Ends in 8 weeks
Waiver - BWC_RQ3 - Aurevia- External Quality Assessment Schemes
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust · West Midlands · 1-year contract
Held by Aurexia
Proficiency testing tenders and contracts
UK public sector, covering 600+ buyer sites
71 proficiency testing tenders and contracts, 34 this year.
Updated 4 November 2026 · compiled by BidSkim Limited · How we count
- Awarded a month£34k
- Contracts a month1.3
- Won by SMEs31%
- Renewing in 6 months6
Proficiency testing contracts
Tap a region to see its contracts. Pick as many as you like.
How many proficiency testing contracts do keyword alerts miss?
In the last year, an "eqa scheme" alert would have missed 21 of 21 proficiency testing contracts (100%) and an expert list of 14 phrases 4 (19%). How we measured this
Keyword alert"eqa scheme"
100% missed
21 of 21
Expert list14 phrases
19% missed
4 of 21
Expert list: eqa scheme, external quality assessment, external quality assurance, proficiency testing, neqas, uk neqas, weqas, quality assessment scheme, eqa service, pathology eqa, point of care eqa, laboratory proficiency, proficiency testing scheme, eqa sample
BidSkim reads every notice in full and matches the work, not the words.See what BidSkim finds for you
30 contracts across the UK, of any size
Recently awarded
The latest proficiency testing contracts awarded
- Awarded17 Jul 2026Service WEQAS Blood Gas SchemeRoyal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust · South WestWon by Cardiff & Vale University Lhb£18k
- Awarded13 May 2026WEQAS AccreditationCountess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust · North WestWon by Cardiff and Vale College£18k
- Awarded8 May 2026External Quality Assurance (EQA) for Point of Care Testing (POCT)East Sussex County Council · South EastWon by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust£88k
- Awarded23 Apr 2026Provision of Proficiency Testing Scheme for Marine DirectorateScottish Government · ScotlandWon by Wageningen University & Research£7k
- Awarded1 Apr 2026External Quality Assessment (EQA) ServiceNHS EnglandWon by UK Neqas£2.4m
- Awarded31 Mar 2026UK2 - Preliminary Market EngagementMinistry of Defence · South EastWon by King's College London£158k
- Awarded12 Mar 2026Proficiency Testing MaterialsThe City of Edinburgh Council · ScotlandWon by LGC£144k
- Awarded12 Mar 2026Proficiency Testing MaterialsThe City of Edinburgh Council · ScotlandWon by LGC£144k
- Awarded9 Mar 2026UK NEQAS Pathology Registration 2026/2027Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust · North WestWon by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust£27k
- Awarded27 Feb 2026External Quality Assessment for PathologyLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust · Yorkshire and the HumberWon by External Quality Assessment Services for Cancer Diagnostics C.I.C.£11k
- Awarded18 Feb 2026PSR - CALL OFF ORDER FOR WEQAS MICROBIOLOGY SCHEME REFERRED TESTSIntegrated Laboratory Solutions LLP · Yorkshire and the HumberWon by Cardiff & Vale University Lhb
- Awarded18 Feb 2026PSR - CALL OFF ORDER FOR CHEMISTRY NEQAS SCHEME TESTINGIntegrated Laboratory Solutions LLP · Yorkshire and the HumberWon by NHS Lothian
- Awarded2 Feb 2026Lab quality testing for EQA 26/27Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust · North WestWon by LabQuality OY£11k
- Awarded16 Jan 2026UK NEQAS Microbiology Registration 2026/2027Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust · North WestWon by UK Neqas£10k
- Awarded31 Dec 2025External Quality Assurance Scheme RegistrationLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust · Yorkshire and the HumberWon by Cardiff & Vale University Lhb£99k
- Awarded31 Dec 2025Waiver - BWC_RQ3 - Aurevia- External Quality Assessment SchemesBirmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust · West MidlandsWon by Aurexia£19k
- Awarded31 Dec 2025T123 - Provision of External Proficiency Testing SchemesNI Water and its subsidiaries · Northern IrelandWon by LGC (Teddington) Limited£6k
- Awarded22 Dec 2025Proficiency Testing for forensic science activitiesGreater Manchester Police · North WestWon by CACI£40k
- Awarded3 Dec 2025Modules from and membership to the NE Atlantic Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control Scheme (NMBAQC)Natural Resources Wales · WalesWon by Environment Agency£96k
- Awarded3 Dec 2025EQA Molecular SchemesLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust · Yorkshire and the HumberWon by QCMD£18k
- Awarded1 Dec 2025Provision of Proficiency Testing SchemeScottish Government · ScotlandWon by Wageningen University & Research£7k
- Awarded29 Sep 2025Provision of External Quality Assessment (EQA) for Labs across UKHSA 2025UK Health Security Agency · LondonWon by QCMD£451k
- Awarded4 Sep 2025Development of ABR peer review External Quality Assurance systemNHS EnglandWon by Genqa Ltd£280k
- Awarded15 Jul 2025QCMD Contract RenewalUK Health Security Agency · LondonWon by QCMD£451k
- Awarded3 Jul 2025Development of ABR peer review External Quality Assurance systemNHS England · LondonWon by Genqa Ltd£280k
- Awarded10 Jun 2025CACI Proficiency TestingLincolnshire Police · East MidlandsWon by CACI£36k
- Awarded16 May 2025Participation in the UK NEQASCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · East of EnglandWon by Birmingham Quality£13k
- Awarded20 Mar 2025SCID Labs - EQA RegistrationNHS England · Yorkshire and the HumberWon by Genqa Ltd£18k
- Awarded13 Feb 2025Provision of a Proficiency Testing SchemeScottish Environment Protection Agency · ScotlandWon by LGC£80k
Where to bid
Where proficiency testing tenders are run
Defence Sourcing Portal1 50%
Kent Business Portal1 50%
Tenders published in the last year that name the bid portal they run on.
