Supply & Maintenance of Liquid Nitrogen / Cryogenic Storage Vessels

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a Special Health Authority in England, with responsibilities across the United Kingdom for organ donation and transplantation. Our core purpose is to ‘save and improve lives’ through the provision of a safe and reliable supply of blood components, solid organs, stem cells, tissues and related services to the NHS, and to the other UK Health Services where directed. 

NHSBT is required to store human tissue and cells for human application, research and IVD products in vapour phase liquid nitrogen vessels.

NHSBT is looking to award contract agreement for:
I. provision of vapour phase liquid nitrogen storage vessels
II. maintenance of existing and new liquid nitrogen storage vessels (including maintenance of super insulated vacuum lines (SIVL)

High level specifications

Vapour phase liquid nitrogen vessels
• Interface with an automated liquid nitrogen supply
• Maintain inventory below -160C
• Minimise risk of transient warming events (>-160OC) during storage and retrieval of products
• Operate within a standard laboratory environment
• Have temperature controls with visible and audible alarms
• Comply with CE/UKCA mark regulations.
• Range of sizes and options available for the following inventory:
o bags ranging from 25 - 750ml
o tissue allografts of various sizes
o sample tubes ranging from 1ml - 10ml

Maintenance of existing & new liquid nitrogen storage vessels
• Provide arrangements for the technical support, planned preventative maintenance schedules and availability of spare parts for liquid nitrogen storage vessels and associated SIVL
• Breakdown cover to include:
o Guaranteed call out response times
o Guaranteed maximum down times
o Spares available for critical parts
o Telephone help desk support available

To find out more about this opportunity, or to an express an interest, please contact jo.murphy@nhsbt.nhs.uk before Wednesday 5th February 2025.