Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS England
Wellington House, 133-135 Waterloo Rd
London
SE1 8UG
Contact
Jessica Gaucher-Thompson
jessica.gaucher-thompson@nhs.net
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
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
Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapy hubs for Melanoma (Adults)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGCSU), on behalf of NHS England Specialised Commissioning (referred to as the Authority) is inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers to express interest in the provision of Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapy hubs for Melanoma (Adults) by responding to this accreditation process.
As a result of this procurement exercise an agreement will be established with the successful bidder(s) for a period of five (5) years with the Commissioners having the option to extend for up to an additional four (4) year(s) (maximum contract duration nine (9) years).
The deadline for submissions is12.00pm (noon) on Monday 13th October 2025.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £142,512,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85100000 - Health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The key objective of this procurement is to commission Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapy Hubs for adult patients. Initially, this will be for the provision of Lifileucel for previously treated unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Services will be commissioned across seven (7) geographical regions to serve the population of England, as outlined below:
Lot 1: London
Lot 2: East of England
Lot 3: South East
Lot 4: South West
Lot 5: Midlands
Lot 6: North East and Yorkshire
Lot 7: North West
Bidders are to note:
- Providers may only bid for one Lot.
- There is no restriction on the number of sites that may be commissioned.
- Providers must be located in and deliver services from the geographical area(s) they are bidding to serve. that Providers must be located in and deliver services from the defined geographical area(s) that they are interested in providing services to.
Link to NHS England Regions:
NHS England » Regional teams(https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/regional-area-teams/).
The commissioner reserves the right to expand the scope of the contract during its term to include the delivery of additional TIL therapies to treat the same or similar conditions/indications, should they become available and deemed appropriate for inclusion.
Lifileucel is a first in class autologous tumour infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy. This infusion is followed by a short course of interleukin-2 (IL-2). IL-2 is a potent drug and has the potential to cause significant side effects. As such, it is recommended that patients receive treatment at a trust with immediate access to an Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU).
Lifileucel is being assessed via NICE’s technology appraisal programme for previously treated unresectable or metastatic melanoma in adults, with an expected final guidance publication date in early 2026.
Link for the current NICE paperwork:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta10752
Providers are required to be an established site for the delivery of specialist skin cancer care that complies with the requirements as set out in the current specification, and any future reiterations below: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Cancer-skin-adult.pdf
Providers must also;
• Have access to surgical expertise which enables them to perform tumour resections to obtain enough sample tissue for final product to be made.
• Hold the appropriate Human Tissue Authority licences, which includes having the licence to cover the procurement, donor testing and exporting of the resected tissue.
• Have expertise in delivering and managing cellular therapies
• Have experience of managing the adverse effects of interleukin 2 inhibitors. Examples of these adverse events would be those similar to cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome.
• Hold a Joint Accreditation Committee of ISCT and EBMT of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (JACIE) Immune Effector Cells (IEC) accreditation or be working towards such accreditation with accreditation being in place before contracts are awarded.
• Have experience relevant to Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.
Providers must be able to meet the requirements set out in this Competitive Process and deliver the contract in accordance with its terms.
To express interest and participate in the Competitive Process, please register and apply via Atamis esourcing portal https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome Should Tenderers have any queries, or problems using the portal, they should contact the Helpdesk at:
Phone: 08000988201
E-mail: support-health@atamis.co.uk
The closing date for completed Competitive Process responses is 12:00pm (noon), on Monday 13th October 2025.
Atamis Project reference C385818.
The contract duration is for five (5) years with the Commissioners having the option to extend for up to an additional four (4) year(s) (maximum contract duration nine (9) years).
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £142,512,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
104
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract duration is for five (5) years with the Commissioners having the option to extend for up to an additional four (4) year(s) (maximum contract duration nine (9) years).
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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
13 October 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Tender must be valid until: 13 October 2026
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
13 October 2025
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit
Cardinal Square, 10 Nottingham Road
Derby
DE1 3QT
Country
United Kingdom