Scope
Reference
C397089
Description
NHS England issuing a Direct Award Contract to University of Southampton Clinical Trials Unit for the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) Services. The initial term will be 24 months from 1 May 2026, with the potential to extend up to 3 additional years in increments.
The CVLP is a strategic priority and collaboration between NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Office for Life Sciences (OLS), and National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), with the aim to facilitate access to personalised cancer vaccine research trials and other immunotherapies.
The programme is a scale up phase in the development, testing, and evaluation of personalised cancer vaccines and other immunotherapies through clinical trials and genomic analysis. The supplier will be responsible for clinical trial oversight, research management, facilitating strategic partnerships, consenting patients; tracking biological samples and facilitating the sharing of information between CVLP sites, research trial sites and commercial companies; hosting, maintaining and enhancing the electronic referral tool platform, and integrating with existing NHS and academic systems.
The approved procurement route to market is via Direct Contract Award, which aligns with the Cabinet Office's published guidance on exempt contracts under Schedule 2 of the Procurement Act 2023 Regulations.
Contract 1. Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) Scale-Up
Supplier
Contract value
- £9,305,994 excluding VAT
- £11,167,192.80 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
15 December 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2028
- Possible extension to 30 April 2031
- 5 years
Description of possible extension:
Up-to to 36 months in increment year
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Option to extend if exercised by the contracting authority
CPV classifications
- 85100000 - Health services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
N/A
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Prototypes and development
As set out in Schedule 2 of the Procurement Act 2023 and in accordance with the published guidance on exempted contracts by the Cabinet Office for Research and Development Services.
Supplier
University of Southampton Clinical Trials Unit
- Companies House: RC000668
George Thomas Building University Road Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
United Kingdom
Email: cvlp@soton.ac.uk
Website: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/ctu/trialportfolio/listoftrials/cvlp.page
Region: UKJ32 - Southampton
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) Scale-Up
Contracting authority
NHS England
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDPT-3135-BWWY
7&8 Wellington Place
Leeds
LS1 4AP
United Kingdom
Contact name: NHS England
Telephone: 0300 311 2233
Email: england.commercialqueries@nhs.net
Website: https://www.england.nhs.uk//
Region: UKE42 - Leeds
Organisation type: Public authority - central government