---
title: "Provision of HTLV Pathology Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-07870c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07870c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07870c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07870c.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust"
published: "2026-10-14"
---

# Provision of HTLV Pathology Services

Buyer: Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-07870c

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## Summary

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust commissioned specialist HTLV pathology services to support diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of HTLV infection and associated disease. The service includes assays to detect, type and quantify infection, assess risk of HTLV-1-associated disease, identify early disease and monitor treatment responses. This helps inform disease management and clinical follow-up, including the frequency of clinic visits. The work is delivered in London for the Trust’s HTLV patient service. The requirement is for specialist diagnostic laboratory testing and associated clinical interpretation, rather than general pathology provision. The selected provider is the Molecular Diagnostic Unit at Imperial College London, whose assays were developed for the National Centre for Human Retrovirology.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to the Molecular Diagnostic Unit, Imperial College London. The award was made on 24 September 2026, with the contract running from 5 October 2026 to 4 October 2028. Its value is £376,268. This was a direct award under Provider Selection Regime Direct Award Process A, without a prior competition. The Trust’s stated rationale was that the Molecular Diagnostic Unit is the only capable provider for the full requirement: the proviral quantification assay is available only there in the UK, and the clonality assay only there worldwide. The award basis identified no alternative supplier; price had no weighting. The contract is recorded as active. The procurement was for one lot.

For a supplier seeking to compete for comparable HTLV pathology work, credibility depends on specialist assay capability rather than broad laboratory capacity alone. The buyer relied on bespoke assays developed and validated for the National Centre for Human Retrovirology, including proviral load quantification and HTLV clonality testing. Relevant strengths include validated methods, UKAS-accredited laboratory provision, the ability to store viable samples so later testing can be performed, and expert interpretation with clinical support integrated into patient care. Experience supporting HTLV-associated disease risk assessment, early detection and treatment monitoring would also be central. The award shows that continuity with the existing assays and provider partnership was decisive: the buyer judged there to be no realistic alternative for the complete service, rather than choosing on price.

## Notice

The HTLV pathology service will support the diagnosis, prognosis and
monitoring of:

* HTLV infection with the provision of assays to detect, type and
quantify HTLV infection, and
* HTLV associated diseases particularly detection of high risk for or
early disease and the monitoring of interventions to inform disease
management.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The HTLV pathology service will support the diagnosis, prognosis and
monitoring of:

* HTLV infection with the provision of assays to detect, type and
quantify HTLV infection, and
* HTLV associated diseases particularly detection of high risk for or
early disease and the monitoring of interventions to inform disease
management.
An award has been made under PSR direct award process A.
Total contract value of PS376,268.00 between 05/10/26-04/10/28.

### Procurement Information

The Molecular Diagnostic Unit (MDU) at Imperial College London 
is the only capable provider. 
The MDU provides NCHR with bespoke diagnostic assays that 
have been developed and validated for NCHR by the Section of 
Virology for patient benefit. These assays are essential for the 
assessment of HTLV-1-associated disease risk and are used to 
determine the frequency of clinic visits, (optimizing the use of 
clinical services), detect and allow early treatment of HTLV-1
associated disease and monitor treatment responses. 
Continued provision of these assays by the MDU is justified on 
the following grounds: 
* The assays were developed by the MDU as part of the 
HTLV National Service provision. 
* The assays are either only available in the UK at the 
MDU (HTLV proviral quantification) or are only available 
in the World at the MDU (HTLV Clonality Assay). 
* The assays would not have been developed without the 
partnership between ICHNT/ICL. 
* Samples sent for proviral load quantification are stored 
viably to allow access to cells for the HTLV clonality 
Assay later (once the proviral load is known). 
* The MDU is uniquely placed to provide interpretation and 
clinical support. 
* All patients in England receive the same standard of care, which 
is world leading. The Direct Award Process A justification is 
based on the provider's specialist HTLV assay capability, 
validated methodology, continuity of stored viable samples, 
UKAS-accredited laboratory provision, and clinical integration 
with the National Centre for Human Retrovirology. (Supporting 
evidence available and retained to demonstrate that there is no 
realistic alternative provider for the full requirement)

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096784-2026 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 14 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £376,268 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | West London |
| Postcode | W2 1NY |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | Hyde Park |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | TLI London |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Molecular Diagnostic Unit, Imperial College London |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85111800 - Pathology services

## Release History

- 14 Oct 2026 at 09:06 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096784-2026

## Notice URLs

- https://www.england.nhs.uk/
- https://www.imperial.nhs.uk

## Provenance

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