✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 8 Oct 2026, 08:09.
Opportunity overview
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) is giving advance notice of a potential future procurement for the provision of off-site Histopathology Archive Storage and Retrieval Services.
The requirement is currently being assessed on behalf of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, with discussions ongoing to determine whether additional NHS Wales organisations may participate in the future requirement.
The anticipated scope may include:
Secure off-site storage of histopathology archive materials;
Storage and management of paraffin wax blocks and histopathology slides;
Retrieval and transportation services;
Archive tracking and chain-of-custody management;
Archive migration and mobilisation services; and
Associated reporting and contract management arrangements.
NWSSP intends to undertake Preliminary Market Engagement to inform the procurement strategy, specification development and assessment of market capability and capacity.
The estimated value is indicative and based on the currently anticipated scope. The final contract value and participating organisations may be refined following stakeholder engagement and Preliminary Market Engagement activities.
This notice is for information purposes only and does not constitute a call for competition.
Classification
CPV85111800 — Pathology services
Lots
Lot 1Value not stated
Documents and notices
Planned procurement notice on Find a TenderOpen 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.
The proposed contract term is indicative only and remains subject to further stakeholder engagement and procurement planning. It is currently anticipated that the contract may be awarded for an initial period of five years, with options to extend for up to a further five years.
1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
1 VERSION
1
094882-2026Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender ·
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 planned procurement by NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership for potential off-site histopathology archive storage, retrieval and transport services, initially for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. It is a market-engagement notice only, not an open call for competition.
Who this may suit
Potentially suitable for providers of secure medical/pathology archive storage, paraffin wax block and slide management, tracked retrieval, chain-of-custody transport, archive migration and contract reporting.
Key points identified
Service requirementPotential provision of secure off-site histopathology archive storage and retrieval services.Evidence: "potential future procurement for the provision of off-site Histopathology Archive Storage and Retrieval Services"
Archive materialsPotential storage and management of paraffin wax blocks and histopathology slides.Evidence: "Storage and management of paraffin wax blocks and histopathology slides"
TrackingPotential archive tracking and chain-of-custody management.Evidence: "Archive tracking and chain-of-custody management"
94% approved-analysis confidence8 supplier criteria identified4 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 planned procurement by NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership for potential off-site histopathology archive storage, retrieval and transport services, initially for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. It is a market-engagement notice only, not an open call for competition.
Who this may suit
Potentially suitable for providers of secure medical/pathology archive storage, paraffin wax block and slide management, tracked retrieval, chain-of-custody transport, archive migration and contract reporting.
Key deliverables
Secure off-site storage of histopathology archives
Storage and management of paraffin wax blocks and histopathology slides
Archive retrieval and transportation
Archive tracking and chain-of-custody management
Archive migration and mobilisation
Reporting and contract management
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
8 criteria identified
Service requirement
99% confidence
Potential provision of secure off-site histopathology archive storage and retrieval services.
View supporting evidence
"potential future procurement for the provision of off-site Histopathology Archive Storage and Retrieval Services"
Archive materials
99% confidence
Potential storage and management of paraffin wax blocks and histopathology slides.
View supporting evidence
"Storage and management of paraffin wax blocks and histopathology slides"
Tracking
99% confidence
Potential archive tracking and chain-of-custody management.
View supporting evidence
"Archive tracking and chain-of-custody management"
Mobilisation
99% confidence
Potential archive migration and mobilisation services.
View supporting evidence
"Archive migration and mobilisation services"
Supplier requirements
98% confidence
Unknown at this planned-procurement stage.
View supporting evidence
The notice describes anticipated scope but states it is for information only and is not a call for competition.
Initial beneficiary
99% confidence
Requirement is being assessed on behalf of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.
View supporting evidence
"The requirement is currently being assessed on behalf of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board"
Additional participating organisations
98% confidence
Potentially additional NHS Wales organisations; not confirmed.
View supporting evidence
"discussions ongoing to determine whether additional NHS Wales organisations may participate"
Supplier eligibility criteria
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No supplier selection or eligibility criteria are stated.
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Indicative estimated value
94% confidence
Up to £300,000; indicative only.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity value_max is GBP 300000; notice states "The estimated value is indicative".
Final contract value
99% confidence
Unknown; may be refined after stakeholder engagement and preliminary market engagement.
View supporting evidence
"The final contract value and participating organisations may be refined following stakeholder engagement and Preliminary Market Engagement activities."
Commercial terms
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No pricing, payment, contract duration or other commercial terms are stated.
Delivery
Delivery area
90% confidence
UKL16 and UKL21, Wales.
View supporting evidence
Delivery locations are recorded as UKL16 and UKL21.
Buyer location
99% confidence
Caerleon, Newport, NP18 3XQ, United Kingdom.
View supporting evidence
Buyer location is recorded as Caerleon, Newport, NP18 3XQ.
Delivery timetable
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No contract start or end date is stated.
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Opportunity status
99% confidence
Upcoming early-stage planned procurement; bidding is not open.
View supporting evidence
Display status is "upcoming" and the notice says "does not constitute a call for competition".
Notice purpose
99% confidence
Preliminary Market Engagement to inform procurement strategy, specification development, and assessment of market capability and capacity.
View supporting evidence
"NWSSP intends to undertake Preliminary Market Engagement"
Procurement method
82% confidence
Open procedure recorded, subject to future procurement development.
View supporting evidence
Process records "Open procedure"; the notice says the procurement strategy will be informed by market engagement.
Published date
99% confidence
7 October 2026.
View supporting evidence
Published at 2026-10-07T15:40:04+01:00.
Recorded submission deadline
88% confidence
9 December 2026; its applicability to a future competition is unclear because this is not a call for competition.
View supporting evidence
Process and lot data record 2026-12-09T00:00:00+00:00; notice states it is for information only and not a call for competition.
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Scope uncertainty
99% confidence
Final scope may change following stakeholder engagement and preliminary market engagement.
View supporting evidence
"The anticipated scope may include" and final arrangements may be refined after engagement.
Participating-body uncertainty
99% confidence
Only Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is currently identified; additional NHS Wales organisations may participate.
View supporting evidence
"discussions ongoing to determine whether additional NHS Wales organisations may participate".
Value uncertainty
99% confidence
The £300,000 estimate is indicative and final value may change.
View supporting evidence
"The estimated value is indicative" and final value may be refined.
Competition timing uncertainty
99% confidence
This is not a call for competition; future competition timetable and submission requirements are unknown.
View supporting evidence
"This notice is for information purposes only and does not constitute a call for competition."
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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