Award

(NU/1842) The Supply and Installation of a Nanoscale Liquid handling System for Use in Clinical Trials

  • Newcastle University

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-032914

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0386dd

Published 21 November 2022, 10:46am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Newcastle University

Newcastle University, Procurement Services, Kingsgate

Newcastle

NE1 7RU

Contact

Dr Emma Barksby

Email

emma.barksby@ncl.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 1912086298

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKC22 - Tyneside

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.ncl.ac.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.ncl.ac.uk

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/1842) The Supply and Installation of a Nanoscale Liquid handling System for Use in Clinical Trials

Reference number

DN643917

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

Intention to award a Public Supplies contract under Regulation 32 (2) (b) (ii) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 for the supply and installation of a nanoscale liquid handling system.

Newcastle University has a well-established Cancer Drug Discovery Unit that has contributed to the discovery of two registered cancer medicines and a further two investigational treatments that are currently in Phase 1 clinical trials. The unit is looking to replace a nanoscale liquid handling system which forms part of the crystallographic workflows. The key requirements of this system are accuracy, speed and an ability to handle low nanolitre volumes in 384- and 1536-well formats. For these technical reasons there is only one suitable system on the market. The University will issue a VEAT notice and use the negotiated procedure without a call for competition.

The requirement is for accuracy and precision for volumes down to 2.5 nanolitres (nl). This enables a wide variety of low‐volume, high‐throughput liquid handling applications, that are at the core of the drug discovery cascades used in the Unit and by key external collaborators.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Lowest offer: £330,000 / Highest offer: £360,000 taken into consideration

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
  • 51430000 - Installation services of laboratory equipment

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKC22 - Tyneside

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Intention to award a Public Supplies contract under Regulation 32 (2) (b) (ii) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 for the supply and installation of a nanoscale liquid handling system.

Newcastle University has a well-established Cancer Drug Discovery Unit that has contributed to the discovery of two registered cancer medicines and a further two investigational treatments that are currently in Phase 1 clinical trials. The unit is looking to replace a nanoscale liquid handling system which forms part of the crystallographic workflows. The key requirements of this system are accuracy, speed and an ability to handle low nanolitre volumes in 384- and 1536-well formats. For these technical reasons there is only one suitable system on the market. The University will issue a VEAT notice and use the negotiated procedure without a call for competition.

The requirement is for accuracy and precision for volumes down to 2.5 nanolitres (nl). This enables a wide variety of low‐volume, high‐throughput liquid handling applications, that are at the core of the drug discovery cascades used in the Unit and by key external collaborators.

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 works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
    • absence of competition for technical reasons

Explanation:

Intention to award a Public Supplies contract under Regulation 32 (2) (b) (ii) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 for the supply and installation of a nanoscale liquid handling system. The award of contract is lawful due to the absence of competition for a system with the required accuracy and precision for dispensing at the nanolitre range.

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

NU.1842

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

17 November 2022

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

Beckman Coulter United Kingdom Ltd

Oakley Court, Kingsmead Business Park, London Road

High Wycombe

HP11 1JU

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKC22 - Tyneside
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

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

Lowest offer: £330,000 / Highest offer: £360,000 taken into consideration


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

This is a VEAT Notice to show our intention to award a Public Supplies contract under Regulation 32 (2) (b) (ii) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 for the supply and installation of a nanoscale liquid handling system.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Newcastle University

Newcastle upon Tyne

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

Newcastle University will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to seek further debriefing before the contract is entered into. Applicants have 2 working days from notification of the award decision to request additional debriefing and 4 / 4 that information has to be provided a minimum of 3 working days before expiry of the standstill period. Such additional information should be requested from the address referred to in part 1.1 above. If an appeal regarding the award of a contract has not been successfully resolved, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 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). Any such action must be brought promptly. Where a contract has not been entered into the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the Court may only award damages