--- title: "Histopathology Archive Storage Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-07830c" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07830c" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07830c.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07830c.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "Aneurin Bevan University Health Board" published: "2026-10-07" --- # Histopathology Archive Storage Services Buyer: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-07830c [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07830c) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07830c.json) ## Summary Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is assessing a potential service for secure off-site storage and retrieval of histopathology archives. The anticipated work covers storing and managing paraffin wax blocks and histopathology slides; retrieving and transporting materials; tracking archives and maintaining chain of custody; migrating archives and mobilising the service; and providing reporting and contract management. NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership is managing the procurement planning for the Health Board. Delivery is expected to cover Newport and Cardiff. Other NHS Wales organisations may join the requirement, subject to discussions. The service is intended to safeguard and manage clinical pathology materials while enabling their retrieval when required. This is at planning stage: the buyer has announced an intention to procure, but has not invited tenders. The expected route is an open procedure, and preliminary market engagement is planned to help shape the procurement strategy, specification and assessment of market capability and capacity. The estimated value is £300,000 excluding VAT (£360,000 including VAT), and may be refined after engagement. One lot is planned and is marked suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises. The buyer currently anticipates an initial five-year contract from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032, with options to extend for up to a further five years, potentially to 31 March 2037. These arrangements remain subject to planning and stakeholder engagement. The work is suited to providers able to deliver secure, off-site storage and controlled retrieval of sensitive histopathology archives. Relevant operational strengths include managing paraffin blocks and slides, reliable archive tracking and chain-of-custody processes, safe transport, archive migration and mobilisation, and ongoing reporting and contract management. Suppliers should be able to demonstrate the capacity to maintain secure storage while responding to retrieval requirements across the expected service area. The single planned lot is identified as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises, so the requirement is not presented as restricted to large suppliers. Preliminary market engagement is intended to test supplier capability and capacity and inform the eventual specification; businesses with experience in pathology archive storage and retrieval are well placed to contribute to that planning. ## Notice NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) is giving advance notice of a potential future procurement for the provision of off-site Histopathology Archive Storage and Retrieval Services. The requirement is currently being assessed on behalf of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, with discussions ongoing to determine whether additional NHS Wales organisations may participate in the future requirement. The anticipated scope may include: Secure off-site storage of histopathology archive materials; Storage and management of paraffin wax blocks and histopathology slides; Retrieval and transportation services; Archive tracking and chain-of-custody management; Archive migration and mobilisation services; and Associated reporting and contract management arrangements. NWSSP intends to undertake Preliminary Market Engagement to inform the procurement strategy, specification development and assessment of market capability and capacity. The estimated value is indicative and based on the currently anticipated scope. The final contract value and participating organisations may be refined following stakeholder engagement and Preliminary Market Engagement activities. This notice is for information purposes only and does not constitute a call for competition. ### Lot Information Lot 1 Renewal: The proposed contract term is indicative only and remains subject to further stakeholder engagement and procurement planning. It is currently anticipated that the contract may be awarded for an initial period of five years, with options to extend for up to a further five years. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094882-2026 | | Notice type | UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 7 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 17 Nov 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2032 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £300,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | | Locality | CAERLEON, NEWPORT, | | Postcode area | Newport | | Postcode | NP18 3XQ | | Country | Wales | | ITL 1 | TLL Wales | | ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales | | ITL 3 | TLL54 Monmouthshire and Newport | | Local authority | Newport | | Electoral ward | Caerleon | | Westminster constituency | Newport East | | Delivery location | TLL16 Gwent Valleys, TLL21 Monmouthshire and Newport | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85111800 - Pathology services ## Release History - 7 Oct 2026 at 15:40 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094882-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094882-2026 7th October 2026 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://nwssp.nhs.wales/ourservices/procurement-services/ - 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-07830c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07830c.json.