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Published 16 Jun 2026, 12:10 BST

Official UK procurement notice

NP86626 - Swab Collection Devices

Official notice

Authority: The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as Public Services Delivery Scotland) (PSD Scotland)

Framework agreement7 lotsGoodsOpen procedure
Framework ceiling (notional)£2,516,304total for 7 lots · framework ceiling, not attributable revenue
Submissions closed 16 Jul 2026
Lots 7see the lot list below

What is being bought7 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The proposed framework is for the supply and delivery of Sample Collection devices and consumables consisting of individual tubes and in vitro kits (IVD) prefilled with Viral Transport Medium (VTM) and Inactivating Medium , swabs, lysis buffer, and complementary accessories. The scope of products in relation to MSS has been extended to cover all Viral and Bacterial testing not just SARS-COV-2)

CPV: Medical consumables

How this framework works

From the published notice
Places
up to 12 suppliers

Lots and requirements (7)Procurement structure

7 lots · no lot values published · same evaluation weights on every lot
Lot #1VTM Pre-Filled TubesRenewal

VTM is supplied in a colour free plastic (polypropylene) tube containing a prefilled level of transport medium. VTM is intended to be used for the collection and preservation and/or transportation of clinical specimen (e.g. mucus, sputum, vaginal secretions, faeces, urine) collected from any body part for in vitro diagnostic procedures.

Delivery: Scotland
Extensions: Extension for up to 24 months if requiredVariant bids: not allowed
Lot #2VTM Collection KitRenewal

Sample Collection Kit 1ml fill VTM

IVD Kit contains prefilled tube containing 1ml of VTM with green screw cap and sterile swab with Breakpoint.

Sample Collection Kit 3ml fill VTM

IVD Kit contains prefilled tube containing 3ml of VTM with green screw cap and sterile swab with Breakpoint.

Delivery: Scotland
Extensions: Extension for up to 24 months if requiredVariant bids: not allowed
Lot #3Inactivation Medium Pre-Filled TubesRenewal

Individual Tubes containing Inactivation Medium

Tube containing 2ml pre-filled level of Inactivation Medium, with RED screw cap.

Inactivation medium is supplied in a colour free plastic (polypropylene) tube containing a prefilled level of inactivation medium. Inactivation medium is intended to be used for the collection and preservation and/or transportation of clinical specimen (e.g. mucus, sputum, vaginal secretions, faeces, urine) collected from any body part for in vitro diagnostic procedures. Inactivation medium will KILL (inactivate) both viral and bacterial pathogens.

Delivery: Scotland
Extensions: Extension for up to 24 months if requiredVariant bids: not allowed
Lot #4Inactivation Collection KitRenewal

Sample Collection Kit (tube + swab), containing Inactivation Medium

Supplied in IVD Peel Pouch containing 2ml fill of Inactivation medium, with RED screw cap and Sterile dry swab with Breakpoint

Delivery: Scotland
Extensions: Extension for up to 24 months if requiredVariant bids: not allowed
Lot #5Individual Sterile Dry Swabs with BreakpointRenewal

A Sterile swab is a medical device used to collect specimens from any body part for in vitro diagnostic purposes.

The swab will have a flexible polystyrene shaft with viscose, floxsynthetic or flocked, mini tip, colour white, PCR ready and sterile, with a scored break point and fits securely (once broken) in the tube using a method of capturing the swab securely within the screw cap of tube.

The swab will be supplied in a peel pouch format and marked with CE number or equivalent UKCA, IVD, storage conditions, sterile, manufacture, part number, lot number and expiry date as a minimum, supplied individually or as part of an IVD PCR Sample collection peel pouch kit.

Swabs will be used to collect viral and bacterial targets from various orifices of the human body, such As:

Nasal, throat, ear, cervix, nasopharyngeal, skin, toe nails, vaginal and urethral.

Delivery: Scotland
Extensions: Extension for up to 24 months if requiredVariant bids: not allowed
Lot #6Miscellaneous ConsumablesRenewal

This lot captures a range of miscellaneous products, which may be required for use across NHS Scotland’s Laboratory Estate. The range of products contained within this lot are as follows,

Item 1 1 Litre bottle inactivation medium (lysis buffer)

Item 2 Replacement blue screw caps

Item 3 7ml tube (empty) and loose yellow caps

Item 4 Individual Sterile packaged dry swabs without break point. - A Sterile swab is a medical device used to collect specimens from any body part for in vitro diagnostic purposes. The swab will have a flexible polystyrene shaft with viscose, flosynthetic or flocked, mini tip, colour white, PCR ready and sterile, with a scored break point and fits securely (once broken) in the tube using a method of capturing the swab securely within the screw cap of tube.

The swab will be supplied in a peel pouch format and marked with CE number or equivalent UKCA, IVD, storage conditions, sterile, manufacture, part number, lot number and expiry date as a minimum, supplied individually or as part of an IVD PCR Sample collection peel pouch kit.

Swabs will be used to collect viral and bacterial targets from various orifices of the human body, such As:

Nasal, throat, ear, cervix, nasopharyngeal, skin, toe nails, vaginal and urethral.

Item 5 Transport pack UN3373 compliant for various tube sizes – sealed bag for internal transportation.

Item 6 Transport pack UN3373 compliant for various tube sizes – sealed bag with absorption pad for internal and external transportation by courier or Royal Mail.

Item 7 Transport pack UN3373 compliant for various tube sizes – rigid container for use in securely transporting by courier or Royal Mail. Material optional, not limited to hard plastic or cardboard.

Delivery: Scotland
Extensions: Extension for up to 24 months if requiredVariant bids: not allowed
Lot #7Additional ProductsRenewal

Item 4 Individual Sterile packaged dry swabs without break point. -

A Sterile swab is a medical device used to collect specimens from any body part for in vitro diagnostic purposes.

The swab will have a flexible polystyrene shaft with viscose, flosynthetic or flocked, mini tip, colour white, PCR ready and sterile, with a scored break point and fits securely (once broken) in the tube using a method of capturing the swab securely within the screw cap of tube.

The swab will be supplied in a peel pouch format and marked with CE number or equivalent UKCA, IVD, storage conditions, sterile, manufacture, part number, lot number and expiry date as a minimum, supplied individually or as part of an IVD PCR Sample collection peel pouch kit.

Swabs will be used to collect viral and bacterial targets from various orifices of the human body, such As:

Nasal, throat, ear, cervix, nasopharyngeal, skin, toe nails, vaginal and urethral.

Item 5 Transport pack UN3373 compliant for various tube sizes – sealed bag for internal transportation.

Item 6 Transport pack UN3373 compliant for various tube sizes – sealed bag with absorption pad for internal and external transportation by courier or Royal Mail.

Item 7 Transport pack UN3373 compliant for various tube sizes – rigid container for use in securely transporting by courier or Royal Mail. Material optional, not limited to hard plastic or cardboard.

Delivery: Scotland
Extensions: extension of up to 24 monthsVariant bids: not allowed

What it takes to win
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How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored · same split on all 7 lots
Quality: 40%Price: 60%
Published sub-criteria (2)
  • Technical: 40%
  • price: 60%
Published award criteria (2)
  • Technical: 40
  • Price: 60
Conditions of participation3
  • Suitability

    Please refer to the tender document

  • Economic & financial standing

    Valid Insurance Policies –

    Professional Risk Indemnity greater than 2M GBP for the duration of the framework, if current policies expire whilst this framework is live, replacement policies must be shared with NHS no less than 1 month before the current policy expires.

    Public Liability Insurance greater than 5M GBP for the duration of the framework, if current policies expire whilst this framework is live, replacement policies must be shared with NHS no less than 1 month before the current policy expires.

  • Technical & professional ability

    The supplier is required to have the following accreditations:

    ISO9001 and ISO14001 and ISO13485 certified or equivalent and can provide evidence of certification

What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 60 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 6 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
  • “NP86626 - Swab Collection Devices” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 12 suppliers, not a single contract.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Goods
Notice status
Closed
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Framework agreement
Who may use this agreement
Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
No (one-off requirement)
First published
16 Jun 2026, 12:10 BST
Last source update
16 Jun 2026, 12:10 BST
Award evaluation window
16 Jul 2026 – …
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-056595
Classification (CPV)
Medical consumables
Delivery area
Scotland (UKM)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b5d1 Find a Tender
Review and risk notes
Review procedure

The Authority will notify economic operators who submitted a tender or (where no deselection process has previously been made) applied

to be selected to tender, of its decision to award the Framework Agreement which notification will contain, among other information, a

summary of the reasons as to why the economic operator was unsuccessful. The notification will incorporate a ‘standstill period’ of a

minimum of 10 (ten) clear calendar days (or a minimum of 15 (fifteen) if the communication method used is not electronic) between the

date on which the Authority despatches the notice(s) and the date on which the Authority proposes to conclude the relevant Framework

Agreement. The bringing of court proceedings against the Authority during the standstill period will automatically continue the prohibition

on entering into the Framework Agreement until the court proceedings are determined, discontinued or disposed of, or the court, by interim

order, brings to an end the prohibition. The remedies that may be awarded by the courts before the Framework Agreement has been entered

into include the setting aside of the decision to award the Framework Agreement to the winning tenderer(s). The bringing of court

proceedings against the Authority after the Framework Agreement has been entered into will not affect the Framework Agreement unless

grounds for the imposition of special penalties under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 can be established. Otherwise the

remedies that may be awarded by the courts where the Framework Agreement has been entered into are limited to the award of damages.

Publisher note: The values mentioned cover the full duration of the framework including any extensions The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 31726. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343 Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/ A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows: If any supplier that is awarded to this framework has a spend greater than 1 million, there will be a requirement for them to register on the community benefits hub and report quarterly on the community benefits they are providing. (SC Ref:831799)

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Public Contracts Scotland · Who buys & how to bid on PCS
Supplier login requiredLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free single registration for Scotland; PCS-Tender (Jaggaer) for full bidding
Appointment period ends
16 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
{"electronicSubmission"}
Accepted languages
en
Bid validity
90 days from the deadline
Bids opened
16 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

16 Jun 2026 → 16 Jul 2026 · 3 dates
  1. Notice published134 days ago
    16 Jun 2026, 12:10 BST
  2. Admission / appointment period ends104 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown
    16 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
  3. Bids opened104 days ago
    16 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as Public Services Delivery Scotland) (PSD Scotland)

Contracting authorityBody governed by public lawHealth 1 South Gyle Crescent., Edinburgh, Scotland, EH12 9EBContact email, phone Published organisation website ↗

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • Sheriff Court HouseReview body EdinburghContact email

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.