Contract

(NU/1433-16) NunaBio: Commercialisation of university research through provision of management skills to assist in successful spin-out company creation

  • Newcastle University
  • Durham University
  • Northumbria University Newcastle
  • University of Sunderland

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2021/S 000-000080

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-028796

Published 5 January 2021, 8:52am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Newcastle University

Newcastle University, Procurement Services, Kingsgate

Newcastle

NE1 7RU

Contact

Mrs Natalie Morton

Email

natalie.morton@ncl.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 1912086396

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKC - NORTH EAST (ENGLAND)

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.ncl.ac.uk

Buyer's address

www.ncl.ac.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Durham University

The Palatine Centre, Stockton Road

Email

Edwin.e.milligan@durham.ac.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKC - NORTH EAST (ENGLAND)

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.durham.ac.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Northumbria University Newcastle

Newcastle

Email

Hugh.Rhodes@northumbria.ac.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKC - NORTH EAST (ENGLAND)

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.northumbria.ac.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

University of Sunderland

Sunderland

Email

Cheryl.Holmstrom@sunderland.ac.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKC - NORTH EAST (ENGLAND)

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://Sunderland.ac.uk

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract involves joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

(NU/1433-16) NunaBio: Commercialisation of university research through provision of management skills to assist in successful spin-out company creation

Reference number

DN513120

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

NunaBio Ltd has developed an enhanced DNA sensing platform technology and associated IP that will find application in many market sectors that require increased confidence in the sensitive detection of target DNA sequences.

Consumers of diagnostic devices require their device to be sensitive and accurate. While 100% accuracy is possible, existing approaches require highly trained staff, expensive labs and significant lead time to results. These drawbacks are key drivers for the development of point-of-use devices which aim to support better decision making, reduce cost (social and economic) and time to action. The utility of such devices and therefore consumer confidence in the results they produce is highly dependent on their accuracy. Exemplified by the current COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent unmet need for advanced confidence.

We are looking for an executive and the initial brief of the executive will be to:

(1) Produce a viable 5 year business plan;

(2) Obtain university approval for the venture;

(3) a. Act for the company in the spin-out legal process and address all company formation matters;

b. Obtain founder academics’ and Newcastle University (including the Head of Company Creation) approval for appointment as CEO.

c. Provide to the appropriate university all matters necessary for ERDF reporting requirements;

(4) Secure (venture capital and other) funding

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £30,000

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKC - NORTH EAST (ENGLAND)

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Newcastle, Durham, Sunderland and Northumbria universities, in common with universities throughout the UK, have advanced relevant systems and procedures and also dedicate significant public resource to both research and commercialisation of that research. A key route to commercialisation is the creation of a new business (a spin-out company) wherein the intellectual property (IPR) developed exclusively licenced to a university start-up company in exchange for (founders) shares in that company.

The universities ill engage suitably qualified and experienced executives through the DPS as and when required over the DPS period. The specific requirements will be detailed in each further competition.

The initial brief of the executive for which he/she will be paid, dependent upon the scope of the specific project engagement sought, either a payment or a combination of a payment and a share/stock option will typically be to:

(a) produce a viable business plan;

(b) obtain university approval for the venture;

(c) act for the company in the spin-out legal process and address all the company formation matters;

(d) provide to the appropriate university all matters necessary for ESIF and Research England reporting requirements;

(e) secure (venture capital and/or other) funding in accordance with the business plan.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 60

Quality criterion - Name: Equity / Weighting: 15

Price - Weighting: 25

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: Yes

Identification of the project

European Regional Development Fund.


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Restricted procedure

four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system

The procurement involves the setting up of a dynamic purchasing system

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2019/S 009-016574


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

NU1433-16

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

18 December 2020

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 2

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

The Attic Consultancy Limited

Northumberland

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKC - NORTH EAST (ENGLAND)
The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £30,000

Total value of the contract/lot: £26,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Newcastle University

Tyne and Wear

NE1 7RU

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures

Newcastle University

Tyne and Wear

NE1 7RU

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

The University will incorporate a standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification will provide full information on the award decision. The standstill period, which will be for a minimum of 10 calendar days, provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into.

The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) within 30 days of knowledge or constructive knowledge of breach.

six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained

Newcastle University

Tyne and Wear

NE1 7RU

Country

United Kingdom