Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Public Health England
Manor Farm Road, Porton Down
Salisbury
SP2 0QT
Telephone
+44 2076548000
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - UNITED KINGDOM
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Provision of Testing Services and Sample Analysis
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 71900000 - Laboratory services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
PHE has been tasked by DHSC to urgently undertake a study to evaluate the immune response following COVID-19 vaccines as part of the National Immunisation Programme. This has been identified as a high national public health priority and a key aspect of this study requires taking 2000 samples for cellular work over a 24-month period. The UK Vaccines Taskforce have selected Oxford Immunotec as the sole supplier of T cell Testing for SARS-CoV-2 specific responses as part of the new COVID vaccine trials. Aligning PHE's study with this decision will ensure that it is consistent with the other vaccine studies performed within the UK, providing for comprehensive comparison and analysis to be carried out across all the different studies.
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: £240,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - UNITED KINGDOM
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Oxford Immunotec will provide testing services and sample analysis to assist PHE in its evaluation of immune responses following COVID-19 vaccines used in the National Immunisation Programme.
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: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
The justification to source these services from Oxford Immunotec is to enable PHE to adhere with the decision made by the UK Vaccines Taskforce who selected Oxford Immunotec as the sole supplier of T cell Testing for SARS-CoV-2 specific responses as part of the new COVID vaccine trials. Oxford Immunotec was chosen as a result of the competitive process for its expertise in T cell measurement and its unique ability to provide T-SPOT® technology, the only globally regulated ELISPOT platform - which is currently being used clinically for identifying T cells made in response to another respiratory pathogen responsible for Tuberculosis.
Aligning with this verdict will ensure that the National Immunisation Programme being carried out by PHE is consistent with the other vaccine studies performed within the UK, providing for comprehensive comparison and analysis to be carried out across all the different studies. The Vaccines Taskforce has emphasised that it is important to be able to assess the different vaccines head-to-head and employing Oxford Immunotec's T-SPOT technology will measure the magnitude of the SARS-CoV-2 protein-specific T cell response of different vaccine candidates for cross-comparisons.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
9 February 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Oxford Immunotec Ltd
94C Innovation Drive,
Abingdon
OX14 4RZ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - UNITED KINGDOM
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £240,000
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court and Court of Appeal of England and Wales
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom