✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 9 Oct 2026, 11:40.
Opportunity overview
The Trust has six (6) water plants and six (6) portable reverse osmosis units which are a mix of Veolia Water, Fresenius and B Braun / Vantive units.
The Trust requires the following water sample testing for each of the units described above:
- Micro biological testing for Total Bacterial Count/Total Viable Count, endotoxins, fungal/mould and yeast. Micro biological testing is to be undertaken monthly for each unit (144 samples tested per annum); and
- Chemistry sample testing which is to be undertaken quarterly for each unit (48 samples tested per annum). The Chemistry sample testing is to cover:
• Chlorine, total;
• Nitrate as N;
• Sulphate as SO4;
• Fluoride;
• Silver, total;
• Aluminium, total;
• Arsenic, total;
• Beryllium, total;
• Cadmium, total;
• Chromium; total
• Copper; total
• Potassium; total
• Magnesium; total
• Sodium; total
• Lead; total
• Thallium; total
• Zinc; total
• Calcium; total
• Mercury, total;
• Chloramine; and
• Renal Association Tables tolerance results.
The Trust will collect the water samples and send them to the organisation for testing. Subsequently the Trust will require the full results per unit of the tests carried out within one to two weeks following receipt of the water samples by the organisation.
The organisation must have a lab with UKAS accreditation for microbiology and chemistry to ISO/IEC 17025.
Interested organisations should contact Christopher Dickenson (Christopher.dickenson@nhs.net) introducing your organisation and your experience in carrying out the above activities for other NHS and or private health organisations in the UK.
Classification
CPV71700000 — Monitoring and control services
CPV71317200 — Health and safety services
CPV71600000 — Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services
Documents and notices
Early engagement notice on Contracts FinderOpen source ↗
Published notice details
Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.
Scope, procedure and submissions
Id
CF-3722800D0O000000rwimUAA
Status
planning
Main Procurement Category
services
Classification
Scheme
CPV
Id
71700000
Description
Monitoring and control services
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
71317200
Description
Health and safety services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
71600000
Description
Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services
Buyer location · Reading · RG1 5AN · United Kingdom
Delivery location · RG1 5AN
Delivery location · United Kingdom
Notice and amendment history
2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
2 VERSIONS
1
129a2759-5488-4023-ba31-7f23e3c13107-917205Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder ·
2
df122adc-e1b1-4fe5-80a8-dcbf1df3f0b6-917206Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Early-stage market engagement by Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust for laboratory testing of water samples from six water plants and six portable reverse osmosis units. Required testing includes monthly microbiological analysis (144 samples annually) and quarterly chemistry analysis (48 samples annually), with results required within one to two weeks of the laboratory receiving samples.
Who this may suit
Suitable for UK laboratories able to test dialysis-related water samples and holding UKAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 for both microbiology and chemistry.
Key points identified
Microbiological testing scopeMonthly testing for Total Bacterial Count/Total Viable Count, endotoxins, fungal/mould and yeast.Evidence: The description specifies microbiological testing monthly for each unit covering these analytes.
Microbiological sample volume144 samples per annum.Evidence: “Micro biological testing is to be undertaken monthly for each unit (144 samples tested per annum).”
Chemistry testing scopeQuarterly testing for specified chemical parameters, including chlorine, nitrate, sulphate, fluoride, metals, chloramine and Renal Association Tables tolerance results.Evidence: The description lists the chemistry analytes and requires Renal Association Tables tolerance results.
96% approved-analysis confidence9 supplier criteria identified3 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Early-stage market engagement by Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust for laboratory testing of water samples from six water plants and six portable reverse osmosis units. Required testing includes monthly microbiological analysis (144 samples annually) and quarterly chemistry analysis (48 samples annually), with results required within one to two weeks of the laboratory receiving samples.
Who this may suit
Suitable for UK laboratories able to test dialysis-related water samples and holding UKAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 for both microbiology and chemistry.
Key deliverables
Monthly microbiological testing for 12 units, including total bacterial/viable count, endotoxins, fungal/mould and yeast
Quarterly chemistry testing for 12 units, covering specified chemical parameters and Renal Association Tables tolerance results
Full unit-level test results within one to two weeks of sample receipt
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
9 criteria identified
UKAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 for microbiology and chemistry
99% confidence
Mandatory · Not applicable; no lots stated
View supporting evidence
“The organisation must have a lab with UKAS accreditation for microbiology and chemistry to ISO/IEC 17025.”
