HPV Primary Cervical Screening Laboratory Service - North West
NHS England North West / Greater ManchesterEstimated Value
Not specified
Deadline
Not specified
Published
16 June 2026
Type
services
Overview
This is an INTENTION TO AWARD Notice following The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 - Direct Award Process C (DAP C). North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) is a commissioning support service working for and on behalf of NHS England North West (the Relevant Authority) who have undertaken a DAP C process to provide North West HPV Primary Cervical Screening Laboratory Service.
Contract Start Date: 01 July 2026 Contract End Date: 31 March 2029 The agreed contract term is an initial term of 21 months 01 July 2026 to 31 March 2028, with a further 1 year extension 01 April 2028 to March 2029. This is an INTENTION TO AWARD Notice following The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 - Direct Award Process C.
The Relevant Authority is intending to award a contract to the existing provider following Direct Award Process C. The publication of this notice marks the start of the Standstill Period.
Key dates
- Duration
- 21 months
Regulations cited
- The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023
- Procurement Regulations 2024
- Procurement Act 2023
- Public Contracts Regulations 2015
Additional details
This is an intention to award notice to advise that the Relevant Authority intends to award a contract under a DAP C under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Regulations 2024 (Procurement Act 2023) and/ or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
NHSE1090 - North West HPV Primary Cervical Screening Laboratory Service. The HPV Primary Cervical Screening Laboratory Service is an essential component of the cervical screening programme pathway.
The HPV Primary Cervical Screening laboratory and manage the Cervical Sample Taker database across the Northwest region - Greater Manchester, Cheshire & Merseyside, Lancashire and South Cumbria - and a small part of the Northeast/North Cumbria region. Contract Start Date: 01 July 2026 Contract End Date: 31 March 2029 The agreed contract term is an initial term of 21 months 01 July 2026 to 31 March 2028, with a further 1 year extension 01 April 2028 to March 2029. This is an Existing Service with an incumbent provider.
AI Analysis
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NHS England North West is awarding a contract to run the HPV Primary Cervical Screening Laboratory Service across the North West region (Greater Manchester, Cheshire & Merseyside, Lancashire, South Cumbria, and part of North East/North Cumbria). This is a direct award to the existing provider, meaning a new competitive tender is not being held. The service runs from July 2026 to March 2029 with a potential one-year extension.
Requirements
- Must be capable of operating as an NHS-approved HPV Primary Cervical Screening Laboratory
- Must manage the Cervical Sample Taker database across the North West region
- Must comply with Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023
- Must be the existing incumbent provider (this is a direct award, not open competition)
- No specific additional certifications or qualifications stated in this notice — full tender documents will detail clinical and regulatory standards required
Key Tasks & Deliverables
- Operate and manage the HPV Primary Cervical Screening Laboratory service
- Process cervical screening samples using HPV primary testing methodology
- Maintain and manage the Cervical Sample Taker database across four NHS commissioning areas
- Ensure continuity of this essential component of the cervical screening programme pathway
How to Read This Tender
- 1This is an 'Intention to Award' notice, not an open tender — it tells you the buyer has already decided to give the contract to the current provider. There is a 'Standstill Period' starting now where other providers can formally challenge this decision if they believe the process was unfair.
- 2This contract is awarded under 'Direct Award Process C' (DAP C) under healthcare-specific regulations, not the standard Procurement Act 2023. This means different rules apply than typical government contracts — healthcare services have their own selection process.
- 3The contract is 21 months initially (July 2026 to March 2028) plus a one-year extension option (April 2028 to March 2029). Check the full tender documents to understand whether the extension is automatic or requires renewal assessment.
- 4This is a specialist laboratory and database service. Look for the detailed specification in the full procurement documents to understand exact sample volumes, turnaround times, quality standards, and IT system requirements.
- 5The notice mentions this is an 'existing service with an incumbent provider' — meaning the current provider is being re-awarded without competitive bidding. If you're not the current provider and want to challenge, you must act during the Standstill Period.
Tips for Small Businesses
- If you are the incumbent provider, this is a confirmation notice — verify all contract terms in the full documents match your expectations for the 2026-2029 period and clarify extension conditions.
- If you are not the current provider and believe you could deliver this service, check whether you can formally object during the Standstill Period (the notice states it has just begun). You will need evidence that the direct award process was procedurally unfair.
- This is a highly specialised NHS laboratory service requiring clinical accreditation, CLIA or equivalent lab standards, and IT infrastructure to manage regional databases. Unless you have existing laboratory certification and cervical screening expertise, this is not a suitable contract for a general business — consider whether you could partner as a subcontractor for sample logistics, IT support, or data management.
Award Details
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
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Buyer Profile
NHS England North West / Greater ManchesterKey Dates
Published
16 June 2026
Submission deadline
Not specified
Notice type
award
Source
find a tender
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