Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Newcastle University
3rd Floor Northumberland House, Princess Square
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 8ER
Telephone
+44 1912086680
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKC - North East (England)
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.1) Name and addresses
Durham University
The Palatine Centre, Stockton Road
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKC - North East (England)
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
Northumbria University
Newcastle Upon Tyne
chelsea.brain@northumbria.ac.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
University of Sunderland
Sunderland
Cheryl.Holmstrom@sunderland.ac.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
Teesside University
Middlesbrough
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
University of Bath on behalf of the SETsquared
Bath
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
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/1433-49) Neudio: The Provision of Business Consultancy to Assist Commercialisationof University Research
Reference number
DN648470
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
Neuroscience has revealed the importance of brainwaves for healthy and pathological brain function. Manipulating brainwaves can affect mood, memory, attention and sleep, with therapeutic benefits in conditions ranging from ADHD to anxiety to Alzheimer’s, but current neuromodulation techniques are limited.
Through research led by Newcastle University, we have demonstrated how ‘closed-loop’ neurostimulation (whereby brain signals control brain stimulation in a real-time feedback loop) can boost or suppress brainwave oscillations at different frequencies). Neudio combines closed-loop algorithms with non-invasive technologies (surface EEG recordings and musical stimulation) to regulate brainwaves. Effectively, our technology establishes a resonance between brain activity and music that enhances or suppresses brainwaves at specific frequencies.
The initial brief of the executive will be to:
Phase 1 – Write an ambitious business plan in line with ambitions and market opportunities
Phase 2 – Obtain IP Spin Out Committee Approval
Phase 3 – Complete spin-out legal process and act as company representative in legal formation of the company
Phase 4 – Prepare investment pitch deck and due diligence documents
Phase 5 – Initial negotiations to secure angel, seed or capital funding
Stage (5) will produce the funds by which the new start-up company can consider employing the executive going forward.
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
The initial brief of the executive will be to:
Phase 1 – Write an ambitious business plan in line with market potential and opportunities
Phase 2 – Obtain IP Spin Out Committee Approval
Phase 3 – Complete spin-out legal process and act as company representative in legal formation of the company
Phase 4 – Prepare investment pitch deck and due diligence documents
Phase 5 – Initial negotiations to secure angel, seed or capital funding
Stage (5) will produce the funds by which the new start-up company can consider employing the executive going forward. It is expected, and the intent of the scheme, that the Executive will remain with the business following the end of the contract period. However, such appointment will be at the discretion of the board and appropriate university and will be subject to confirmation, typically at Stage 3 above
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
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
Northern Accelerator programme involving funding from both the European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) and Research England
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: 2022/S 186-528050
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
(NU/1433-49)
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
3 February 2023
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: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1
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
Dr Joern Rickert Consulting
San Andres Cholula
Country
Mexico
NUTS code
- MX - Mexico
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £30,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Newcastle University
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Newcastle University
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
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
Page 11 to 11
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
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Country
United Kingdom