UCL Partners Procurement Services, on behalf of Whittington Health, is seeking to develop strategy for the future of its pathology service with a view to achieving service provision which supports optimum patient care, in line with the Department of Health's view on the delivery of effective pathology services as outlined in the 2008 Carter Report. As part of this, we wish to explore further the potential advantages of a histopathology and cytopathology laboratory service that is delivered by an external provider.

We are seeking a provider for a full laboratory service for processing histology specimens and diagnostic cytology specimens from receipt of sample to release of glass slides, and for processing gynaecological cytology specimens from receipt of sample to release of reports (excluding those cases that require consultant reporting), at the most advantageous arrangement.

The Trust is seeking a financially robust solution which will be a Managed Services Contract (MSC), initially for a period of 5 years. Tenderers should be prepared to verify the robustness of their proposals against the requirements of HMRC.