Pathology Managed Equipment Service (MES) – South 4 Pathology Network

The participating trusts within the South 4 Pathology Network are continuing the preliminary market engagement originally commenced under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 through Prior Information Notice 2022/S 000-012490. The Network subsequently published UK1 Pipeline Notice 2026/S 000-054473 to reflect that any future procurement will be conducted under the Procurement Act 2023.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is acting as the contracting authority for this preliminary market engagement on behalf of the participating trusts within the South 4 Pathology Network: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. References in this notice to the Authority are to Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust acting in that capacity.

The Authority is considering the procurement of a Pathology Managed Equipment Service (MES). The indicative scope includes the provision, installation, commissioning and lifecycle management of pathology laboratory equipment, together with maintenance, servicing, repairs, upgrades, replacement planning, training and performance support.

The testing scope is expected to focus primarily on blood sciences and associated hospital laboratory services, including biochemistry, haematology, coagulation, serology, immunology, automation and pre-analytics, such as specimen tracking and automatic receipting. The service model may include equipment supplied through capital and/or lease arrangements, asset management, consumables and reagents where required, inventory and logistics management, interoperability with existing and future laboratory information management systems, digital enablement, automation, data and reporting, technical support, training and continuous service improvement.

The proposed service is intended to support network standardisation, service resilience, improved efficiency and turnaround times, high-quality patient-centred diagnostic services, sustainability and social value. It is expected to be delivered across multiple NHS sites within the South 4 Pathology Network, with flexibility to accommodate future changes to the network configuration. As part of the preliminary market engagement, the Authority is considering whether a single-supplier, multi-supplier and/or lot-based contracting model would be appropriate. Any future procurement structure and contract term will be determined following consideration of the engagement outcomes, equipment lifecycles and long-term service delivery requirements.

Interested suppliers should register on the Atamis e-tendering portal and locate the opportunity using Atamis reference C288438.

All engagement documents, instructions, clarifications and responses will be managed through Atamis. Suppliers should ensure that their organisation and contact details are current on the portal.

The preliminary market engagement may include:

• publication of a Request for Information (RFI);
• supplier engagement events, held virtually and/or in person;
• technical workshops;
• written feedback submissions; and
• one-to-one supplier meetings.

A supplier questionnaire will be available through Atamis following registration, with responses required by 12.00 pm on 12 October 2026. Details and dates for any supplier briefing sessions, technical workshops or one-to-one meetings will be communicated through Atamis.

Participation in any preliminary market engagement activity is voluntary. The Authority will conduct the engagement in a transparent and proportionate manner and will take appropriate steps to ensure that participation does not distort competition or provide any supplier with an unfair advantage in a subsequent procurement.

Final arrangements, including joining instructions and any changes to the timetable, will be communicated through Atamis.

The South 4 Pathology Network intends to undertake this market engagement to:

• inform the development of the procurement strategy;
• understand supplier capability and capacity;
• explore available technologies and service delivery models;
• inform specification development;
• consider commercial models and risk allocation;
• identify opportunities for innovation and service transformation; and
• support the design of a future procurement using the Competitive Flexible Procedure.

This notice is issued in accordance with section 16 of the Procurement Act 2023 to inform the market of planned preliminary market engagement in advance of a potential future procurement. Information obtained through the engagement may be used to inform the Authority’s procurement strategy, specification, commercial approach, procurement structure and timetable. This notice does not constitute a call for competition, an invitation to tender or a commitment to commence a procurement process or award a contract. Participation is voluntary and will not confer an advantage in any subsequent procurement; equally, non-participation will not place a supplier at a disadvantage. To support transparency and fair competition, information arising from the engagement that is relevant to any subsequent procurement will, subject to applicable legal, confidentiality and commercial sensitivity requirements, be made available to suppliers participating in that procurement. The Authority will maintain appropriate records of the preliminary market engagement in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and its associated requirements.