Radiation Protection Advisory Service
NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) intends to undertake a procurement tender exercise for the provision of a Radiation Protection Advisory (RPA) and Radiological Waste Advisory (RWA) service.
NHSBT (England) now wishes to commence a formal procurement process and is seeking to engage with suppliers for the provision of RPA/RWA services. The current contract ends in 31/03/2027. NHSBT would like to improve our knowledge of all current RPA/RWA services available in the marketplace. This will aid identification of opportunities and gauge market interest in this field.
We require the services to cover the following: -
• RPA/RWA services in compliance with Ionising Radiation Regulation 2017 (IRR17).
• RPA/RWA services in compliance with Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 (EPR16).
• RPA/RWA services in compliance with NaCTSO Security Requirements Document (SRD) 2024.
• Industrial irradiation continuing consent advice to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
• Technical review of dose mapping reports.
• Calibration of radiation monitors.
• Annual site visit to each of the centres to audit compliance to regulatory standards.
• Advice in the event of an emergency (cover provided 24/7 due to the operational requirements of NHSBT).
It is NHSBT's intention to hold pre-procurement supplier engagement meetings the week of May 5rth 2026 to June 5th 2026. the meetings will be held remotely, the dates are to be confirmed. To enable NHSBT to finalise arrangements (e.g. send meeting details and agree time slots) for the meeting’s, interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to Sahithi Bandi - sahithi.bandi@nhsbt.nhs.uk no later than 17:0 hrs (GMT) on 29/05/2026. This should include a list of your potential attendees and a brief overview (or a website link) of the Goods / Services which might be offered.
No business whatsoever is guaranteed under any resulting framework agreement or contract, and there is no guarantee that any framework agreement or contract will be put in place in relation to this notice. No compensation etc. will be paid if a tender or resulting framework agreement is withdrawn for any reason. Bidders should take part in this process only on the basis that they fully understand and accept this position.
It should be noted that this procurement exercise may allow other Health authorities to use any agreements awarded.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform its procurement and commercial strategy for future logistics services, including courier transport and associated logistics requirements supporting NHSBT’s supply chain.
This engagement forms part of NHSBT’s wider market engagement and commercial planning for future logistics services and is intended to further inform the scope, delivery model and procurement approach for any future opportunity.
This engagement is intended to help inform the shape of the opportunity and should not be taken to indicate that NHSBT has selected any particular solution, structure or supplier approach.
NHSBT currently supports inhouse fleet with a multi-supplier model for courier logistics services, with separate contracts and arrangements supporting the collection, transport and delivery of blood and blood components, plasma, organs, tissues, samples, clinical materials and associated support functions. This varied approach has opportunities to improve:
• co-ordination and integration across courier operations;
• resilience in some services or locations;
• service levels;
• reporting and performance monitoring;
NHSBT is considering future delivery model options in order to support:
• improved operational efficiency and resilience through greater co-ordination across NHSBT fleet and third-party logistics services;
• an enhanced solution for dynamic planning across all operations;
• consistent service standards across courier operations and locations;
• simplified governance and accountability;
• enhanced data visibility and performance insight; and
• improved value for money through a more co-ordinated and effective service approach.
The purpose of this preliminary market engagement is to:
• provide background and context to the proposed procurement;
• test the proposed scope and potential delivery model options;
• better understand market capability, capacity and key risks;
• understand potential mobilisation timetable from potential suppliers to ensure the estimated procurement timetable is realistic and to minimise transition risk;
• obtain supplier insight on operating models, service integration, mobilisation, resilience, transport planning solutions including dynamic planning, data visibility, governance, commercial arrangements and performance management; and
• inform NHSBT’s future commercial strategy and procurement approach.
Areas which may be in scope for discussion as part of this engagement include:
• scheduled and ad hoc transport;
• courier and urgent response services;
• specialist clinical logistics;
• national and/or regional courier logistics;
• control tower, visibility and booking systems;
• contingency for “shock” events;
• mobilisation, continuity and service resilience; and
• 3rd party storage and warehousing to support inhouse provision.
