Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Genomics England
One Canada Square
London
E145AB
Contact
Paul Nicholson
paul.nicholson@genomicsengland.co.uk
Telephone
+44 2078825030
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI - London
Internet address(es)
Main address
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
Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Long Read Instruments & Consumables
Reference number
GEL-RE-650-23
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 33696500 - Laboratory reagents
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The supply of instruments and consumables that provides a solution to enable investigations into methylation (5mC,5hmC), structural variant calling, copy number variant analysis and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) detection, using native DNA sequencing for 1000 Cancer participant samples.
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: £3,067,524
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 33140000 - Medical consumables
- 33190000 - Miscellaneous medical devices and products
- 33696200 - Blood-testing reagents
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI - London
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Genomics England continues to explore long-read and methylation sequencing in cancer within the NHS and accurately to sequence genomes of under-represented and diverse ancestries with a view that this novel technology could open opportunities to identify not only known genomic features and aberrations but also those that are currently unidentifiable using existing sequencing technologies. This could facilitate immediate returns in diagnostic value to the NHS and reaping more meaningful rewards in the near future through more thorough analysis of the whole genome.
Long-read analytical methods are still in their infancy, Genomics England is building a knowledge hub around the trusted research environment for individuals to train their methods; in turn these methods feed into the clinical pipeline of the future. Nurturing the research environment will permit the discovery of new diagnostic and prognostic markers as well as potential new targets for drug discovery to benefit patients in the future.
Genomics England has a requirement to continue to purchase Long Read sequencing technology to fulfil its needs in relation to its Cancer Programme.
The requirement is to provide sufficient sequencing instruments and necessary consumables and kit to meet the forecasts for the 3rd year of the Cancer programme through FY24/25. The requirement also includes appropriate support & maintenance and licenses required for operation. This relates to 1000 Cancer participant samples in this period.
The requirement relates to continuing to purchase Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) PromethION Flowcells to continue the study using the same technology.
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 products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development
- 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 Contracting Authority (i) has a legal personality; (ii) is mainly funded by the Department of Health and Social Care; and (iii) has been established for the specific purpose of meeting needs in the general interest and does not have an industrial or commercial character and therefore meets the definition of a "body governed by public law" under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("PCR"). The PCR covers "public contracts" which means contracts for pecuniary interest which have as their object the execution of works, the supply of products or the provision of services. The Contract is a goods or services contract under PCR, therefore, caught by the PCR and bound to follow public procurement rules.
Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) PCR describes the single operator exclusion and is the premise for this award without prior publication. This specific exclusion relates to a demonstration that only Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLC could deliver the goods and services described for technical reasons and reasons of scalability, where the goods and services cannot be obtained from any other economic operator to continue to deliver the programme using the same long read whole genome sequencing technology. The scope of requirements in this notice are the basis for this assessment.
For technical reasons, it has been determined that Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLC are the only provider able to meet the justified requirements set out. Furthermore, they are also the only organisation able to deliver the requirement at the scale specified. Further details are provided within this notice and should be read in conjunction with this explanation.
The Contracting Authority will enter into a contract with Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited following the conclusion of a minimum 10-day standstill period from the date of issue of this notice. The 10-day standstill period will end on Tuesday 28th May 2024 at 11.59pm GMT, enabling a contract to be signed on Wednesday 29th May 2024.
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
Contract No
GEL-RE-650-23
Title
Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Long Read Instruments & Consumables
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
16 May 2024
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 Nanopore Technologies PLC
Oxford
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
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: £3,067,524
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
The High Court
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom