---
title: "Core Molecular Testing"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000826921"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000826921"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000826921.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000826921.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "LOTHIAN HEALTH BOARD"
published: "2026-04-13"
---

# Core Molecular Testing

Buyer: LOTHIAN HEALTH BOARD  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000826921

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## Summary

The procurement process for "Core Molecular Testing" was conducted by Lothian Health Board, commonly known as NHS Lothian, located in Edinburgh, UK (region UKM75). This procurement falls under the 'Health' industry category and has progressed through to the Award stage as of 13th April 2026. This contract was awarded without the prior publication of a competition call, under a limited procurement method, due to the critical timelines involved with the National Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) programme. The 3-year contract, valued at £3,000,000, was signed on 9th April 2026 with Abbott Laboratories Ltd, covering core molecular testing services essential for continuing healthcare operations at NHS Lothian.

This tender represents a direct award within the Clinical Managed Services Lot 1 framework. The opportunity offers significant business growth potential for enterprises skilled in health services, specialised laboratory testing, and managed service solutions. Companies with large operational scales, like Abbott Laboratories Ltd, that can guarantee service efficacy and maintenance under time-sensitive conditions are particularly well-suited for such engagements. This process underscores the importance of minimal operational disruption and high standards of patient care during the transition and implementation of critical health information systems in large health boards.

## Notice

Provision of the Managed Laboratory Service for NHS Lothian for its core molecular testing requirement.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Lothian Health Board (more commonly known as NHS Lothian) requires a managed service solution for its core molecular testing capacity for a contract period of 3 years. The Supplier will assume responsibility for the guaranteed availability of the managed service solution through the provision and management including maintenance.

### Procurement Information

This contract is being awarded under the Direct Award procedure under Lot 1 - Clinical Managed Services of the SBS Framework for Clinical Managed Services including Managed Maintenance Services SBS10251. National Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) replacement program is currently being rolled out across the Boards in Scotland and NHS Lothian have been recently given a go live date which coincides with the expiry of the current Managed Service Contract (MSC) for molecular testing. LIMS implementation delay would have a knock-on effect on other Boards hence it is imperative NHS Lothian maintains the timeline. A potential change of supplier due to competition would introduce significant clinical risk at the operational and programme level in terms of potential dual interface builds/manual transcription, increased potential for misidentification or data integrity errors as well as diversion of essential specialist resource away from the LIMS programme at a time when stability is critical. Most importantly, a change of supplier would put a disproportionate risk to patient care. To reduce clinical risk during unavoidable LIMS implementation a direct award of core molecular testing MSC is recommended under Procurement Act 2023 Schedule 5 Paragraph 7: "(b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance."

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR553751 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency 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 | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 9 Apr 2026 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £3,000,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | LOTHIAN HEALTH BOARD |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH3 9DN |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | City Centre |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh East and Musselburgh |
| Delivery location | TLM75 City of Edinburgh |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ABBOTT LABORATORIES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71900000 - Laboratory services

## Release History

- 13 Apr 2026 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR553751

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR553751
  Core Molecular Testing - Provision of the Managed Laboratory Service for NHS Lothian for its core molecular testing requirement.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000826921
- https://www.nhslothian.scot/

## 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-r6ebe6-0000826921. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000826921.json.