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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Purchase of High Throughput Sonication Systems (Covaris) including Associated Consumables and Maintenance

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board · Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 07:59.

Opportunity overview

Cardiff and vale University Health Board, on behalf of the All Wales Genomics Service, intends to award a contract to Covaris , Inc. for the supply of a high throughput sonication system to support Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) workflows. The system is required to process samples in plate formats for downstream NGS library preparation and to expand capacity for somatic cancer testing services in Wales. Covaris is the sole manufacturer of instruments using patented Adaptive Focused Acoustics (AFA) technology, which is essential for achieving the required reproducibility and performance. No alternative suppliers were identified through market engagement and the equipment is not available via national frameworks. The procurement will cover supply of instrument, consumables and maintenance for three years (with warranty), with option to extend for up to two additional years. This notice is issued in accordance with procurement transparency obligations and to ensure compliance with public procurement regulations.

Awarded to

Amounts belong to published awards or contracts. Where several suppliers share one value, it is labelled as shared and is not a supplier-specific allocation.

Covaris

Match pending…
Published award value
£300k
Awarded
Not supplied
Award ID
1
Status
cancelled
Identifier
GB-PPON PTCN-6529-GMQY
Location
Brighton, UKJ21, BN2 6AH, United Kingdom

Classification

No classification was supplied.

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

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
CAV-DCO (25-26) 71
Status
complete
Published risks
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, on behalf of the All Wales Genomics Service, requires the supply, installation, and maintenance of a high throughput sonication system manufactured by Covaris, Inc., utilising proprietary Adaptive Focused Acoustics (AFA) technology essential for reproducible and consistent Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) workflows. The contract scope covers the delivery of the instrument, associated consumables for three years, and a full warranty including servicing and repairs, with the option to extend for up to two additional years. The system must process samples in plate format to support NGS library preparation and expand somatic cancer testing capacity in Wales, achieving a minimum of 95% uptime availability (excluding planned maintenance), reproducibility across runs compliant with All Wales Genomics Service standards, and seamless compatibility with existing workflows. Supplier obligations include on-site delivery, installation, calibration, commissioning, and validation of performance; provision of initial training for technical staff; access to technical support and software or firmware updates; and guaranteed consumables supply for the full contract term. Performance will be monitored against key indicators, including ≥95% uptime, ≥98% QC compliance in NGS preparation, 24-hour initial response to service requests, and resolution or interim fix of critical failures within 72 hours. This contract is issued in compliance with public procurement regulations, acknowledging Covaris as the sole manufacturer of the required AFA-based technology.
Procurement Method
direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Why this procedure was chosen
Covaris Inc. holds exclusive intellectual property rights over its propriety Adaptive Focused Acoustics technology, which is integral to its sample preparation systems. The company owns over 125 issued and pending patents covering acoustic treatment, sample processing, and instrument design. The patents ensure that no other supplier can legally replicate or offer equivalent technology. Covaris is also the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of its instruments and consumables. It does not license production or distribution to third parties, making it the sole legal source for these products and services. Covaris equipment is uniquely engineered to support specific workflows in genomics, proteomics, and epigenetics. The AFA technology enables highly controlled and reproducible sample preparation, which is essential for down stream applications such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) and cancer diagnostics.

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Procedure reasons

Entry 1
Id
singleSuppliersIntellectualPropertyExclusiveRights
Entry 2
Id
singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
complete

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
conflictOfInterest
Description
Not published
Document Type
conflictOfInterest
Entry 2
Id
052768-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK12
Description
Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
tenderCancellationNotice
Published
1 Sept 2025, 12:05

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-PPON-PPPR-7969-BTJG
Name
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKL22
Country
GB
Locality
Cardiff
Postal Code
CF14 4HH
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Woodland House, Maes-y-Coed Road

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Description
Public authority - sub-central government
Entry 2
Id
GB-WLS
Scheme
UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS
Description
Welsh devolved regulations apply

Identifier

Id
PPPR-7969-BTJG
Scheme
GB-PPON

Contact

Name
Nicola williams
Telephone
+442921500649
Organisation 2
Id
GB-PPON-PXWV-6492-CGMN
Name
NHS Wales shared service partnership hosted by Velindre university NHS
Role Details
In this procurement, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) - Procurement Services, hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust, acted as the central contracting authority responsible for managing and publishing the transparency notice. Their role included overseeing the procurement process on behalf of the relevant health board, ensuring compliance with the Procurement Act 2023, and providing

Roles

procuringEntity

Address

Region
UKL15
Country
GB
Locality
Cardiff
Postal Code
CF15 7QZ
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Charnwood Court

Identifier

Id
PXWV-6492-CGMN
Scheme
GB-PPON

Contact

Organisation 3
Id
GB-PPON-PTCN-6529-GMQY
Name
Covaris

Roles

supplier

Address

Region
UKJ21
Country
GB
Locality
Brighton
Postal Code
BN2 6AH
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
3 Hunns Mere Way

Details

Vcse
No
Scale
large

Identifier

Id
PTCN-6529-GMQY
Scheme
GB-PPON

Contact

Telephone
08458720100

Award information

Award 1
Id
1
Title
Purhcase of high Throughput Sonication Systems (Covaris) Including Associated consumables and maintenance
Status
cancelled
Has Renewal
Yes
Status Details
The contract will not be signed as the Transparency Notice is being terminated. This is due to a change in the description of the contract’s requirements, which now relate solely to the provision of consumables and maintenance services, rather than the original scope which included the purchase of equipment.
Above Threshold
Yes
Final Status Date
1 Sept 2025, 00:00
Main Procurement Category
goods

Items

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKL22
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
33140000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Medical consumables
Entry 2
Id
38400000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Instruments for checking physical characteristics
Entry 3
Id
38000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Value

Amount
300,000
Currency
GBP
Including VAT
360,000

Renewal

Description
The Authority shall have the option, exercisable at its sole discretion, to extend the Contract for up to two (2) additional years, such extension(s) to be awarded in annual increments of twelve (12) months each.

Documents

Entry 1
Id
050372-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK5
Description
Transparency notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
awardNotice
Published
21 Aug 2025, 08:55

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-PPON-PTCN-6529-GMQY
Name
Covaris

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
1
Type
futureSignatureDate
Status
scheduled
Due
1 Oct 2025, 23:59

Related lots

1

Contract period

Ends
31 Dec 2029, 23:59
Starts
1 Jan 2026, 00:00
Max Extent Date
31 Dec 2031, 23:59

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Cardiff · UKL22 · CF14 4HH · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-058bc5-2025-09-01T12:05:51+01:00Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender ·