Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
GENOMICS ENGLAND LIMITED
Level 21 One Canada Square
London
E145AB
supplier.engagement@genomicsengland.co.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI42 - Tower Hamlets
Companies House
08493132
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.genomicsengland.co.uk/
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
Extension and variation of Whole Genome Sequencing Services contract
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73111000 - Research laboratory services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Extension and variation of a contract for Whole Genome Sequencing ("WGS") Services entered into in 2019 with Illumina Cambridge Limited ("Sequencing Contract") under regulation 72(1)(b) and regulation 72(1)(e) of the PCR 2015. The contract entered into in 2019 provided 300,000 whole genome equivalents ("WGE"). The WGS Services cover short read sequencing technology services only. The extension is necessary to manage the move to distributed WGS within the NHS.
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: £4,670,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85145000 - Services provided by medical laboratories
- 85148000 - Medical analysis services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Genomics England ("the Contracting Authority") was established in 2013 to make the UK the world leader in the application of genomics in healthcare in partnership with NHS England. The Contracting Authority has a contractual relationship with Illumina Cambridge Limited ("Illumina") for WGS Services.
The contract was entered into on 1 November 2019 ("Agreement") by direct award and in reliance on Regulation 32 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The Contracting Authority determined through considerable due diligence and assessment of the options available, to issue a transparency notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, for the Agreement for reasons of technical skills required being limited to one supplier. The VEAT notice was issued on 20 September 2019 with reference number GeL-CR-101-19.
The Contracting Authority is now granting a term extension and variation to the Agreement to Illumina to enable the NHS to transition to distributed WGS in 2026, to assist in the delivery of the Contracting Authority's Generation Study and to complete the original planned number of WGS samples.
The NHS is transitioning from a central location for WGS in Hinxton to a distributed model where WGS takes place within the NHS. This transition is expected to take place during the course of 2026.
The Agreement provides for 300,000 WGE to be sequenced over the life of the Agreement. The first year commenced on 1 November 2020. The Agreement was originally awarded for 5 years as it was considered this would be sufficient to carry out the desired number. However, more time is required to enable the target number of samples to be met. The Contracting Authority, for various reasons outside of its control, including the impact of Covid, has been unable to provide the guaranteed number of samples in the original term.
The Contracting Authority is undertaking the Generation Study, which has now been extended to 31 March 2027, and WGS is required to deliver it.
The extension and variation will include the following modifications to the Agreement:
- extends its term to 31 March 2027 (with a right to terminate it earlier after 31 July 2026);
- the sample types to include research sample in the total amount of samples that can count towards the 300k target in full in order to make the target more achievable for the Contracting Authority; and
- to include a small additional payment from the Contracting Authority to Illumina to cover Illumina's further lab costs. For the avoidance of doubt, this payment is strictly to cover Illumina's additional lab and staff costs to be incurred under the extended contract term and does not cover any additional volumes under the contract.
The contract modification will therefore benefit the Contracting Authority by allowing the original sample numbers to be sequenced; enabling the Agreement's original objectives to be achieved; allow the NHS to transition smoothly to distributed sequencing and facilitate the continued delivery of the Generation Study.
The Contracting Authority considers that these amendments are permitted pursuant to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as more fully explained below.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
The Contracting Authority is a "body governed by public law" under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("PCR") and considered a Central Government Authority. The PCR covers "public contracts", which means contracts for pecuniary interest which have as their object the execution or works, the supply of products or the provision of services. The Agreement is a services contract under PCR, therefore, caught by the PCR and therefore bound to follow public procurement rules.
This VEAT Notice relates to an extension and variation of an existing contract permitted under regulation 72(1)(b) and regulation 72(1)(e) of the PCR.
Regulation 72(1)(b) provides for the modification of a contract without reopening competition in relation to additional services by the original supplier which are not included in the original procurement and where changing the supplier cannot be done for economic or technical reasons, and would cause significant inconvenience or substantial duplication of costs for the Contracting Authority.
As part of the current Agreement, the Contracting Authority is required to provide at least 300,000 samples to its incumbent supplier Illumina, so it is able to provide the procured WGS services. For reasons outside of the Contracting Authority's and Illumina's control, the samples could not be provided to Illumina to be processed in the original term of the Agreement. These reasons included the disruption to health services caused by the Covid pandemic and other issues connected to the method by which the samples are collected. The "additional services" being provided by Illumina under this extension related to continuing the WGS to ensure the same number of samples as provided for in the original contract can be sequenced.
There are both technical and economic reasons why the remaining samples cannot be sequenced by another supplier. Firstly, this is to ensure consistency of service in the data provided for the remaining samples, as the service provision relies on Illumina's equipment and other materials. Reliance on alternative equipment or materials for the sequencing would affect the consistency of any data sets. Therefore, for technical reasons, it has been deemed changing the contractor to a supplier other than Illumina to complete the original project would not be possible.
Secondly, it would result in significant duplication of costs for the Contracting Authority. There is a mechanism under the Agreement which entitles Illumina to a compensatory payment should the Contracting Authority fail to meets its sample delivery obligations by the end of the Agreement's term. In other words, the Authority would need to pay Illumina and duplicate this cost by procuring a new contract for these samples. The short extension seeks to fulfil the original Agreement without inconvenience and this duplication of cost.
In any event, the Contracting Authority also considers that the exemption at regulation 72(1)(e) would apply. Regulation 72(1)(e) permits a variation where it is not considered substantial as defined by regulation 72(8). The Authority considers this amendment is not substantial as its intention is to permit the original contract outputs to be delivered at no more cost and to prevent the payment of compensation if the modification did not go ahead. The change does not materially change the character of the contract; it would not have impacted on the original award; nor does it change the economic balance in favour of the contractor; it does not extend the scope of the services themselves and while it extends the term this is due to the actions of the Contracting Authority not the Supplier. The final test is also not met as this is not a change of contractor.
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-CR-101-19
Title
Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Service
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 June 2025
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
Illumina Cambridge Limited
19 Granta Park, Great Abington
Cambridge
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC
Companies House
03625145
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £4,670,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £4,670,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
His Majesty's High Court of Justice
London
Country
United Kingdom