UK Neqas won the most proficiency testing contracts by value
Each dot is one contract, coloured by who bought it.
NHS and healthCentral governmentCouncilsTransport and utilitiesPolice, fire and rescue
| Rank | Contractor | Contracts won, by buyer | Contracts | Value won | Buyers | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1joint | QCMD London · SME · See every contract | 3 | £919k | 2 | ||
| 1joint | Genqa Ltd Yorkshire and the Humber · See every contract | 3 | £578k | 1 | ||
| 1joint | LGC Scotland · SME · See every contract | 3 | £144k | 2 | ||
| 1joint | Cardiff & Vale University Lhb Yorkshire and the Humber · See every contract | 3 | £118k | 3 | ||
| 1joint | CACI North West · See every contract | 3 | £90k | 3 | ||
| 6joint | UK Neqas North West · See every contract | 2 | £2.4m | 2 | ||
| 6joint | University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust North West · See every contract | 2 | £115k | 2 | ||
| 6joint | Wageningen University & Research Scotland · See every contract | 2 | Not published | 1 | ||
| 9joint | King's College London South East · See every contract | 1 | £158k | 1 | ||
| 9joint | Environment Agency Wales · See every contract | 1 | £96k | 1 |
7 more proficiency testing contractors ranked. See the full ranking →
Win proficiency testing contracts? Share your ranking.
Who buys
NHS and health bodies award 53% of proficiency testing contracts
Contracts with a published value in the last 2 years, from the type of buyer to the size of the contract.
8 buyers bought proficiency testing more than once in the last 2 years
Each dot is a buyer, by how many proficiency testing contracts it awarded in the last 2 years.
See who they are and when they usually buy →
Few and big, or many and small
Each dot is a buyer: how many proficiency testing contracts it awarded against what they were worth. The busiest and biggest are named.
NHS and healthCentral governmentCouncilsTransport and utilitiesPolice, fire and rescue
Top buyers by contracts awarded
| Rank | Buyer | Contracts | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NHS England | 4 | £3m |
| 2 | Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | 3 | £128k |
| 3 | UK Health Security Agency | 2 | £901k |
| 4 | The City of Edinburgh Council | 2 | £288k |
| 5 | Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | 2 | £37k |
| 6 | Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 2 | £28k |
| 7 | Scottish Government | 2 | £14k |
| 8 | Integrated Laboratory Solutions LLP | 2 | Not published |
| 9 | Ministry of Defence | 1 | £158k |
| 10 | Natural Resources Wales | 1 | £96k |
47 proficiency testing contracts awarded since 2021
- 32021
- 52022
- 82023
- 22024
- 152025
- 142026 so far
Prices
Half of proficiency testing contracts are worth less than £32k
NHS and healthCentral governmentCouncilsTransport and utilitiesPolice, fire and rescue
The 10 biggest proficiency testing contracts
- NHS EnglandUK Neqas · 1 Apr 2026
- UK Health Security AgencyQCMD · 15 Jul 2025
- UK Health Security AgencyQCMD · 29 Sep 2025
- NHS EnglandGenqa Ltd · 4 Sep 2025
- NHS EnglandGenqa Ltd · 3 Jul 2025
- Ministry of DefenceKing's College London · 31 Mar 2026
- The City of Edinburgh CouncilLGC · 12 Mar 2026
- The City of Edinburgh CouncilLGC · 12 Mar 2026
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustCardiff & Vale University Lhb · 31 Dec 2025
- Natural Resources WalesEnvironment Agency · 3 Dec 2025
Renewing contracts
7 proficiency testing contracts come up for renewal in the next 12 months
6 in the next 6 months. The 3 ending soonest are shown in full.
Ends in 8 weeks
External Quality Assurance Scheme Registration
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust · Yorkshire and the Humber · 1-year contract
Held by Cardiff & Vale University Lhb
Ends Feb 2027
External Quality Assessment for Pathology
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust · Yorkshire and the Humber · 1-year contract
Held by External Quality Assessment Services for Cancer Diagnostics C.I.C.
Proficiency testing contract for an NHS bodyNorth WestUnder £100kEnds Mar 2027
Proficiency testing contract for an NHS bodyNorth WestUnder £100kEnds Mar 2027
Proficiency testing contract for an NHS bodySouth WestUnder £100kEnds Mar 2027
Proficiency testing contract for an NHS bodyNorth WestUnder £100kEnds May 2027
Where and when
Yorkshire and the Humber awards the most proficiency testing contracts
Contracts by region and by month awarded. Click a region to filter the page.
FewerMore contracts
The regions as a table
| Region | Open now | Contracts | Value | Typical contract | Won the most | Bought the most | Renewing in 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 0 | 6 | £146k | £18k | Cardiff & Vale University Lhb (2) | Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (3) | 2 |
| North West | 0 | 5 | £105k | £18k | – | Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (2 each) | 3 |
| Scotland | 0 | 5 | £382k | £80k | LGC (3) | The City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Government (2 each) | 0 |
| London | 0 | 3 | £1.2m | £451k | QCMD (2) | UK Health Security Agency (2) | 0 |
| South East | 0 | 2 | £247k | – | – | – | 0 |
| East Midlands | 0 | 1 | £36k | – | – | – | 0 |
| West Midlands | 0 | 1 | £19k | – | – | – | 1 |
| East of England | 0 | 1 | £13k | – | – | – | 0 |
| South West | 0 | 1 | £18k | – | – | – | 1 |
| Wales | 0 | 1 | £96k | – | – | – | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 0 | 1 | £6k | – | – | – | 0 |
| North East | 0 | 0 | Not published | – | – | – | 0 |
Often bought with proficiency testing
Related services
Key findings
- £34k a month
of proficiency testing contracts awarded.
Typical contract £19k x 1.8 contracts a month, last 12 months. - 1.3
proficiency testing contracts are awarded in a typical month.
30 contracts in the last 2 years. - 6
proficiency testing contracts come up for renewal in the next 6 months.
Recurring contracts with a named supplier and a published end date before 4 May 2027. - 31%
of proficiency testing contracts are won by SMEs.
As recorded by the buyer, on 26 award notices.
How many proficiency testing tenders and contracts are there?
| Since November 2021 | Last 12 months | |
|---|---|---|
| Notices published | 71 | 34 |
| Contracts awarded | 44 | 21 |
8 proficiency testing contracts and frameworks end in the next 12 months, 8 of them recurring services. In the last two years, 19 buyers awarded proficiency testing contracts to 17 suppliers.
Source: Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales and eTendersNI, to 4 November 2026. By Seamus White. How we count
Questions
How many proficiency testing contracts does the UK public sector award?
30 in the 2 years to 4 November 2026, from 19 public buyers.
How much is a typical public sector proficiency testing contract worth?
The median is £32k, and 82% are worth less than £250k.
Which buyers award the most proficiency testing contracts?
NHS and health bodies award 53% of them.
Which part of the UK awards the most proficiency testing contracts?
Yorkshire and the Humber: 6 of 30 in the 2 years to 4 November 2026, then the North West (5) and Scotland (5).
How many proficiency testing contracts come up for renewal in the next 12 months?
7 contracts end and are likely to be re-let, the first on 31 December 2026.
What is included
Accredited scheme providers send laboratories blind samples to test and score their results against peers, with performance reports, for clinical, genomic and other laboratory tests.
- Clinical laboratory EQA schemes
- Genomic and molecular testing EQA schemes
- Proficiency testing samples and performance reporting
- EQA scheme subscriptions for a laboratory network
What is not included
- Internal quality control material (see Laboratory consumables, reagents and chemicals)
- EQA sample packaging (see Laboratory consumables, reagents and chemicals)
- EQA scheme management software (another industry: it-software)
- Internal audit quality assessments (another industry: consulting-accountancy)