If you supply decontamination consumables into sterile services and endoscopy, this pipeline notice is one to log early and use as a prompt to get your evidence and compliance story into shape.
Supply Chain Coordination Limited has published a pipeline notice for Instrument Decontamination and Accessories 2028, stating it is anticipated the framework will cover consumables used in the end-to-end decontamination process in sterile services and endoscopy. The estimated total value is £112.5m excluding VAT (or £135m including VAT).
Because this is an early-stage notice, you’re not bidding yet — but suppliers who prepare now are typically the ones who move fastest (and most confidently) when the tender documents arrive.
Snapshot: what we know so far
These are the details worth sharing internally with your commercial and regulatory teams:
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Buyer/authority: Supply Chain Coordination Limited (NHS Supply Chain)
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Estimated framework dates: 2 April 2028 to 1 April 2030, with a possible extension to 1 April 2032
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Estimated tender notice publication: 18 November 2026
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CPV hints: disinfectants and detergents
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Suitability flagged: SMEs and VCSEs
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Contact email (as published): infectioncontrol@supplychain.nhs.uk
You can review the notice directly in the Find a Tender listing for Instrument Decontamination and Accessories 2028.
Why this framework is worth planning for now
In infection control and decontamination supply chains, tenders rarely reward “we meet the spec” answers. Evaluators want confidence on three things:
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Product suitability for clinical use (and consistency of supply)
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Governance (quality systems, traceability, change control, incident handling)
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Practical implementation (training, onboarding, usage guidance, and day-to-day support)
The earlier you assemble proof for those areas, the less you end up scrambling later.
Supplier prep, in the order that usually saves the most time
1) Build an evidence library around “end-to-end” use
The notice is explicit that the scope is end-to-end decontamination consumables for sterile services and endoscopy.
That suggests evaluators may test how well you understand the workflow and where your products sit within it.
Create a short pack that makes it easy to map:
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product range to stages of reprocessing (where appropriate)
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compatibility considerations (including changeover impact)
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instructions for use and any training/support assets
Keep it practical. Think: “Can an evaluator picture this being implemented without creating risk or disruption?”
2) Get your quality narrative ready to be scored
Even when tenders don’t ask for every policy under the sun, they will score your ability to control risk. Your submission is stronger when it clearly explains:
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how you manage non-conformance and corrective actions
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batch/lot traceability and recall processes
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change control (especially if formulation, packaging, or manufacturing changes)
3) Plan your continuity story (buyers care more than they say)
For consumables, supply resilience is often the quiet decider. Get ahead by preparing:
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lead time assumptions and mitigation
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contingency arrangements for spikes in demand
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how you communicate and manage substitutions (and what you won’t substitute without approval)
4) Decide your “framework angle” early
Framework bids are easier when you can summarise your value in one sentence, then prove it. For example:
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lowest operational disruption
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best reporting/traceability support
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strongest clinical support model
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strongest sustainability outcome without compromising efficacy
This matters because frameworks can be crowded — your differentiator needs to be obvious, credible, and relevant.
If you’re building a pipeline across multiple routes to market, it helps to be clear on how frameworks work in practice. Learning how call-offs and mini-competitions typically play out under framework agreements is a key part of this.
Where Thornton & Lowe adds value on NHS supply frameworks
When suppliers lose marks on healthcare frameworks, it’s rarely because they don’t have a good product. It’s because the bid doesn’t make assurance, implementation, and risk controls easy to score.
Thornton & Lowe helps suppliers bring structure and clarity to complex submissions: sharpening win themes, aligning evidence to criteria, and applying robust QA so you avoid last-minute compliance issues. Practical support through bid writing services can also help you turn technical and clinical detail into evaluator-friendly answers that stand up under scrutiny. This is particularly important where governance, traceability, and continuity of supply are central to the award decision.
Next steps
If this is in your market, keep the Instrument Decontamination and Accessories 2028 notice on your tracker and use the runway to tighten your evidence pack now.
If you’d like Thornton & Lowe to support your preparation, we can run a quick bid readiness review (strengths, gaps, and likely scoring hotspots) and help you build a bid plan that’s ready well before the tender notice is published. This means that you can move quickly when the ITT drops.
