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UK Biobank (UKB) requires a supplier with the necessary capacity and capability to supply, deliver, install, and commission robotic
automated liquid handlers. UKB requires the Supplier to provide the System and be responsible for the design, implementation, testing,
commissioning, and training and service support. Detail of the requirements for the goods and services are set out within the
Specification.
UKB is responsible for the safe preservation and scientific exploitation 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 undertakes the supply of Samples for different sizes of research projects:
whole collection);
UKB's next phase of strategic development will be characterised by increasing demand for access to Samples and several new
large-scale Sample collections. UKB, therefore, requires new Systems with sufficient capacity, flexibility, and resilience to support the
next 10 years of work as set out in this Specification. The System should deliver capacity to Reformat Samples to send to researchers to
conduct assays and provide capability to process Vacutainers.
Consequently, UKB has prepared a Specification for a Solution to meet the increased throughput demands that the new site must
support foreseeable operational requirements and potential future developments, including but not limited to;
| Lot | Title | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lot 1 | — |
| Title | Supplier | Value | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Award 1 | Hamilton Sales & Service UK Ltd | — | — |
Processing.
remaining Sample across multiple storage Tubes; Reformatting.
next freeze-thaw cycle or en-masse; Reformatting.
The System will be required to support UKB laboratory operations when they move to a New Site at the Manchester Science Park in
the City of Manchester in the North West of England, UK. Practical completion of the New Site is planned for July 2026 (with early
access to the laboratory area from May 2026 for installation of the Solution).
The move to Manchester Science Park will be accompanied by new Automated Storage Systems and new LIMS. The following work
will be ongoing throughout 2026, in anticipation of an early 2027 opening to the New Site;
The laboratory has been designed to accommodate Liquid Handling Systems in the Reformatting Lab (to support equipment to meet the
mandatory throughput described in Sections 2.2.2 and 2.2.3). There is expansion space in the North of the ground floor that could be
used for the optional expansion throughput described in Section 2.2.4.
As part of this procurement, some award questions are mandatory and will be scored on pass/fail basis, and others have with weighted
scoring, as detailed in Volume 1 of the tender documents.The estimated contract value for the purchase of the Liquid Handlers and the provision of services as set out in this Contract Notice and
for the duration described may be in the range of £1.2m - £3.2m GBP
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
will be in pounds sterling, unless otherwise advised.
UKB will incorporate a standstill period at the point the decision in relation to the award of the contracts 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 contracts are entered into.