Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust)
4-5 Charnwood Court
Cardiff
CF15 7QZ
UK
Contact person: ALEXANDRA MCHUGH
E-mail: alexandra.mchugh@wales.nhs.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://nwssp.nhs.wales/ourservices/procurement-services/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0221
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
International Courier Contract For NEQAS/WBMDR
Reference number: WBS-ITT-57986
II.1.2) Main CPV code
64120000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Welsh Blood Service (WBS), operating under Velindre University NHS Trust, invites tenders for the provision of transport services for biological samples. These services are required to support the operations of two key programmes:
UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (UK NEQAS for H&I), which distributes blood samples to medical laboratories globally as part of its External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes.
Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry (WBMDR), which facilitates the transport of donor samples to laboratories worldwide as well as the transport of samples from GPs/Hospitals/Donors addresses within the UK to WBS.
NEQAS offer 19 different EQA Schemes, which are available to laboratories or appropriate companies in the UK and internationally (our customers). The EQA service necessitates the regular distribution of blood samples to our customers to allow us to check the quality of their medical tests. Some of the samples sent deteriorate quickly; therefore, delivery to destinations must be ASAP to ensure samples are suitable for testing.
The successful provider will be required to Ensure timely and reliable distribution of biological samples, including perishable samples that must be delivered to UK and international destinations as quickly as possible to maintain suitability for testing and non-perishable samples, which can be dispatched via courier or post based on customer preferences.
The successful supplier must also be able to provide transport solutions for donor samples originating from GPs, hospitals, or donor addresses within the UK to the WBS, as well as outgoing shipments from WBS to laboratories worldwide.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
375 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
International Courier Contract For NEQAS
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
64120000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Welsh Blood Service (WBS), operating under Velindre University NHS Trust, invites tenders for the provision of transport services for biological samples. These services are required to support the operations of two key programmes:
UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (UK NEQAS for H&I), which distributes blood samples to medical laboratories globally as part of its External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes.
Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry (WBMDR), which facilitates the transport of donor samples to laboratories worldwide as well as the transport of samples from GPs/Hospitals/Donors addresses within the UK to WBS.
NEQAS offer 19 different EQA Schemes, which are available to laboratories or appropriate companies in the UK and internationally (our customers). The EQA service necessitates the regular distribution of blood samples to our customers to allow us to check the quality of their medical tests. Some of the samples sent deteriorate quickly; therefore, delivery to destinations must be ASAP to ensure samples are suitable for testing.
The successful provider will be required to Ensure timely and reliable distribution of biological samples, including perishable samples that must be delivered to UK and international destinations as quickly as possible to maintain suitability for testing and non-perishable samples, which can be dispatched via courier or post based on customer preferences.
The successful supplier must also be able to provide transport solutions for donor samples originating from GPs, hospitals, or donor addresses within the UK to the WBS, as well as outgoing shipments from WBS to laboratories worldwide.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Technical
/ Weighting: 40
Quality criterion: Cost
/ Weighting: 60
Price
/ Weighting:
60
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
International Courier Contract For WBMDR
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
64120000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership – Procurement Services on behalf of The Welsh Blood Service (WBS), operating under Velindre University NHS Trust required an experienced supplier provision of transport services for biological samples. These services are required to support the operations of two key programmes:
UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (UK NEQAS for H&I), which distributes blood samples to medical laboratories globally as part of its External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes.
Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry (WBMDR), which facilitates the transport of donor samples to laboratories worldwide as well as the transport of samples from GPs/Hospitals/Donors addresses within the UK to WBS.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Technical
/ Weighting: 40
Cost criterion: Cost
/ Weighting: 60
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2024/S 000-039757
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 1
Title: International Courier Contract For NEQAS
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13/02/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
DHL
SLOUGH
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 40 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 2
Title: International Courier Contract For WBMDR
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
23/12/2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
PRIORITY EXPRESS (COURIERS) LTD
PRIORITY EXPRESS (COURIERS) LTD, Unit 11 Regents Trade Park
Cardiff
CF245PF
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 25 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
(WA Ref:161915)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
Telephone: +44 2079477501
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
23/02/2026