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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Sample Tube DeCappers

NHS Blood and Transplant · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 2 Oct 2026, 13:57.

Opportunity overview

Within NHSBT, the Testing function in the Blood Supply Directorate performs a wide range of testing services, these include but are not limited to the large-scale blood grouping and microbiological screening of blood and tissue donations. The Authority has two main laboratories in England, in which approximately 1.9 million blood donations are tested each year. The laboratories are located in Filton (Bristol) and Manchester. Manchester is also the site of a third laboratory, which tests all donations in England for HAV/B19. Each donation collected includes a minimum of 4 x 6mL sample tubes, taken into K2 EDTA tubes which have colour coded caps for identification purposes. The Authority requires automated decapping equipment at each of the Authority’s three Testing laboratories. Decappers must have sufficient capacity to process the daily workload of each laboratory within the required timeframe and with a minimum decapping success rate of 95%. In Filton and Manchester main laboratories, tubes are tested in 3 parallel workstreams, and therefore it is necessary that 70% of all tubes would be decapped within 3 hours. Approximate workload of each site: • Filton Testing: approximately 10,500 sample tubes per day • Manchester Testing: approximately 4,500 sample tubes per day • Manchester HAV/B19: approximately 5000 sample tubes per day. Testing occurs in two waves and does not impact the desired criteria Additional functionality such as sample sorting, recapping and re-racking of tubes would be considered. The Supplier must confirm the In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices (as defined by the regulations indicated below) are fit for their intended purposes and are:• CE marked in compliance with either European Commission Directive 98/79/EC on In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices (IVDMD) or Regulation (EU) 2017/746, and/or;• Devices must be UKCA marked in compliance with UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002, as amended, from 1st July 2024. To register your interest in this opportunity, please contact jo.murphy@nhsbt.nhs.uk by Friday 15th May 2026.

Classification

  • CPV33100000 — Medical equipments

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
C442477
Main Procurement Category
goods
Above Threshold
Yes
Status
planning

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Communication

Future Notice Date
1 Jul 2026, 23:59

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Has Renewal
Yes
Status
planning

Contract period

Starts
1 Jan 2027, 00:00
Ends
31 Dec 2031, 23:59
Max Extent Date
31 Dec 2033, 23:59

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
33100000
Description
Medical equipments

Planning and budget

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Description
As part of engagement, it is proposed the supplier will complete an initial supplier questionnaire and provide information as to what they are able to offer NHSBT, providing details in context the NHSBT Testing labs. There may also be an opportunity for NHSBT to receive a loan decapper to evaluate.
Due
15 May 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled

Documents

Entry 1
Id
039018-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Published
29 Apr 2026, 10:38
Format
text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
NHS Blood and Transplant
Id
GB-PPON-PDBY-6395-VWBP

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PDBY-6395-VWBP

Address

Street Address
500 North Bristol Park
Locality
Bristol
Postal Code
BS34 7QH
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKK12

Contact

Telephone
07385029322

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthorityCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - central government

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Bristol · UKK12 · BS34 7QH · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. 039018-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·