Contract

NHS Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) Cell Therapy eSolution

  • The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland) ("NSS")

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-013590

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03e3a9 (view related notices)

Published 8 April 2025, 11:18am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland) ("NSS")

Gyle Square (NSS Head Office), 1 South Gyle Crescent

Edinburgh

EH12 9EB

Email

michael.walker3@nhs.scot

Telephone

+44 7804475952

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM - Scotland

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.nss.nhs.scot/browse/procurement-and-logistics

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA11883

one.2) Information about 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

Health


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

NHS Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) Cell Therapy eSolution

Reference number

NP609823

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland or NSS) (“NSS”), acting through its directorate the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (“SNBTS”), is undertaking the procurement of two electronic eSolutions that will allow onboarding of novel cell therapy projects from research centres, facilitating project development and eventual translation into a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) environment. The two eSolution systems between them will encompass five Phases across an entire product life cycle of an Advanced Therapeutic from development through to clinical use.

System 1 will include onboarding of research documentation, development, and initial stages of technology transfer (Phase 1 and Phase 2).

System 2 will include the final stages of technology transfer into GMP validation, batch manufacture and have report producing capabilities to allow for quality approval then release/certification for patient use (Phase 3, 4 and 5).

The solutions must be provided using a Software as a Service (SaaS) model.

Further information can be found within the Invitation to Tender (ITT) and appendices located on PCS-Tender.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

System 1

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance

Scotland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland or NSS) (“NSS”), acting through its directorate the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (“SNBTS”), is undertaking the procurement of two electronic eSolutions that will allow onboarding of novel cell therapy projects from research centres, facilitating project development and eventual translation into a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) environment. The two eSolution systems between them will encompass five Phases across an entire product life cycle of an Advanced Therapeutic from development through to clinical use.

System 1 will include onboarding of research documentation, development, and initial stages of technology transfer (Phase 1 and Phase 2).

The solution must be provided using a Software as a Service (SaaS) model.

Further information can be found within the Invitation to Tender (ITT) and appendices located on PCS-Tender.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 75

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: No

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

System 2

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance

Scotland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland or NSS) (“NSS”), acting through its directorate the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (“SNBTS”), is undertaking the procurement of two electronic eSolutions that will allow onboarding of novel cell therapy projects from research centres, facilitating project development and eventual translation into a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) environment. The two eSolution systems between them will encompass five Phases across an entire product life cycle of an Advanced Therapeutic from development through to clinical use.

System 2 will include the final stages of technology transfer into GMP validation, batch manufacture and have report producing capabilities to allow for quality approval then release/certification for patient use (Phase 3, 4 and 5).

The solution must be provided using a Software as a Service (SaaS) model.

Further information can be found within the Invitation to Tender (ITT) and appendices located on PCS-Tender.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 75

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: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Open procedure

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: 2023/S 000-020887


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

NP609823

Lot No

1

Title

System 1

A contract/lot is awarded: No

five.1) Information on non-award

The contract/lot is not awarded

Other reasons (discontinuation of procedure)


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

NP609823

Lot No

2

Title

System 2

A contract/lot is awarded: No

five.1) Information on non-award

The contract/lot is not awarded

Other reasons (discontinuation of procedure)


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

Cyber Security:

Bidders must complete the CSPST as detailed within the ITT. It is vital that Bidders leave sufficient time to complete the CSPST ahead of the submission deadline.

Fair Work Practices:

The Public Sector in Scotland is committed to the delivery of high quality public services and recognises that this is critically dependent on a workforce that is well-rewarded, well-motivated, well-led, has access to appropriate opportunities for training and skills development, diverse and engaged in decision making. These factors are also important for workforce recruitment and retention, and thus continuity of service. Public Bodies in Scotland are adopting fair work practices, which include:

- a fair and equal pay policy that includes a commitment to supporting the living wage, including, for example being a living wage accredited employer;

- clear managerial responsibility to nurture talent and help individuals fulfil their potential, including for example, a strong commitment to modern apprenticeships and the development of Scotland's young workforce;

- promoting equality of opportunity and developing a workforce which reflects the population of Scotland in terms of characteristics such as age, gender, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation and disability;

- support for learning and development;

- stability of employment and hours of work, and avoiding exploitative employment practices, including for example no inappropriate use of zero-hours contracts;

- flexible working (including for example practices such as flexi-time and career breaks) and support for family friendly working and wider work life balance;

- support progressive workforce engagement, for example Trade Union recognition and representation where possible, otherwise alternative arrangements to give staff an effective voice.

In order to ensure the highest standards of service quality in this Agreement we expect contractors to take a similarly positive approach to fair work practices as part of a fair and equitable employment and reward package. Bidders must describe how they will commit to fair work practices for workers (including any agency or subcontractor workers) engaged in the delivery of the Agreement.

(SC Ref:795698)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Sheriff Court House

27 Chambers Street

Edinburgh

EH1 1LB

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

Economic operators should approach the contracting authority in the first instance. However, the only formal remedy is to apply to the courts:

An economic operator that suffers, or is at risk of suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.