Official UK procurement notice
Anatomical Pathology Automation · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (Central government)·On behalf of: HealthTrust Europe LLP
What is being bought6 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThis Framework provides access to laboratory automation equipment for anatomical pathology across five lots: tissue embedding, block facing, slide preparation, storage systems, and block transportation.
- No preliminary market engagement: Market engagement was undertaken, though a pre-market engagement notice was not issued due to prior notices already covering the scope. Under the Pathology Solutions Prior Information Notice (PIN) (OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0468c3), 20 suppliers were consulted across two lots via Teams meetings. For Slide Storage, a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) notice was published, and discussions with 5 suppliers identified an urgent need for a procurement route focused on specialised storage and archiving for blocks and slides. This requirement aligns more effectively with the Anatomical Pathology Automation Framework, offering a streamlined approach for customer engagement. HTE considers the elapsed engagement period sufficient to confirm market readiness.
CPV: Automation system · Diagnostic devices · Diagnostic systems · Pathology dissection instruments and supplies
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Bids received
- 2 bids on the busiest of 6 lots · 2 suppliers appointed
- Framework period
- 8 yrs from 24 Sept 2025
- Scheme runs until
- 6 Nov 2033
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- 3% of call-off value
Who may buy through it
The framework will be open to all UK contracting authorities as defined in Section 1 of the Procurement Act 2023. In particular, entities of a health and/or social care nature listed in the spreadsheet at www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/classifi… ↗ are envisaged as users.
This includes each organisation’s successors, assigns, equivalents, and associated bodies formed through organisational changes. The framework is open to: any UK health/social care bodies; organisations with similar procurement needs; and UK central government authorities listed in Annex I of Directive 2014/24/EU, where still relevant under retained EU law and consistent with the Procurement Act 2023.
Published description of the framework
Commencement Date of first Framework.
Duration of first framework: 2 years.
Re-opening of first framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry.
Second framework commencement and duration: 2 years.
Re-opening of second framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry.
Third framework commencement and duration: 2 years.
Re-opening of third framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry.
Forth framework commencement and duration: 2 years.
HTE reserves the right to extend each of the frameworks above by a further 12 months in line with section 49 of the Procurement Act. The maximum period of the Framework shall be 8 years including any extension options that have been applied.
- Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of a Fully Automated System for the Sectioning of Wax Tissue Blocks including Mounting Onto a Glass Slide for Further Staining · Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · 7 Apr 2026
Notices that name this framework as their framework in the official record. Many call-offs are never published, so this is a floor, not utilisation.
Lots and requirements (6)Procurement structure
6 lots · all with a published value · same conditions of participation on every lot · same evaluation weights on every lotEvery one of these 6 lots carries the same published figure, £33,333,333: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.
Lot #1Automated Tissue Embedding SystemsAwardedceiling above
Provision of a system that is able to automate the process of embedding tissue specimens in paraffin to create tissue blocks and all associated services.
- Economic & financial standing
As per "ITT Guidance - Framework - Anatomical Pathology Automation" and PSQ requirements.
Lot #2Tissue Block Facing SystemsAwardedceiling above
Provision of a system that is able to provide automated facing of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks and all associated services.
- Economic & financial standing
As per "ITT Guidance - Framework - Anatomical Pathology Automation" and PSQ requirements.
Lot #3Automated Slide Preparation SystemsAwardedceiling above
Provision of a system that is able to automate the process of sectioning paraffin blocks and mounting tissue sections onto glass slides and all associated services.
- Economic & financial standing
As per "ITT Guidance - Framework - Anatomical Pathology Automation" and PSQ requirements.
Lot #4Storage and Archiving Systems (for both blocks and slides)Awardedceiling above
Provision of a system that is able to provide organised storage and retrieval of histological specimens, including both FFPE tissue blocks and microscope slides and all associated services.
- Economic & financial standing
As per "ITT Guidance - Framework - Anatomical Pathology Automation" and PSQ requirements.
Lot #5Block Transportation SystemsAwardedceiling above
Provision of a system that is able to automate the transport of FFPE blocks between laboratory workstations including embedding, microtomy, and storage areas and all associated services.
- Economic & financial standing
As per "ITT Guidance - Framework - Anatomical Pathology Automation" and PSQ requirements.
Lot #6Aggregated LotAwardedceiling above
Aggregation of Lot option (1-5) is designed to accommodate suppliers who can offer more than one lot service provision, combining them under a single agreement. This approach ensures that the Participating Authorities have access to a variety of services either from a single supplier or a cooperative of suppliers, enhancing the convenience and adapting a solution to their needs.
- Economic & financial standing
As per "ITT Guidance - Framework - Anatomical Pathology Automation" and PSQ requirements.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Technical (Including Social Value): 70%
- Cost: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical (Including Social Value)
- Cost
- Economic & financial standing
As per "ITT Guidance - Framework - Anatomical Pathology Automation" and PSQ requirements.
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Anatomical Pathology Automation” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Open framework scheme
- Who may use this agreement
- The framework will be open to all UK contracting authorities as defined in Section 1 of the Procurement Act 2023. In particular, entities of a health and/or social care nature listed in the spreadsheet at https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/classificationsandstandards/economicstatisticsclassifications/introductiontoeconomicstatisticsclassifications are envisaged as users. This includes each organisation’s successors, assigns, equivalents, and associated bodies formed through organisational changes. The framework is open to: any UK health/social care bodies; organisations with similar procurement needs; and UK central government authorities listed in Annex I of Directive 2014/24/EU, where still relevant under retained EU law and consistent with the Procurement Act 2023. · open scheme: new suppliers can join during the term
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 21 May 2025, 14:42 BST
- Last source update
- 3 Dec 2025, 10:43 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 9 Sept 2025
- Authority reference
PR-4808- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-046453- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-051b20Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 1 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 25 Aug 2025, 15:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- call-off levy · 3% of call-off value
Via the Bravo Solutions Portal ONLY - healthtrusteurope.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml ↗
Timeline
21 May 2025 → 3 Dec 2025 · 10 dates- Planning notice published21 May 2025, 14:42 BST
- Next notice expected6 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published6 Aug 2025, 11:43 BST
- Clarification questions by25 Aug 2025, 15:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown1 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Award decision expected by9 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts394 days ago24 Sept 2025, 00:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent382 days ago6 Oct 2025, 00:00 BST
- Standstill ends364 days ago23 Oct 2025, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published323 days ago3 Dec 2025, 10:43 GMT
Notice history
10 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 21 May 2025- Pipeline notice published21 May 2025, 14:42 BSTUK1
- Tender notice published6 Aug 2025, 11:43 BSTUK4
- Published value published: £33,333,3336 Aug 2025, 11:43 BST
- Status changed to active6 Aug 2025, 11:43 BST
- Procurement method changed6 Aug 2025, 11:43 BST
- Deadline published: 1 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST6 Aug 2025, 11:43 BST
- Contract award notice published14 Oct 2025, 12:02 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete14 Oct 2025, 12:02 BST
- Contract signature expected24 Oct 2025, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published3 Dec 2025, 10:43 GMTUK7
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-05: 1 release · 21 May 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast£40,000,000 is the framework's published maximum, restated by the publisher on 2 award rows. It is one ceiling, not 2 separate sums, and no share per lot is published; those rows read “ceiling above”.
| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across several lots2 awards | |||
| Axlab Ltd.HTE Framework Anatomical Pathology Automation Terms and Conditions - Axlab Ltd27 Oct 2025 – 26 Oct 2027 · up to 26 Oct 2033Extensions: Commencement Date of first Framework. Duration of first framework: 2 years. Re-opening of first framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry. Second framework commencement and duration: 2 years. Re-opening of second framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry. Third framework commencement and duration: 2 years. Re-opening of third framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry. Forth framework commencement and duration: 2 years. HTE reserves the right to extend each of the frameworks above by a further 12 months in line with section 49 of the Procurement Act. The maximum period of the Framework shall be 8 years including any extension options that have been applied. | ceiling above | 19 Sept 2025 | Awarded |
| TECHNOPATH DISTRIBUTION LTDSMEHTE Framework Anatomical Pathology Automation Terms and Conditions - Technopath Distribution Ltd27 Oct 2025 – 26 Oct 2027 · up to 26 Oct 2033Extensions: Commencement Date of first Framework. Duration of first framework: 2 years. Re-opening of first framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry. Second framework commencement and duration: 2 years. Re-opening of second framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry. Third framework commencement and duration: 2 years. Re-opening of third framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry. Forth framework commencement and duration: 2 years. HTE reserves the right to extend each of the frameworks above by a further 12 months in line with section 49 of the Procurement Act. The maximum period of the Framework shall be 8 years including any extension options that have been applied. | ceiling above | 19 Sept 2025 | Awarded |
Contracts
All 2 of these contracts carry the same published figure, £40,000,000, the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each contract's own value. They are not eleven separate sums.
HTE Framework Anatomical Pathology Automation Terms and Conditions - Axlab Ltd · Axlab Ltd.
- Signed
- 6 Nov 2025
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 6 Nov 2025 – 5 Nov 2027 · up to 5 Nov 2033 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Commencement Date of first Framework. Duration of first framework: 2 years. Re-opening of first framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry. Second framework commencement and duration: 2 years. Re-opening of second framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry. Third framework commencement and duration: 2 years. Re-opening of third framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry. Forth framework commencement and duration: 2 years. HTE reserves the right to extend each of the frameworks above by a further 12 months in line with section 49 of the Procurement Act. The maximum period of the Framework shall be 8 years including any extension options that have been applied.
HTE Framework Anatomical Pathology Automation Terms and Conditions - Technopath Distribution Ltd · TECHNOPATH DISTRIBUTION LTDSME
- Signed
- 6 Nov 2025
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 6 Nov 2025 – 5 Nov 2027 · up to 5 Nov 2033 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Commencement Date of first Framework. Duration of first framework: 2 years. Re-opening of first framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry. Second framework commencement and duration: 2 years. Re-opening of second framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry. Third framework commencement and duration: 2 years. Re-opening of third framework to Tenderers 6 months before expiry. Forth framework commencement and duration: 2 years. HTE reserves the right to extend each of the frameworks above by a further 12 months in line with section 49 of the Procurement Act. The maximum period of the Framework shall be 8 years including any extension options that have been applied.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Automated Tissue Embedding Systems | 1final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Tissue Block Facing Systems | 2final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
| 3 · Automated Slide Preparation Systems | 2final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
| 4 · Storage and Archiving Systems (for both blocks and slides) | 1final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
| 5 · Block Transportation Systems | 1final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
| 6 · Aggregated Lot | 2final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonAxlab Ltd · East of England · all lots
- wonTechnopath Distribution LtdSME · 2, 3, 6
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- HealthTrust Europe LLPProcess contact pointProcuring entityOn 11th August 2021, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSE) published a contract notice for procurement partner services. HealthTrust Europe LLP (HTE) was selected to provide these services under the MSE Framework, including access to HTE's public sector frameworks. HTE is now conducting this procurement exercise as part of its services to the Customers under the MSE Framework.
Framework contractors & participating bidders
2 commercial parties on the notice- Axlab LtdFramework contractor
- Technopath Distribution LtdFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (8)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender