Babies in Focus Long Read Sequencing - Lot 1 ONT

Genomics England Limited, a central government public authority, has initiated a procurement process titled "Babies in Focus Long Read Sequencing - Lot 1 ONT". This contract falls under the services category of research and development services and is situated in the UK, covering multiple regions including UKC, UKD, UKE, UKF, UKG, UKH, UKI, UKJ, and UKK. The procurement process has reached the Award stage, with the most recent update on the completion of this stage on 20th November 2025.

The contract, valued at up to £2,206,318, was open to bids, with Cambridge University Technical Services Limited being one of the key suppliers involved. The initial contract period is set from 1st January 2026 to 31st December 2026, with further research opportunities to follow. This procurement provides robust opportunities for businesses in the medical research and services industries to engage in innovative genomic research alongside the NHS, with the goal of enhancing early diagnostics for rare conditions.

SMEs, such as Cambridge University Technical Services Limited, have already demonstrated success in securing parts of the contract, indicating that other similar-scale enterprises might also find substantial growth potential in such collaborations. The ongoing prospect of extensions and future research phases indicates a fruitful pathway for companies geared towards laboratory services and medical analysis, including those that can provide long-read whole genome sequencing services utilised in national health research initiatives.