Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (Defra Network eTendering Portal)
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Contact
Louise Moizer
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
Buyer's address
https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Environment
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Supply of Epizootic Haemorrhagic Disease Serotype 8 (EHDV-8) Vaccine
Reference number
P-37345
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 33651690 - Vaccines for veterinary medicine
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The Authority is seeking to identify existing and potential suppliers of Epizootic Haemorrhagic Disease Serotype 8 (EHDV-8) vaccine who have product currently under development. We are keen to understand the timelines for applications to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) for a marketing authorisation or emergency use consideration under Schedule 4 of the Veterinary Medicine Regulations 2013, as well as for production timescales for any product to be made available to the UK market.
We are specifically interested in:
o the types of inactivated or novel (e.g. RNA) EHDV-8 vaccine being developed.
o the efficacy and period (onset and duration) of immunity they might offer.
o which species they are being developed for
o whether the vaccine is DIVA
o available safety data in the target species
o the proposed number of doses in the vaccination schedule,
o storage conditions
o readiness to submit the necessary information to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate
o the extent to which the UK livestock sector could be supplied with such product in 2025
o any information that might be provided about potential costs; any expectations around the vaccines being manufactured under the conditions of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
o The Authority will not be considering live EHDV vaccines.
The Authority is seeking this information to inform decisions around guarantees of supply to the UK market. An estimated total value is therefore not provided at this stage.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 33651690 - Vaccines for veterinary medicine
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Authority is exploring the status of EHDV-8 products that have the potential to be available for use in 2025 (either as an authorised product or emergency use under Schedule 4) to help to inform our control strategy for EHD and consideration as to whether government intervention is required to facilitate access to the UK livestock sector of any product that may become available.
EHDV-8 was identified in for the first time in southern Europe in November 2022. It is not currently present in the UK. While there is no evidence of circulation currently, we expect a continued threat of incursion as EHD could also spread to the UK if infected live animals, or their germinal products, are imported from countries where EHD is circulating. It is widely accepted that access to vaccine will be an important tool to protect the health and welfare of susceptible species and for livestock keepers for whom trade in live animals is important.
The Authority is interested in:
the details of any suitable products currently under development
the extent of developments
safety and efficacy testing, timelines for submitting applications for marketing authorisation to the VMD.
the type of technology used to develop the vaccine, production capacity (current and forecast)
whether the specific vaccine is authorised elsewhere in the world or based on an already authorised EHDV vaccine.
whether products under development will be monovalent or multivalent and which serotypes would be included in multivalent products.
We are also interested to understand the likely wholesale and retail costs of any product likely to be available.
two.2.14) Additional information
This Prior Information Notice is not a call for competition. It should be noted that this PIN invites individuals and organisations to express an interest only, and although it is not part of a formal pre-qualification process it may be used to inform discussions with vaccine suppliers.
You will need to express your interest in any potential future tender opportunity once/if a contract notice is published in Find a Tender and on Contract Finder. It should be noted that this PIN invites individuals and organisations to express an interest only. Those wishing to provide information requested here should contact Louise Moizer (louise.moizer@defra.gov.uk), by the end of March 2025 to inform our strategy development.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
1 September 2025
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes