Contract award notice

Results of the procurement procedure

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1)

Name and addresses

NHS England - Specialised Commissioning

80 London Road

London

SE1 6LH

Contact person: Anna Salt

E-mail: anna.salt@nhs.net

NUTS code: UK - UNITED KINGDOM

Internet address(es):

Main address: www.england.nhs.uk

Address of the buyer profile: https://uk.eu-supply.com/ctm/Company/CompanyInformation/Index/68205

I.4)

Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

I.5)

Main activity

Health

Section II: Object

II.1)

Scope of the procurement

II.1.1)

Title

Services to deliver Onasemnogene abeparvovec/Zolgensma

II.1.2)

Main CPV code

85000000 - Health and social work services

II.1.3)

Type of contract

Services

II.1.4)

Short description

NHS England is seeking to commission a service to deliver Onasemnogene abeparvovec/Zolgensma from four providers in England. It is currently anticipated that there may be one provider to cover the North of England, one to cover the Midlands, one to cover the South of England plus one other. The commissioner is by no means fixed on this geographical spread as the quality of the service provision is the most important factor.

II.1.6)

Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: no

II.1.7)

Total value of the procurement

Value excluding VAT: 6000000.00 GBP

II.2)

Description

II.2.2)

Additional CPV code(s)

85100000 - Health services

85140000 - Miscellaneous health services

II.2.3)

Place of performance

NUTS code: UK - UNITED KINGDOM

II.2.4)

Description of the procurement

Spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, is a rare genetic disorder that causes
muscle weakness and progressive loss of movement. It is most commonly
caused by defects in the gene SMN1.
Onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma, AveXis) is a single-use gene
replacement therapy made of a viral vector that has been modified to contain
the primary gene for the human survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, which is
lacking or mutated in people with SMA. When injected, the vector is expected
to carry the gene into the nerve cells, enabling production of sufficient
amounts of SMN. It is administered intravenously.
NHS England is seeking to commission a service to deliver Onasemnogene abeparvovec/Zolgensma from four providers in England. It is currently anticipated that there may be one provider to cover the North of England, one to cover the Midlands, one to cover the South of England plus one other. The commissioner is by no means fixed on this geographical spread as the quality of the service provision is the most important factor.
As well as having a neuromuscular MDT and experience in treating children with SMA, the successful providers will need to have the capability to safely manage the product itself in line with it being classified as ‘containment level 1’ and ensure that all elements of the patient pathway (pre-treatment, during treatment and post-treatment) can be put into place. The providers will also be expected to operate as a national-MDT to ensure that eligible patients can be treated within appropriate timescales. This will involve regular meetings/calls to discuss the appropriate treatment of individual patients and to share information on capacity to treat patients.
It is anticipated that the number of children requiring treatment each year is between 25 and 35, although this number may be subject to change, depending on the outcome of the NICE evaluation and, for example, if new-born screening for SMA was introduced.
Novartis Gene Therapies is the company who produce this gene therapy and providers will be required to comply with the company’s contractual documentation. This is currently in draft so providers will be expected to have contacted Novartis Gene Therapies prior to submitting a tender response to discuss their requirements in respect of providing a service to deliver Onasemnogene abeparvovec/Zolgensma.
Given the significant amount of preparatory work that needs to be undertaken to deliver a gene therapy service, it is not feasible for commissioners and providers to wait until NICE has made its recommendation. To do so would risk the NHS not being ready to provide access within the timeframe set out in the Mandate requirements on NICE approved treatments and not being able to make the treatment available as soon as possible after the NICE decision has been made. Providers are therefore submitting bids to deliver a service ‘at risk’ and it may be the case that the product does not receive a positive NICE recommendation. Bidders are responsible for their own costs incurred throughout each stage of the Procurement process.

II.2.5)

Award criteria

Criteria below

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 100

Price - Weighting: 0

II.2.11)

Information about options

Options: no

II.2.13)

Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

II.2.14)

Additional information

All bidders must complete the Qualification Questionnaire and Technical Questions.

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)

Description

IV.1.1)

Type of procedure

Open procedure

IV.1.8)

Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement : yes

IV.2)

Administrative information

IV.2.1)

Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number in the FTS: 2021/S 000-002051

Section V: Award of contract

Contract No: 1

Title: Services to deliver Onasemnogene abeparvovec/Zolgensma

A contract/lot is awarded: yes

V.2)

Award of contract

V.2.1)

Date of conclusion of the contract

28/05/2021

V.2.2)

Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 11

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators : yes

V.2.3)

Name and address of the contractor

Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust

Manchester

NUTS code: UKD - NORTH WEST (ENGLAND)

The contractor is an SME : no

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

London

NUTS code: UKI - LONDON

The contractor is an SME : no

Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Sheffield

NUTS code: UKE - YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER

The contractor is an SME : no

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust

Bristol

NUTS code: UKK - SOUTH WEST (ENGLAND)

The contractor is an SME : no

V.2.4)

Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot: 6000000.00 GBP

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.4)

Procedures for review

VI.4.1)

Review body

Arden & GEM Commissioning Support Unit

2nd Floor Cardinal Square, 10 Nottingham Road

Derby

DE1 3QT

VI.4.2)

Body responsible for mediation procedures

Arden & GEM Commissioning Support Unit

2nd Floor Cardinal Square, 10 Nottingham Road

Derby

DE1 3QT

VI.4.4)

Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained

Arden & GEM Commissioning Support Unit

2nd Floor Cardinal Square, 10 Nottingham Road

Derby

DE1 3QT

Contract award notice

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