Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Lothian Health Board
Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street
Edinburgh
EH8 8BG
UK
Contact person: Roberta Rockaite
Telephone: +44 1312421000
E-mail: roberta.rockaite@nhs.scot
NUTS: UKM75
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.nhslothian.scot
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00326
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html
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
Microbiology Services Managed Service Contract
Reference number: LR3-208-2026
II.1.2) Main CPV code
71900000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
NHS Lothian seeks next-generation automated laboratory solution delivered on a managed services basis for diagnostic and laboratory services at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
The scope of the contract is an integrated Microbiology laboratory managed Services contract (“MSC”) providing service management to meet all regulatory requirements, integrated IT firmware, major analysers, reagents and consumables to deliver the majority of the test repertoire.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
3 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
71900000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM75
Main site or place of performance:
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Lothian seeks the provision of integrated Microbiology laboratory managed services to deliver the Core Services, including integrated MALDI ToF and advanced digital automation, for laboratory located at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
The scope of the MSC will include the provision of optional Conventional Microbiology laboratory and antimicrobial susceptibility testing services. The procurement documents will detail the basis on which these optional services may be instructed by NHS Lothian.
The successful economic operator will be responsible for the provision, implementation, calibration, commissioning and maintenance of all equipment necessary to deliver the MSC and for provision of all consumables used in connection therewith. It is intended an award will be made to one successful economic operator who will assume full responsibility for provision of all the managed services to NHS Lothian. The successful economic operator shall be solely responsible for effecting any sub-contracting or collaborative arrangements required with other suppliers to allow the successful economic operator to meet this commitment.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Technical
/ Weighting: 80
Price
/ Weighting:
20
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 120
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Extension of the term of the contract up to a maximum of 24 months will be at the discretion of NHS Lothian.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The procurement documents shall detail the optional laboratory testing services which NHS Lothian shall be entitled to instruct over the
term of the MSC and detail the basis upon which these services may be purchased by NHS Lothian.
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
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
If required by the member state, Economic Operators are required to be enrolled in the relevant professional or trade registers within the country in which they are established.
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria:
This section refers to Part 4B of the SPD and covers questions 4B.1.1– 4B.6 of the SPD:
4B.1.2 Economic operators will be required to have an average yearly turnover of a minimum of 6 million GBP for the last 3 years.
4B.2.2 Economic operators will be required to have an average yearly turnover of a minimum of 4 million GBP in the business area covered by the contract for the last 3 years.
4B.4 Economic operators will be required to provide the following financial ratios for the same 3 year period as 4B.1.2.:
- Current Ratio (>1 expected)
This ratio is requested for information only and will be used to compare finances across the sector as well as to assess the economic operators’ financial strength and security. In some cases this review may lead to an additional request for further financial information to help clarify any potential issues raised.
4B.5 It is a requirement of this contract that economic operators hold, or can commit to obtain, prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
Professional Risk Indemnity: 6 million GBP
Employer's (Compulsory) Liability: 5 million GBP
Public Liability: 6 million GBP
Product Liability: 6 million GBP
For further guidance on Employers (Compulsory) Liability Insurance see
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse40.pdf
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Economic operators will be required to provide examples of similar services carried out during the past three years that demonstrate experience to deliver the services described in the Section II.2.4 of this Contract Notice which are similar in size, value and complexity.
Economic operator’s examples should include but are not limited to the following details in their service provision examples:
- Detailed description of the services delivered;
- Contract value
- Contract period
- Complexity of the managed services contract
- Contact details of a reference (this may be used for information purposes only)
Economic operators are required to provide details of the technicians or technical bodies the economic operator can call upon, especially those responsible for quality control, and demonstrate that they have sufficient service engineers, technical support, IT and contract managers to oversee and maintain quality standards and KPIs to perform the contract as described in Section II.2.4 of this contract notice.
Economic operators are required to provide examples of the supply chain management and supplies tracking systems likely to be utilised in the supply of the services, e.g. with 3rd party supplier, stock/IT systems utilised, logistics arrangements, and average lead times, used by them to deliver the types of requirements detailed in Section II.2.4 of this Contract Notice.
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
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:
2026/S 000-069411
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
23/10/2026
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 10 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
11/12/2026
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
(SC Ref:845266)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
08/10/2026