Official UK procurement notice
Framework for Microbiological Testing Requirements
Authority: CENTRE FOR PROCESS INNOVATION LIMITED (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionCentre for Process Innovation (CPI) have existing GMP facilities at the RNA Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Darlington. To support this site, Microbiological testing services are required, including but not limited to Bioburden and Endotoxin. This tender is to cover the Microbiological testing services required for release analysis of buffers, intermediates, drug substance (DS) and drug product (DP) at the RNA CoE.
CPI has technology centres across the UK and aims to support clients and customers with innovation projects as well as provide manufacturing capabilities. CPI’s RNA CoE is a multi-million pound GMP facility based in Darlington in the Northeast of England and is the only UK-based site with the capability to develop and manufacture lipid nanoparticle encapsulated messenger and self-amplifying RNA vaccines and therapies ready for use in early-phase clinical trials.
The aim of this tender is to establish preferred and CPI-approved suppliers for the full scope of Microbiology Testing requirements for GMP release testing. The manufactured products will be used for early phase clinical trials, therefore, supplier approvals and a Quality Technical Agreement will be required. It is expected that the vendor holds a GMP certificate issued by the MHRA.
This tender will primarily be used for CPI’s RNA Centre of Excellence located at 3 John Williams Boulevard South, Darlington, DL1 1GL, although this tender may be used across other CPI sites should their requirements fall under the scope of this tender
CPV: Technical inspection and testing services · Technical testing services · Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs are awarded directly to appointed suppliers, without further competition
- Places
- up to 2 suppliers · 2 appointed (full)
- Framework period
- 4 yrs from 28 Sept 2026
Published description of the framework
Ranked, Minimum of 1, Maximum of 2 suppliers. Call off method is direct award
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedWhat 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).
Lot awarding rule: 70% Quality 30% Price
- “Framework for Microbiological Testing Requirements” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 2 suppliers, not a single contract, and call-offs are awarded directly: getting appointed is the whole game.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Below threshold - open competition
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Below threshold
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 5 Aug 2026, 08:47 BST
- Last source update
- 16 Oct 2026, 11:25 BST
- Authority reference
3957- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-073948- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dbdaFind a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 21 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
Timeline
5 Aug 2026 → 16 Oct 2026 · 4 dates- Tender notice published76 days ago5 Aug 2026, 08:47 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends59 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown21 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts22 days ago28 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published4 days ago16 Oct 2026, 11:25 BST
Notice history
3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 5 Aug 2026- Tender notice published5 Aug 2026, 08:47 BSTUK4
- Contract details notice published16 Oct 2026, 11:25 BSTUK7
- Status changed to complete16 Oct 2026, 11:25 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast1 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.
Contracts
Framework for Microbiological Testing Requirements
- Signed
- 16 Oct 2026
- Value
- £110,000
- Period
- 19 Oct 2026 – 11 Oct 2030
- Status
- active
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
2 commercial parties on the notice- Honeyman Group LimitedFramework contractor
- Reading Scientific Services LtdFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender