Find a TenderPast planning noticePreliminary market engagement notice
Published 15 Aug 2025, 22:45 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Pathology Programme - Cellular Pathology Managed Service

Official notice

Authority: Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Central government)

ServicesAbove thresholdSME suitableVCSE suitable
Planned pipeline value£21,000,000pipeline notice, not a live tender
Tender notice expected 13 Apr 2026from the planned procurement notice
Contract term 10 yrsends 11 Jul 2037 · up to 11 Jul 2041 with extensions · starts 12 Jul 2027

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GHFT) is inviting suppliers to participate in a market engagement exercise in advance of its planned re-procurement and enhancement of pathology services.

The Pathology Department at GHFT plays a pivotal role in delivering high-quality diagnostic and laboratory services for primary and secondary care in Gloucestershire and South Worcestershire. Operating from Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital, the department provides a comprehensive range of services, including:

  • Chemical Pathology (Atamis Ref: C382440)
  • Haematology, Immunology, Transfusion (Atamis Ref: C382441)
  • Infection Sciences (Atamis Ref: C382442)
  • Cellular Pathology (Atamis Ref: C382443)

GHFT aims to identify strategic partners to support a comprehensive transformation programme encompassing Facility upgrades; Equipment modernisation; Process optimisation; Enhanced contract management

The overarching goal is to deliver a flexible, high-quality pathology service that is future-ready and aligned with GHFT’s vision of “Best Care for Everyone.”

This informal market engagement for Cellular Pathology - one of four related market engagement exercises - will help inform GHFT's future procurement approach and the development of service specifications.

Participation is entirely voluntary and will not affect eligibility to participate in any future procurement process. Suppliers who choose not to engage at this stage will not be disadvantaged. However, feedback and contributions will be instrumental in ensuring the final procurement approach reflects market capacity, innovation, and best practice.

Important Notes:

  • This notice is for information-gathering purposes only and does not signal the start of a formal procurement.
  • GHFT is under no obligation to proceed with a procurement following this exercise. Should GHFT proceed to procurement, a separate Contract Notice will be published.
  • Any participation will be at the supplier’s own cost; no expenses will be reimbursed.
  • A robust conflicts of interest assessment process, fully compliant with PA23 standards, is in place.

CPV: Analysers · Biochemical analysers · Computer equipment and supplies · Diagnostic devices · Diagnostic kits · Diagnostic supplies · Diagnostic systems · Installation services of laboratory equipment · Inventory management software package · Laboratory building construction work · Laboratory reagents · Laboratory services · +5 more

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1PlannedRenewal 10 yrsSMEVCSE
Contract period: 12 Jul 2027 – 11 Jul 2037 (10 yrs) · up to 11 Jul 2041 with extensions
Delivery: South WestEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: Extension options published

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Past planning notice
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
15 Aug 2025, 22:45 BST
Last source update
15 Aug 2025, 22:45 BST
Authority reference
C382443
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-049308
Latest notice
Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
Classification (CPV)
AnalysersBiochemical analysersComputer equipment and suppliesDiagnostic devicesDiagnostic kitsDiagnostic suppliesDiagnostic systemsInstallation services of laboratory equipmentInventory management software packageLaboratory building construction work
+7 moreLaboratory reagentsLaboratory services
Delivery area
South West (UKK13)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05895c Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

15 Aug 2025 → 12 Jul 2027 · 4 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    15 Aug 2025, 22:45 BST
  2. Market engagement
    17 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST

    The market engagement documentation is available for unrestricted and direct access, free of charge, via the Health Family e-Sourcing portal (Atamis) at: health-family.force.com/s/Welcome ↗.

    Suppliers interested in this opportunity are invited to register their interest by accessing the Atamis e-Sourcing portal and searching for Atamis Reference: C382443.

    Requests to participate must be submitted electronically via Atamis. Upon registration, suppliers will be granted access to the published materials, which include the Market Engagement Questionnaire. Respondents are encouraged to review and complete this questionnaire as part of the engagement process.

  3. Tender notice expected196 days ago
    13 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
  4. Today
    27 Oct 2026
  5. Contract startsin 257 days
    12 Jul 2027, 00:00 BST

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    15 Aug 2025, 22:45 BST
    UK2

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Pipeline notice
Awards (0)
No award published
Contracts (0)
No contract published
Bid statistics
No aggregate bid statistics published

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PYHT-5943-VXGV Alexandra House, Cheltenham General Hospital, Sandford Road, Gloucester, South West, GL53 7ANContact name, email, phone

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure