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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Toxicology Services - Drug and Alcohol Testing

General Pharmaceutical Council · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 07:54.

Opportunity overview

The GPhC wishes to inform the market of our intention to procure the provision of Toxicology Services - Drug and Alcohol Testing. Where there are concerns regarding physical or mental health, specifically drug and alcohol misuse, the GPhC may necessitate a Pharmacy Registrant (donor) undergo medical assessment, forming part of a wider Fitness to Practise investigation. In such cases, Toxicology Services (drug and alcohol testing) will be required to ascertain: i. if substance(s), as specified by the GPhC, have been used by the donor. ii. if substance(s), as specified by the GPhC, are being used by the donor. Moreover, a Registrant may also be required to enter a period of 'medical supervision' - monitoring to confirm compliance with any restrictions on their registration. Here, Toxicology Services (drug and alcohol testing) will be required to verify fulfilment of conditions set. The purpose of this notice is to raise awareness of our upcoming Request for Quotation sourcing activity, gauge accurate levels of market interest, and receive feedback on prospective plans/requirements in advance of the formal procurement process; to be announced in October 2025. Scope of services will include, the: 1. Supply of Phlebotomists and Specimen Collectors -throughout Great Britain- to collect donor samples: hair (head and body), nail, saliva, blood and urine. 2. Undertaking of sample drug testing for, but not limited to amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, hallucinogens, hypnotic substances, ketamine, mephedrone, methadone, methamphetamines (including MDMA and MDEA), novel psychoactive substances, opiates, opioids, sedatives, steroids and tramadol. 3. Undertaking of sample alcohol -ethanol- testing; including phosphatidyl ethanol (PEth), carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) biomarkers, and ethyl glucuronide (EtG). 4. Undertaking of liver blood testing, formerly known as liver function tests (LFT). 5. Undertaking of full blood count testing (FBC), including mean corpuscular volume testing (MCV). 6. Secure email provision of sample analysis results within 3 working days; including the provision of supplementary reports which interpret results in an accessible (free from technical jargon, where possible), clear and concise manner. 7. Provision of a Certificate of Analysis (CoA). 8. Provision of testimony in the capacity of an Independent Expert Witness (where donor samples are tested for legal purposes). N.B. the Service Provider remains responsible for ensuring staff are adequately trained to undertake this requirement, if requested. Please note, samples are to be collected at a donors' home residence, or a neutral site as determined by the Service Provider. We kindly ask that all interested suppliers complete and submit this response form to Anna Kitoki, at procurement@pharmacyregulation.org by 17:00 on 02.09.2025. Any interest shown does not constitute a commitment to participate; and failure to show interest does not restrict suppliers from participating in this and/or any other procurement process run by the GPhC.

Classification

  • CPV38434520 — Blood analysers
  • CPV71319000 — Expert witness services
  • CPV71900000 — Laboratory services
  • CPV85111810 — Blood analysis services
  • CPV85121200 — Medical specialist services
  • CPV85148000 — Medical analysis services

Lots

  • Lot 1£157k · Including VAT

Documents and notices

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
GPhC145
Status
planned
Above Threshold
No
Procurement Method
open
Main Procurement Category
services
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Tender Period

Ends
10 Nov 2025, 12:00

Communication

Future Notice Date
20 Oct 2025, 23:59

Enquiry period

Ends
27 Oct 2025, 17:00

Submission terms

Electronic Submission Policy
allowed

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
planned
Has Renewal
Yes

Value

Currency
GBP
Including VAT
157,000

Renewal

Description
6 Years (2 Years + 2 Year extension + 2 Year extension)

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Ends
4 Feb 2028, 23:59
Starts
5 Feb 2026, 00:00
Max Extent Date
4 Feb 2032, 23:59

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UK
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 2
Region
UK
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
38434520
Scheme
CPV
Description
Blood analysers
Entry 2
Id
71319000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Expert witness services
Entry 3
Id
71900000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Laboratory services
Entry 4
Id
85111810
Scheme
CPV
Description
Blood analysis services
Entry 5
Id
85121200
Scheme
CPV
Description
Medical specialist services
Entry 6
Id
85148000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Medical analysis services

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
A-4419
Format
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
Document Type
biddingDocuments

Planning and budget

Documents

Entry 1
Id
050007-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Published
20 Aug 2025, 09:01
Entry 2
Id
050008-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK3
Description
Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
plannedProcurementNotice
Published
20 Aug 2025, 09:03

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Status
scheduled
Due
2 Sept 2025, 23:59
Description
The GPhC wishes to inform the market of our intention to procure the provision of Toxicology Services - Drug and Alcohol Testing. Where there are concerns regarding physical or mental health, specifically drug and alcohol misuse, the GPhC may necessitate a Pharmacy Registrant (donor) undergo medical assessment, forming part of a wider Fitness to Practise investigation. In such cases, Toxicology Services (drug and alcohol testing) will be required to ascertain: i. if substance(s), as specified by the GPhC, have been used by the donor. ii. if substance(s), as specified by the GPhC, are being used by the donor. Moreover, a Registrant may also be required to enter a period of 'medical supervision' - monitoring to confirm compliance with any restrictions on their registration. Here, Toxicology Services (drug and alcohol testing) will be required to verify fulfilment of conditions set. The purpose of this notice is to raise awareness of our upcoming Request for Quotation sourcing activity, gauge accurate levels of market interest, and receive feedback on prospective plans/requirements in advance of the formal procurement process; to be announced in October 2025. Scope of services will include, the: 1. Supply of Phlebotomists and Specimen Collectors -throughout Great Britain- to collect donor samples: hair (head and body), nail, saliva, blood and urine. 2. Undertaking of sample drug testing for, but not limited to amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, hallucinogens, hypnotic substances, ketamine, mephedrone, methadone, methamphetamines (including MDMA and MDEA), novel psychoactive substances, opiates, opioids, sedatives, steroids and tramadol. 3. Undertaking of sample alcohol -ethanol- testing; including phosphatidyl ethanol (PEth), carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) biomarkers, and ethyl glucuronide (EtG). 4. Undertaking of liver blood testing, formerly known as liver function tests (LFT). 5. Undertaking of full blood count testing (FBC), including mean corpuscular volume testing (MCV). 6. Secure email provision of sample analysis results within 3 working days; including the provision of supplementary reports which interpret results in an accessible (free from technical jargon, where possible), clear and concise manner. 7. Provision of a Certificate of Analysis (CoA). 8. Provision of testimony in the capacity of an Independent Expert Witness (where donor samples are tested for legal purposes). N.B. the Service Provider remains responsible for ensuring staff are adequately trained to undertake this requirement, if requested. Please note, samples are to be collected at a donors' home residence, or a neutral site as determined by the Service Provider. We kindly ask that all interested suppliers complete and submit the response form (please see corresponding Planned Procurement Notice) to Anna Kitoki, at procurement@pharmacyregulation.org by 17:00 on 02.09.2025. Any interest shown does not constitute a commitment to participate; and failure to show interest does not restrict suppliers from participating in this and/or any other procurement process run by the GPhC.

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-PPON-PXRY-5513-YMDN
Name
General Pharmaceutical Council

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKI42
Country
GB
Locality
London
Postal Code
E14 4QJ
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Level 14, One Cabot Square, Canary Wharf

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Description
Public authority - sub-central government

Identifier

Id
PXRY-5513-YMDN
Scheme
GB-PPON

Contact

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · London · UKI42 · E14 4QJ · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UK · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-058ae7-2025-08-20T09:03:22+01:00Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·