Microbiological testing scope
99% confidence
Monthly testing for Total Bacterial Count/Total Viable Count, endotoxins, fungal/mould and yeast.
View supporting evidence
The description specifies microbiological testing monthly for each unit covering these analytes.
Microbiological sample volume
99% confidence
144 samples per annum.
View supporting evidence
“Micro biological testing is to be undertaken monthly for each unit (144 samples tested per annum).”
Chemistry testing scope
98% confidence
Quarterly testing for specified chemical parameters, including chlorine, nitrate, sulphate, fluoride, metals, chloramine and Renal Association Tables tolerance results.
View supporting evidence
The description lists the chemistry analytes and requires Renal Association Tables tolerance results.
Chemistry sample volume
99% confidence
48 samples per annum.
View supporting evidence
“Chemistry sample testing is to be undertaken quarterly for each unit (48 samples tested per annum).”
Relevant experience
93% confidence
Interested organisations are asked to introduce their organisation and experience of carrying out these activities for NHS and/or private health organisations in the UK.
View supporting evidence
The notice asks interested organisations to contact the named representative with their organisation and relevant experience.
SME suitability
95% confidence
Marked suitable for SMEs.
View supporting evidence
Source field: suitable_for_sme = 1.
VCSE suitability
95% confidence
Not marked suitable for VCSEs.
View supporting evidence
Source field: suitable_for_vcse = 0.
Other eligibility requirements
99% confidence
Unknown at this early-engagement stage.
View supporting evidence
No further selection, financial, insurance, geographic or company-size requirements are stated.
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Contract value
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No minimum, maximum or currency value is supplied.
Contract term
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No contract start or end date is supplied.
Pricing and payment terms
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
The early-engagement notice does not state pricing or payment terms.
Delivery
Assets covered
99% confidence
Six water plants and six portable reverse osmosis units; equipment is described as a mix of Veolia Water, Fresenius and B Braun/Vantive units.
View supporting evidence
The notice states that the Trust has six water plants and six portable reverse osmosis units and identifies the equipment makes.
Sample collection and transport
99% confidence
The Trust will collect samples and send them to the testing organisation.
View supporting evidence
“The Trust will collect the water samples and send them to the organisation for testing.”
Results turnaround
99% confidence
Full results per unit within one to two weeks after the organisation receives the samples.
View supporting evidence
The notice requires full unit-level results within one to two weeks following receipt.
Delivery location
86% confidence
Trust location indicated as RG1 5AN, Reading; UK delivery location also stated.
View supporting evidence
Source locations include buyer location Reading RG1 5AN and delivery locations RG1 5AN and United Kingdom.
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Procurement status
99% confidence
Upcoming early-stage/planned procurement; this is an early engagement notice, not an open tender.
View supporting evidence
Display status is “upcoming”, stage/source status are “planning”, and notice type is “Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder”.
Engagement action
99% confidence
Interested organisations should email Christopher Dickenson at Christopher.dickenson@nhs.net with an introduction and relevant experience.
View supporting evidence
The notice expressly requests contact by email and specifies the information to provide.
Tender submission deadline
99% confidence
Unknown; no bid deadline is stated.
View supporting evidence
Submission deadline is null and the notice is for early engagement.
Procurement route
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No procurement method or procedure details are supplied.
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Early-stage engagement only
99% confidence
This is a planned early-engagement exercise rather than an open competition. Supplier selection, tender instructions, final scope, commercial terms, timetable and procurement route have not been stated.
View supporting evidence
The source labels the notice as upcoming/planning and an Early engagement notice; procurement method, tender dates, value and contract dates are absent.
Turnaround requirement
98% confidence
Laboratories would need to demonstrate capacity to return complete unit-level results within one to two weeks of receipt.
View supporting evidence
The Trust requires full results per unit within one to two weeks following sample receipt.
Accreditation coverage
95% confidence
The mandatory UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation must cover both microbiology and chemistry; suppliers should verify that their accredited scope covers the required analyses.
View supporting evidence
The notice mandates a laboratory with UKAS accreditation for microbiology and chemistry to ISO/IEC 17025 and lists detailed testing requirements.
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
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