Gamma Irradiation of NHSBT Tissue Allografts and Consumables

Gamma Irradiation of NHSBT Tissue Allografts and Consumables

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is looking to appoint a suitable supplier to provide gamma irradiation services for tissue allografts and consumables used by NHSBT Tissue and Eye Services (TES).

NHSBT wishes to engage with suppliers before commencing a formal procurement process. The purpose of this engagement is to improve NHSBT’s understanding of current market capability, capacity, service delivery options and supplier interest in this requirement.

The successful Supplier will be required to provide gamma irradiation of tissue products to an absorbed dose specification of 25kGy minimum and 40kGy maximum, and consumables to an absorbed dose specification of 25kGy minimum and 45kGy maximum.

The Supplier must be able to process a range of tissue products and consumables, provide suitable frozen storage at approximately -20°C where required, maintain appropriate temperature records and return irradiated products within a maximum turnaround time of 72 hours.

The Supplier must provide an irradiation certificate before products are released back to NHSBT. The certificate must include the minimum and maximum absorbed dose, routine dose, irradiation batch number and the relevant NHSBT product batch number.

The Supplier will also be required to support dose mapping and performance qualification activities, undertake compatibility trials for new materials where required, operate an appropriate quality management system and maintain suitable validation, calibration, recall and business continuity arrangements.

NHSBT intends to hold preliminary market engagement meetings. Meetings are expected to be held remotely, with final dates and times to be confirmed.

To enable NHSBT to finalise the arrangements, interested organisations should send an expression of interest by email to Sahithi Bandi sahithi.bandi@nhsbt.nhs.uk no later than November 13th 2026.The response should include the organization’s name, proposed attendees and a brief overview, or website link, describing the relevant services available.

Participation in this market engagement does not guarantee any future business. NHSBT is not committed to undertaking a procurement exercise or awarding a contract as a result of this notice. NHSBT will not reimburse suppliers for any costs incurred in participating in this engagement.