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Published 20 Feb 2026, 17:13 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Microbiology Automation, including automated Blood Culture, Microbial Identification and Susceptibility Testing Systems

Official notice

Procurement agent: Belfast Health and Social Care Trust·On behalf of: Regional Business Services Organisation Procurement and Logistics Service

GoodsCompetitive flexible procedureAbove threshold
Sectors: Medical Devices & Pharma (33)Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) (38)Architecture & Engineering (71) Delivery: Delivery location not published
Published estimate£21,622,505≈ £3.6m / year · £25,947,007 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 1 Apr 2026
Contract term 6 yrsends 31 Dec 2032 · up to 30 Jun 2036 with extensions · starts 1 Jan 2027

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Business Services Organisation (BSO) Procurement and Logistics Service (PaLS), on behalf of the Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts and the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS), invites tenders for the supply of advanced laboratory automation solutions for microbiological testing, including automated Blood Culture, Microbial Identification and Susceptibility Testing Systems.

  • Not divided into lots: The requirement has not been divided into lots because the equipment, consumables, and associated services must function as a fully integrated and interoperable system. All components must interface with the same technology and validated workflows, and reagents and consumables are specifically calibrated and approved for use with the supplier’s equipment. Servicing and maintenance also require manufacturer authorised personnel. Splitting the requirement into separate lots would risk incompatibility, reduced functionality, and loss of assurance.
  • The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Jan 2034, 23:59 GMT.
  • How the procedure runs: This procurement consists of five stages, commencing with the publication of this notice. Stage 1 involves the review of Exclusion, Debarment, and Conditions of Participation criteria. Stage 2 comprises the assessment of the Award Criteria – Mandatory Technical Requirements. At Stage 3, suppliers are invited to complete a workflow analysis and provide design and implementation plans; a dialogue phase may be undertaken if required. Suppliers progressing to Stage 4 will submit their final bids, including finalised design and implementation plans, which will be assessed alongside Award Criteria – Quality Scored and Financial bids. Stage 5 concludes the process with contract award.
  • No preliminary market engagement: Pre‑market engagement took place in 2023 and 2025 under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, with Prior Information Notices published for transparency (2023/S 000‑026578 and 2025/S 000‑002465).

CPV: Analysers · Blood-testing reagents · Instruments for checking physical characteristics · Laboratory services · Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) · Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products · Reagents and contrast media

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Renewal 6 yrsPublished value£21,622,505
Contract period: 1 Jan 2027 – 31 Dec 2032 (6 yrs) · up to 30 Jun 2036 with extensionsValue: £21,622,505 exc. VAT · £25,947,007 inc. VAT
Extensions: The tender includes options to procure additional equipment where funding becomes available and infrastructure constraints are resolved. Details of known future requirements are included within the tender documentation; however, provision of these items is not currently feasible due to unresolved floor loading and wider infrastructure issues. These potential future purchases will be assessed as part of the tender and may proceed if, and when, the constraints are addressed and funding is secured. The tender also includes provisions for additional quantities and changes to test repertoires. Criteria for additional purchases are set out in the tender documentation and include, but are not limited to, changes in clinical guidance, departmental recommendations, changes in clinical practice, consolidation of testing services, and unforeseen increases in demand. · There is provision for an extension of the contract for any period up to and including 24 months. A further extension of up to 18 months may also be applied; however, this additional 18‑month extension may be used solely to facilitate a subsequent procurement competition or to put in place alternative arrangements for the required supplies or services. The estimated Total Value provided includes all potential extensions, as well as any known potential future purchases described within the “Description of Options”.
33000000 Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products33696000 Reagents and contrast media33696200 Blood-testing reagents38000000 Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)38400000 Instruments for checking physical characteristics38434000 Analysers
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    This tender will assess legal and financial capacity through six pass/fail Conditions of Participation questions.

  • Technical & professional ability

    This tender will assess technical capacity through seven pass/fail Conditions of Participation questions, including the provision of a supplier reference.

