Find a TenderAwarded without competition

Published 22 Jun 2021, 15:05 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Core Molecular Testing · UK public procurement notice

Official notice

Authority: Lothian Health Board·Consortium: 2 public authorities

ServicesAward procedure without prior publication of a call for competition

Sectors: Architecture & Engineering (71) Delivery: Scotland (UKM75)

Awarded value£10,000,0003 contracts · exc. VAT

Awarded 9 Apr 2026no call for competition

Awarded to Abbott Laboratories Limited3 awards

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Provision of the Managed Laboratory Service for NHS Lothian for its core molecular testing requirement.

CPV: Laboratory services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Lot #1Lothian Health Board (more commonly known as NHS Lothian) requires a managed service…Awarded

Lothian Health Board (more commonly known as NHS Lothian) requires a managed service solution for its core molecular testing capacity for a contract period of 3 years. The Supplier will assume responsibility for the guaranteed availability of the managed service solution

through the provision and management including maintenance.

Delivery: Scotland · Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

71900000 Laboratory services

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached

Procedure method: Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Legal basis: CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category: Services
Notice status: Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold: Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime: Standard
Commercial structure: Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type: Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered: Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement: Unspecified in notice
First published: 22 Jun 2021, 15:05 BST
Last source update: 13 Apr 2026, 16:33 BST
FTS notice number: 2026/S 000-033429
Classification (CPV): Laboratory services
Delivery area: Scotland (UKM75)
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02bef1 Find a Tender

Why no open competition: The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
Published justification: This contract is being awarded under the Direct Award procedure under Lot 1 – Clinical Managed Services of the SBS Framework for Clinical Managed Services including Managed Maintenance Services SBS10251.
National Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) replacement program is currently being rolled out across the Boards in Scotland and NHS Lothian have been recently given a go live date which coincides with the expiry of the current Managed Service Contract (MSC) for molecular testing. LIMS implementation delay would have a knock-on effect on other Boards hence it is imperative NHS Lothian maintains the timeline. A potential change of supplier due to competition would introduce significant clinical risk at the operational and programme level in terms of potential dual interface builds/manual transcription, increased potential for misidentification or data integrity errors as well as diversion of essential specialist resource away from the LIMS programme at a time when stability is critical. Most importantly, a change of supplier would put a disproportionate risk to patient care.
To reduce clinical risk during unavoidable LIMS implementation a direct award of core molecular testing MSC is recommended under Procurement Act 2023 Schedule 5 Paragraph 7: “(b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.”

Publisher note: (SC Ref:826921)

Notice history

1 event · 3 releases on Find a Tender

Buyer details updated
13 Apr 2026, 16:33 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Awards 3

Awarded value £10,000,0003 contracts exc. VAT

Bids received 1

Contracts signed 3latest 9 Apr 2026

Awarded to	Value	Date	Status
Abbott Laboratories Limited	£3,500,000 †	—	Awarded
Abbott Laboratories Limited	£3,000,000 †	—	Awarded
Abbott Laboratories Limited	£3,500,000 †	—	Awarded

Contracts

Contract 033429-2026-1 · Abbott Laboratories Limited
Signed
9 Apr 2026
Value
£3,000,000
Status
active
Contract 062829-2025-1 · Abbott Laboratories Limited
Signed
1 May 2022
Value
£3,500,000
Status
active
Contract 014206-2021-1 · Abbott Laboratories Limited
Signed
31 May 2021
Value
£3,500,000
Status
active

Bid statistics published by the authority

Bids	SME	VCSE	Valid bid range
1bids · 1 electronic · 1 from abroad	0	—	—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

2 public bodies on the notice

Lothian Health Board

Contracting authorityRegional or local authorityHealth Mainpoint, 2nd Floor, 102 Westport, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH3 9DNContact email, phone

Consortium members and other public bodies

NHS LothianContracting authorityCentral purchasing bodyBody governed by public lawHealth Edinburgh, ScotlandContact name, email, phone

Dispute resolution & review bodies

Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace CourtReview body Edinburgh

Bidders & participating suppliers

2 commercial parties on the notice

Abbott Laboratories LtdAwarded supplier Vanwall Business Park, Maidenhead, Scotland, SL6 4XFContact phone
Abbott Laboratories LtdAwarded supplier Abbott House , Vanwall Business Park, Maidenhead, UK, SL6 4XFContact phone

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.