Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS England
Wellington House, 133-135 Waterloo Rd
London
SE1 8UG
UK
Contact person: Collette Palmer
E-mail: collette.palmer@nhs.net
NUTS: UKI
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.england.nhs.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.england.nhs.uk/
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
External Quality Assessment (EQA) Service
Reference number: C397948
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
This is a DAP A for an existing service following a Market Engagement exercise.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
2 400 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The NHS Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH) Service Specification requires each NHS GLH to:<br/>The NHS Genomic Laboratory Hub(GLH) Service Specification requires each NHS GLH to:<br/>• Deliver the genomic tests which are prescribed in the NHS National Genomic Testing Directory (the Directory);<br/>• Participate and achieve satisfactory performance in UKAS-accredited (or newly developed pilots offered incompliance with ISO 17043) external quality assurance schemes to assure the quality of testing, analysis, interpretation and reporting of tests prescribed in the Directory, including Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).<br/>An award has been made following Direct Award Process A. The service started on 1st April 2026 for a period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further 1 year at the Commissioner’s discretion. The total contract value of £2,400,000.00 includes the 1 year option to extend.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Cost criterion: No realistic alternative provider
/ Weighting: 100
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
There is an option to extend the contract beyond the initial term for an additional 1 year.
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
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
These contract awards are being made under the Direct Award Process A
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2025/S 000-069861
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
01/04/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE
03012351
Offices 5-6 Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park Worksop Road
Sheffield
S9 3TL
UK
Telephone: +44 1312426898
NUTS: UKE
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:
: 2 400 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) confirmation of contract award notice. This contract has been awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award.<br/>Decision makers: National Commissioning Group (NCG) DATEXXXXX
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit
Cardinal Square, 10 Nottingham Road
Derby
DE1 3QT
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
07/05/2026