---
title: "Maintenance of Chemagic Star / Starlet Machines"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078ca5"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078ca5"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078ca5.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078ca5.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Cardiff and Vale University Health Board"
published: "2026-10-21"
---

# Maintenance of Chemagic Star / Starlet Machines

Buyer: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078ca5

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078ca5)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078ca5.json)

## Summary

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board commissioned maintenance, servicing and verification of its Chemagic STAR and STARlet robotic laboratory systems, including platforms used in genomic testing pathways. The equipment automates liquid handling, nucleic acid extraction and preparation for sequencing, helping laboratories process patient samples with less manual handling and supporting accuracy and turnaround times. The requirement covers the specialist Hamilton systems used in those pathways, rather than general laboratory equipment maintenance. The work is for the Health Board’s equipment in Cardiff and Vale, in Wales. It is a laboratory equipment maintenance and repair service, classified under CPV 50000000.

The procurement is complete and was awarded by direct award to Hamilton Sales & Service. The stated reason was that Hamilton is the original manufacturer and sole authorised maintenance provider for the Chemagic STAR, STARlet and NGS STAR platforms; the Health Board said no alternative could provide the required manufacturer-certified maintenance and support. The award date was not recorded. The award value is £454,227.19 excluding VAT (£545,072.59 including VAT). The contract period runs from 18 December 2026 to 31 December 2029. There is one lot, covering maintenance of the Chemagic STAR and STARlet machines. The procurement used a single-supplier technical-reasons justification; the stated evaluation basis was the supplier’s ability to meet the required manufacturer standard and mitigate operational, compliance and patient-safety risks.

For suppliers tracking this buyer’s laboratory maintenance demand, the award shows that manufacturer-authorised support is decisive for these Chemagic systems. A credible competitor for a future requirement of this kind would need demonstrable authority and technical capability to maintain, service, calibrate and verify the STAR, STARlet and NGS STAR platforms, alongside software support, validation and access to replacement parts. It would also need to evidence work to the original manufacturer’s standards and show how it would protect laboratory operation, compliance and patient safety. The work sits within genomic testing pathways, so relevant understanding of automated liquid handling, nucleic acid extraction and sequencing preparation would be important. The award went to the manufacturer’s service provider after a market assessment found no alternative capable of meeting those requirements.

## Notice

Maintenance, servicing and verification of specialised Hamilton robotic laboratory systems (AWGMS). The equipment forms a critical part of genomic testing pathways, automating liquid handling, nucleic acid extraction and sequencing preparation processes. These systems improve throughput, reduce manual handling, improve testing accuracy and support reduced turnaround times for patient samples.

### Procurement Information

Hamilton are the original manufacturer and sole authorised maintenance provider for the Chemagic STAR, STARlet and NGS STAR platforms. Market assessment and stakeholder engagement confirmed that no alternative provider can deliver the required OEM-certified maintenance, calibration, software support, validation services and replacement parts. Maintaining manufacturer support is essential to mitigate operational, compliance and patient safety risks. Market analysis undertaken prior to renewal confirmed that Hamilton remains the only supplier capable of delivering services to the required manufacturer standard.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099384-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 18 Dec 2026 - 31 Dec 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £454,227 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Cardiff and Vale University Health Board |
| Locality | CARDIFF |
| Postcode area | Cardiff |
| Postcode | CF14 4HH |
| Country | Wales |
| ITL 1 | TLL Wales |
| ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales |
| ITL 3 | TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan |
| Local authority | Cardiff |
| Electoral ward | Heath |
| Westminster constituency | Cardiff North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Hamilton Sales and Service UK Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 50 - Repair and maintenance services

### Codes

- 50000000 - Repair and maintenance services

## Release History

- 21 Oct 2026 at 11:50 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099384-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099384-2026
  21st October 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- 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-078ca5. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078ca5.json.