---
title: "Microbiology Services Managed Service Contract"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000845266"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000845266"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845266.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845266.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "Lothian Health Board"
published: "2026-10-09"
---

# Microbiology Services Managed Service Contract

Buyer: Lothian Health Board  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000845266

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## Summary

Lothian Health Board is procuring an integrated microbiology laboratory managed service for diagnostic testing at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The service is intended to cover most of the laboratory’s test repertoire and includes service management, integrated IT and firmware, major analysers, reagents and consumables. Core services include MALDI-ToF and advanced digital automation. The supplier will provide, implement, calibrate, commission and maintain the equipment and supply the consumables needed to run the service. Conventional microbiology and antimicrobial susceptibility testing are optional services that the Board may instruct under the contract. The requirement is for a single managed-service provider, which will be responsible for any subcontracting or collaborative arrangements needed to deliver the full service.

The buyer invited offers through an open procedure. The tender was amended: the submission deadline was set as 11 December 2026 at 12:00 UTC, with bids submitted electronically and in English. The stated award-period start is also 11 December 2026 at 12:00 UTC. The contract is planned for 3,600 days, with an option to extend by up to 24 months. Its estimated value is £3 million. There is one lot, and the buyer intends to appoint one provider. Evaluation is weighted 80% technical quality and 20% price; variants are not allowed. Applicants may be excluded under the specified Scottish public-contract regulations. The submission requirements also include a bid validity period of 300 days.

This opportunity is suited to suppliers able to deliver a complete, technology-led microbiology laboratory service rather than equipment alone. Relevant strengths include experience operating managed laboratory services of comparable size, value and complexity, and the ability to integrate diagnostic analysers, digital automation, IT and laboratory consumables into a reliable service. The contractor must be able to install, calibrate, commission and maintain equipment, manage quality and performance measures, and provide sufficient service engineers, technical support, IT staff and contract managers. Suppliers should be able to demonstrate effective supply-chain management, stock and supply tracking, logistics and coordination with third parties. Financial capacity is a material requirement: applicants must evidence the specified turnover levels and financial ratios, and hold or commit to the required professional indemnity, employer, public and product liability insurance. Relevant professional or trade-register enrolment may also be required.

## Notice

NHS Lothian seeks next-generation automated laboratory solution delivered on a managed services basis for diagnostic and laboratory services at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The scope of the contract is an integrated Microbiology laboratory managed Services contract ("MSC") providing service management to meet all regulatory requirements, integrated IT firmware, major analysers, reagents and consumables to deliver the majority of the test repertoire.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

NHS Lothian seeks the provision of integrated Microbiology laboratory managed services to deliver the Core Services, including integrated MALDI ToF and advanced digital automation, for laboratory located at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The scope of the MSC will include the provision of optional Conventional Microbiology laboratory and antimicrobial susceptibility testing services. The procurement documents will detail the basis on which these optional services may be instructed by NHS Lothian. The successful economic operator will be responsible for the provision, implementation, calibration, commissioning and maintenance of all equipment necessary to deliver the MSC and for provision of all consumables used in connection therewith. It is intended an award will be made to one successful economic operator who will assume full responsibility for provision of all the managed services to NHS Lothian. The successful economic operator shall be solely responsible for effecting any sub-contracting or collaborative arrangements required with other suppliers to allow the successful economic operator to meet this commitment.. Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Options: The procurement documents shall detail the optional laboratory testing services which NHS Lothian shall be entitled to instruct over the term of the MSC and detail the basis upon which these services may be purchased by NHS Lothian.

Renewal: Extension of the term of the contract up to a maximum of 24 months will be at the discretion of NHS Lothian.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566347 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F14 - Corrigendum |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 23 Oct 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

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

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Lothian Health Board |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Postcode area | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH8 8BG |
| 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 |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71900000 - Laboratory services

## Release History

- 9 Oct 2026 at 01:00 - TenderUpdate - OJEU - F14 - Corrigendum - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566347
- 8 Oct 2026 at 01:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566300

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566300
  Microbiology Services Managed Service Contract - NHS Lothian seeks next-generation automated laboratory solution delivered on a managed services basis for diagnostic and laboratory services at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The scope of the contract is an integrated Microbiology laboratory managed Services contract ("MSC") providing service management to meet all regulatory requirements, integrated IT firmware, major analysers, reagents and consumables to deliver the majority of the test repertoire.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse40.pdf
- http://www.nhslothian.scot
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000845266
- https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html

## 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-r6ebe6-0000845266. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845266.json.