Scope
Reference
C367516
Description
The Clinical Biotechnology Centre at the NHS Blood and Transplant is an MHRA licensed facility for the manufacture of investigational medical products such as advanced therapies and biotechnology products which includes plasmid DNA, viral vectors and therapeutic proteins. The organisation intends to initiate a procurement process for the supply of advanced and cost-effective transfection reagents demonstrating optimal performance characteristics for the delivery of various nucleic acid formats into mammalian cells. In the initial phase, transfection reagents are sought for the production of lentiviral and adeno-associated viral vectors utilizing packaging cell lines, and for a range of related research and clinical applications. It is anticipated that these reagents also will be utilised for gene therapies and other therapeutic manufacturing or research purposes using DNA and RNA or other novel modalities requiring transfection. The transfection reagent of choice must demonstrate the efficient and low-cytotoxic delivery of the following non-exhaustive list modalities such as plasmid DNA, synthetic DNA, enzymatically produced DNA, RNA and any other novel modalities. The reagent must be of GMP quality and be compatible with HEK293 suspension and adherent cell culture systems for clinical grade manufacturing of gene therapy vectors. Suitability to transfect cells in process intensified cell culture system is a critical requirement along with cell culture systems that utilise high cell density cultures. Transfection reagent should be suitable to be used in scalable bioreactor systems.
Total value (estimated)
- £545,535 excluding VAT
- £654,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2029
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 33696000 - Reagents and contrast media
- 33696300 - Chemical reagents
Contract locations
- UKK11 - Bristol, City of
Engagement
Engagement deadline
24 June 2025
Engagement process description
Interested suppliers are asked to express their interest to rowena.thomas@nhsbt.nhs.uk and carley.butcher@nhsbt.nhs.uk by 5pm on Tuesday, 24th June 2025. Suppliers expressing an interest will be invited to attend an early market engagement exercise supplier meeting during the week of the 30th June 2025 (note: date subject to change). Prior to this session, interested suppliers will be provided with a draft specification of requirements and short questionnaire related to requirements. There is no guarantee that a formal procurement process will be launched as a result of this early market engagement exercise, nor that any contract(s) will be placed. No remuneration or compensation etc will be paid to organisations who take part in this early market engagement exercise. Suppliers should take part in this process only on the basis that they fully understand and accept this position.
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
28 July 2025
Contracting authority
NHS Blood and Transplant
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDBY-6395-VWBP
500 North Bristol Park
Bristol
BS34 7QH
United Kingdom
Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government