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored
  • 15 percent
  • 85 Percent
Conditions of participation2
  • Economic & financial standing

    This tender will assess legal and financial capacity through six pass/fail Conditions of Participation questions.

  • Technical & professional ability

    This tender will assess technical capacity through seven pass/fail Conditions of Participation questions, including the provision of a supplier reference.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Competitive flexible procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Goods
Notice status
Closed
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Yes · next expected 1 Jan 2034
First published
20 Feb 2026, 17:13 GMT
Last source update
20 Feb 2026, 17:13 GMT
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 30 Nov 2026
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-015855
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
AnalysersBlood-testing reagentsInstruments for checking physical characteristicsLaboratory servicesLaboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care productsReagents and contrast media
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0659ae Find a Tender
How it runs

This procurement consists of five stages, commencing with the publication of this notice. Stage 1 involves the review of Exclusion, Debarment, and Conditions of Participation criteria. Stage 2 comprises the assessment of the Award Criteria – Mandatory Technical Requirements. At Stage 3, suppliers are invited to complete a workflow analysis and provide design and implementation plans; a dialogue phase may be undertaken if required. Suppliers progressing to Stage 4 will submit their final bids, including finalised design and implementation plans, which will be assessed alongside Award Criteria – Quality Scored and Financial bids. Stage 5 concludes the process with contract award.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: eTendersNI · Who buys & how to bid on eTendersNI
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free Northern Ireland registration
Submission deadline
1 Apr 2026, 15:00 BST
Clarification deadline
25 Mar 2026, 15:00 GMT
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the eTendersNI platform (etendersni.gov.uk/epps ↗)

Timeline

20 Feb 2026 → 1 Jan 2027 · 5 dates
  1. Tender notice published248 days ago
    20 Feb 2026, 17:13 GMT
  2. Clarification questions by215 days ago
    25 Mar 2026, 15:00 GMT
  3. Submission deadline208 days ago
    1 Apr 2026, 15:00 BST
  4. Today
    26 Oct 2026
  5. Award decision expected byin 35 days
    30 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
  6. Contract startsin 66 days
    1 Jan 2027

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender
  1. Tender notice published
    20 Feb 2026, 17:13 GMT
    UK4

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

8 public bodies on the notice

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Procurement agentPublic authority - central governmentNorthern Irish devolved regulations apply GB-PPON: PLQJ-5727-JCLR A Floor, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT9 7ABContact email

Clients of the procurement agent

  • Regional Business Services Organisation Procurement and Logistics ServiceBeneficiary authority
  • Business Services Organisations, Procurement and Logistics ServiceProcess contact pointProcuring entityBusiness Services Organisation (BSO) Procurement and Logistics Service (PaLS) is facilitating this tender process on behalf of the named Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts and the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS).GB-PPON: PWNJ-1991-NGDW Belfast, Northern IrelandContact email
  • NI Blood Transfusion ServiceContracting authorityPublic authority - central governmentNorthern Irish devolved regulations applyGB-PPON: PTNY-7183-GXBY Belfast, Northern IrelandContact email
  • Northern Health and Social Care TrustContracting authorityPublic authority - central governmentNorthern Irish devolved regulations applyGB-PPON: PBRP-6676-CQZY Antrim, Northern IrelandContact email
  • South Eastern Health and Social Care TrustContracting authorityPublic authority - central governmentNorthern Irish devolved regulations applyGB-PPON: PLGY-6381-WWWR Belfast, Northern IrelandContact email
  • Southern Health and Social Care TrustContracting authorityPublic authority - central governmentNorthern Irish devolved regulations applyGB-PPON: PJCC-1957-RCGP Portadown, Northern IrelandContact email
  • Western Health and Social Care TrustContracting authorityPublic authority - central governmentNorthern Irish devolved regulations applyGB-PPON: PTVW-2397-PWCT Londonderry, Northern IrelandContact email

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender