Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
UK Biobank Ltd
1-2 Spectrum Way, Adswood
Stockport
SK3 0SA
UK
Telephone: +44 7824509469
E-mail: tenders@ukbiobank.ac.uk
NUTS: UKD3
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.mytenders.co.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA25607
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
Laboratory IT Systems
Reference number: UKB020
II.1.2) Main CPV code
48100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
II.1.4) Short description
By publishing this Contract Notice, UK Biobank (“UKB”) is inviting requests to participate in its procurement for the design and implementation of new laboratory IT systems (the “Systems”) to support the next phase of UKB’s laboratory operations.
UKB is a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK participants.
UKB’s database, which includes blood samples, heart and brain scans and genetic data of the 500,000 volunteer participants, is globally accessible to approved researchers who are undertaking health-related research that is in the public interest.
Funding to support purchase of the Systems has been budgeted by UKRI, and announced by both UKRI, and HM Treasury.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
8 000 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
72000000
48000000
72220000
72230000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKD3
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
UKB (www.ukbiobank.ac.uk) is a company limited by guarantee and a registered UK charity established by its two founding funders: the Medical Research Council and Wellcome. It is a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK Participants. UKB is globally accessible to approved researchers undertaking health-related research that is in the public interest.
UKB is responsible for the safe preservation and scientific exploitation of a collection of over 17 million samples (plasma, serum, buffy coat, extracted DNA, urine and saliva) that are accessible for approved use by academic and industry researchers. About 11 million samples are stored at -80°C across an automated storage system and other manual freezers at UKB’s headquarters in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The remaining 6 million Samples are stored in vapour phase liquid nitrogen tanks at a backup site in the South of England.
UKB is inviting requests to participate in its procurement for the design and implementation of the Systems, data migration from existing legacy systems, testing, commissioning, training, hypercare support and, if required by UKB, the provision of consultancy services in relation to the Systems on an ad hoc basis. UKB envisages that its requirements can be met and the Systems can be delivered through a combination of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software packages managed through configuration, and complemented by bespoke services. UKB requires a licence and standard support services for any COTS software. This will either be included as part of the contract with the successful tenderer or through an additional contract between UKB and the COTS vendor.
The Systems will be required to support UKB laboratory operations when they move to a new purpose-built facility in the City of Manchester in the North West of England in 2026, UKB expects to take ownership for ongoing delivery of the Systems on completion of the phased implementation and will require the Service Provider to collaborate closely with the UKB technical team to ensure a successful implementation and hand-over. The current Laboratory Information Management System data stored in the legacy systems is approximately 110GB across over 160 tables. The Systems must be capable of managing 30 million samples in the near term and have the capacity to expand to accommodate 60 million within the next 15 years.
Further detail in relation to the requirements for the Systems and support services are set out in the specification provided as part of the procurement documents.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Functional Requirements
/ Weighting: 35
Quality criterion: Non-Functional / Technical Requirements
/ Weighting: 15
Quality criterion: Implementation Services
/ Weighting: 20
Price
/ Weighting:
30
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
II.2.14) Additional information
UK Biobank intends to hold a virtual information session for shortlisted tenderers. The time and final details will be confirmed to shortlisted tenderers.
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive procedure with negotiation
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:
2025/S 000-003300
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
04/11/2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 13
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 8
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 12
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 13
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
IBM UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED
Building C, IBM Hursley Office, Hursley Park Road
WINCHESTER
SO21 2JN
UK
Telephone: +44 2072023000
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 5 938 026.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
UKB reserves the right to discontinue or delay the procurement process and may decide not to award a contract as a result of this call for competition. UKB shall not be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by any organisation in considering and/or responding to the procurement process. Tenders and supporting documents must be priced in pounds sterling and all payments made under the contract(s) will be in pounds sterling, unless otherwise advised.
The estimated contract value for the purchase of the Systems and the provision of services as set out in this Contract Notice and for the duration described at Section II.2.7 may be in the range of [1 - 8 million GBP]. Initial work done by UKB indicated that its requirements might potentially be delivered by a wide range of solutions with differing levels of reliance on existing COTS software packages (“Buy”) and the development of bespoke software (“Build”) which explains the very broad range in the estimated contract value. However, UKB’s expectation is that the System can be delivered through a combination of COTS software packages managed through configuration, and complemented by bespoke services (i.e. with greater emphasis on “Buy” relative to “Build”) and therefore anticipates that the estimated value will be towards the lower end of this range.
The duration set out at Section II.2.7 is the estimated duration of the contract and is subject to a number of milestones being achieved.
UKB will incorporate a standstill period at the point the decision in relation to the award of the contract(s) is notified to bidders. The standstill period, which will be a minimum of ten (10) calendar days, provides time for unsuccessful bidders to lodge an appeal in regards to the award decisions, before the contract(s) are entered into.
NOTE: In order to request to participate in this contract opportunity, interested organisations must complete and submit a response to UKB’s selection questionnaire by the deadline stated in Section IV.2.2. UKB will then undertake a shortlisting process and shortlist successful candidates, as set out in Section II.2.9, to be invited to the tender stage of the procurement process. UKB reserves the right to invite the fourth ranked candidate through to the tender stage of the procurement if its score at the selection questionnaire stage is within 5% of the third ranked candidate. It is not envisaged that there will be any down-selection of tenderers during the tender stage of the procurement although UKB reserves the right to do so. Details of the envisaged tender stage process is set out in a draft Invitation to Negotiate provided as part of the procurement documents.
To access the procurement documents, please visit the myTenders Web Site at https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=233323.
(MT Ref:235891)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The High Court
Roya Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
05/11/2025