Awarded contract

(NU/1433-30) CAF1 - A robust, easily engineered polymer with applications in synthetic biology: 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
  • Teesside University
Show 1 more buyer Show fewer buyers
  • University of Bath on behalf of the SETsquared

F03: Contract award notice

Notice reference: 2022/S 000-011844

Published 6 May 2022, 1:20pm



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

https://www.ncl.ac.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.ncl.ac.uk

one.1) Name and addresses

Durham University

Stockton Road Durham

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,Tyne and Wear

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.1) Name and addresses

Teesside University

Middlesbrough, Tees Valley

Email

David.Pratt@tees.ac.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKC - North East (England)

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.tees.ac.uk/

one.1) Name and addresses

University of Bath on behalf of the SETsquared

Claverton Down, Bath

Email

pb487@bath.ac.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.bath.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/1433-30) CAF1 - A robust, easily engineered polymer with applications in synthetic biology: Commercialisation of university research through provision of management skills to assist in successful spin-out company creation

Reference number

DN602760

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

Caf1 is secreted from the bacterium Yersinia pestis to protect it from white blood cells during infection. It is formed from 15 kDa monomers that produce robust, flexible polymers up to 2 µm in length. We aim to create a spinout company that will initially produce Caf1 polymers and coated plasticware/microcarriers for the 2D cell culture market, predominantly focussed on laboratory research, expanding into commercial companies looking to scale up cell production. The Newcastle-based company will supply these products directly to customers, and through marketing partners who have established distribution networks. We are looking for a CEO/COO/Chairperson to work alongside Daniel Peters to develop a business plan that has considered the best market strategy for Caf1 in preparation for spinout formation and achieving the necessary fundraising

The initial brief of the executive will be to:

(1) Work with the existing team to lead in the creation of 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 or agreed post supporting Daniel Peters

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

(4) Leading and work alongside the existing team to secure start up funding (venture capital and other) 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 4 above

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

Caf1 is secreted from the bacterium Yersinia pestis to protect it from white blood cells during infection. It is formed from 15 kDa monomers that produce robust, flexible polymers up to 2 µm in length. We aim to create a spinout company that will initially produce Caf1 polymers and coated plasticware/microcarriers for the 2D cell culture market, predominantly focussed on laboratory research, expanding into commercial companies looking to scale up cell production. The Newcastle-based company will supply these products directly to customers, and through marketing partners who have established distribution networks. We are looking for a CEO/COO/Chairperson to work alongside Daniel Peters to develop a business plan that has considered the best market strategy for Caf1 in preparation for spinout formation and achieving the necessary fundraising

The initial brief of the executive will be to:

(1) Work with the existing team to lead in the creation of 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 or agreed post supporting Daniel Peters

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

(4) Leading and work alongside the existing team to secure start up funding (venture capital and other) 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 4 above

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Ability to meet the required programme / Weighting: Pass/Fail

Quality criterion - Name: Quality: Ability to meet the Job description / Weighting: 60%

Quality criterion - Name: Quality: Ability to meet the Job description / Weighting: Pass/Fail

Quality criterion - Name: Formal Appointment / Weighting: Pass/Fail

Price - Weighting: 40%

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: No

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

NU/1433-30

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

12 April 2022

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 4

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 4

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

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 4

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 4

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

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

KWWK Ltd

Cheshire

WA1 1RG

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME

Yes

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

Total value of the contract/lot: £29,500


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

Country

United Kingdom