A new national public health procurement scheme has gone live to speed up access to supplies and build threat resilience. The new microbiology framework will help to grow capacity, push innovation and build resilience within the microbiology supply chain. The framework is open to all public sector, academic and charitable bodies. It will help to ensure labs and other diagnostic and treatment services have easier and faster access to essential supplies.

The framework was designed by Public Health England (PHE) and supported by the Cabinet Office and Department for Health and Social Care. It is split into 4 lots:

1. Diagnostics goods and services – 113 suppliers.
2. Research and development goods and services – 68 suppliers.
3. Manufacturing, product development and commercialisation – 9 suppliers.
4. Clinical laboratory diagnostic testing – 50 suppliers.

The initial PHE Microbiology Framework was launched in 2016 and will now be replaced by this scheme. Regarding diagnostics products, lots 1 to 3 provide for these in the laboratory and out in the field – from assay development through to the commercialisation of new tests. The framework provides access to 170 suppliers and their technologies.

“This will be an important strategic commercial vehicle to procure our future diagnostic testing needs, building on the benefits of the PHE Microbiology Framework which has been invaluable”, said Nilesh Pattani, Head of Scientific Procurement.