AwardedAwarded 28 August 2026

CLI-FTS-58921 Culture Media and Associated Consumables

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust) · NHS and health

In brief

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust) awarded this contract to E&O Laboratories Ltd, Launch Diagnostics Ltd and Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Ltd on 28 August 2026.

It is a framework worth up to £8,809,108 excluding VAT: the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers, not one contract.

It is split into 11 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

What the notice says

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership Procurement Services (NWSSP-ProcS), hosted by Velindre NHS Trust, have established an All-Wales Framework Agreement for Culture Media and Associated Consumables on behalf of all NHS Bodies in Wales. The Framework Agreement will have an initial duration of four years, with the option to extend for a further two years, giving a maximum total duration of six years. Organisations who may enter into the Agreement include Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Cardiff & Vale University Health Board Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board Hywel Dda University Health Board Public Health Wales Trust Swansea Bay University Health Board Velindre NHS Trust (Surgical Material Testing Laboratory (SMTL) and Welsh Blood Service)

Lots

LotTradeValue
Antimicrobial Sensitivity Testing
What this lot covers

Antimicrobial Sensitivity Testing. Used to help find the best treatment for bacterial and certain fungal infections. Lot includes testing discs, identification discs, and Mueller Hinton plated media.

——
Plated Media - Mueller Hinton-F (NAD)
What this lot covers

Growth medium used to culture bacterial isolates and their susceptibility to antibiotics. Lot includes Mueller Hinton agar with 5% defibrinated horse blood and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD).

——
Plated Media - Culture
What this lot covers

A solid or semi-solid substance that provides the necessary nutrients for microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi, to grow and multiply. Lot includes Chromogenic, Fastidious Anaerobe (FAA) and Columbia.

——
Plated Media - Braziers CCEY
What this lot covers

A specialised, selective plated media used to isolate and identify Clostridium from patient samples. Lot includes Braziers CCEY agar with lysed horse blood, cefoxitin, cyclomerize and egg yolk emulsion.

——
Plated Media – Triple Wrapped.
What this lot covers

A nutrient-rich growth medium sterilised using gramma radiation with and protected by three layers of packaging to maintain sterility and prevent contamination. Lot includes both 55mm and 90mm irradiated plates.

——
Bottled Media.
What this lot covers

Prepared, ready to use media supplied in various volumes, typically for food, water, and environmental microbiological testing. Lot includes various bottled media, agar slopes, waters, and ancillary bottled items.

——
Mycobacterium Solid Media.
What this lot covers

Used for the isolation and identification of mycobacterium species, such as the presence of tuberculosis. Lot includes both acidified and non-acidified glycerol and pyruvate media.

——
MIC Gradient Strips.
What this lot covers

Porous strips impregnated with pre-defined gradient of an antimicrobial agent, for determining the lowest concentration of an antimicrobial agent that will stop the growth of a microorganism. Lot includes numerous antimicrobial gradient strips.

——
Atmospheric Generation Systems.
What this lot covers

Devices that create specific gaseous environments for microbial culture and testing. Lot includes microaerophilic, anaerobic, co2 generating packs, indicator sachets, boxes, and jars.

——
Quality Control Organisms.
What this lot covers

Used to ensure tests are accurate and reliable. They serve as a standard to verify that reagents, media, and stains are working correctly. Organisms are maintained as stock cultures and come from reference collections. Lot includes numerous NCTC organisms.

——
Antisera.
What this lot covers

Used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, used for identifying unknown bacteria and viruses through various serological tests. Lot includes monovalent and polyvalent antisera. For example, salmonella and shigella.

——

Who won

WinnerLotValueDates
E&O Laboratories Ltd (SME)
Launch Diagnostics Ltd
Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Ltd
Antimicrobial Sensitivity Testing£6,741,113
Awarded 7 August 2026
1 September 2026 to 31 August 2030

Values as the award notice gives them, excluding VAT where stated.

Timeline

  1. Contract notice · notice 070972-2025
  2. Transparency notice · UK5, notice 075122-2026
  3. Contract award notice · UK6, notice 075209-2026
  4. Contract details notice · UK7, notice 083009-2026

About the buyer

From notice 070972-2025 on Find a Tender, first published 4 November 2025, last updated 2 September 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.