in place (at least ISO 9001) to ensure consistency and traceability * Provide product quality control (QC) testing of final product, including thermal stability and absence of contaminants. * Overall aim is to lyophilise up to 20 pathogens over the next 4 years o Estimated vial volume for lyophilisation is 0.3mL - 2mL o Estimated batch size for lyophilisation is 6 - 100mL o Estimated number of batches per year is 5 Should you wish to respond to this Request for Information, please complete the response questionnaire which is found at the following link: https://atamis-1928--prospend.vf.force.com/apex/CS_ContractPage?filters=&page=1&Preview=Yes&searchStr=&SearchType=Projects&sortStr=Alphabetical&uid=a07Pz00001jEyqdIAC&sfdcIFrameOrigin=https%3A%2F%2Fatamis-1928.lightning.force.com

### Planning Information

Request for Information

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061185-2026 |
| 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, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 14 Jul 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1 |
| 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 | SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE ACTING AS PART OF THE CROWN THROUGH UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | East London |
| Postcode | E14 4PU |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI42 Tower Hamlets |
| Local authority | Tower Hamlets |
| Electoral ward | Canary Wharf |
| Westminster constituency | Poplar and Limehouse |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85111800 - Pathology services

## Release History

- 30 Jun 2026 at 11:12 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061185-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061185-2026
  30th June 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://atamis-1928--prospend.vf.force.com/apex/CS_ContractPage?filters=&page=1&Preview=Yes&searchStr=&SearchType=Projects&sortStr=Alphabetical&uid=a07Pz00001jEyqdIAC&sfdcIFrameOrigin=https%3A%2F%2Fatamis-1928.lightning.force.com
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency
- 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-06c000. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c000.json.