Award

Manufacture and testing of overencapsulated tablets and placebo capsules for research purposes - LAMDARCT clinical trial

BELFAST HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE TRUST

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

21 Jan 2026 at 09:15

Award

08 Dec 2025 at 15:58

Award

08 Dec 2025 at 15:49

Summary of the contracting process

The Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, a prominent public authority in the central government of Northern Ireland, has completed a direct award procurement process for the manufacture and testing of overencapsulated tablets and placebo capsules for a clinical trial focused on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This contract, identified as DAC20211, was awarded to ALMAC CLINICAL SERVICES LIMITED. The procurement involves goods in the pharmaceutical products industry category, with a main region of delivery in the United Kingdom. The contract was signed on 19th January 2026 and runs until 5th January 2030, with a total value of approximately £494,447.50 excluding VAT. This project aims to explore a more cost-effective and accessible treatment for wet AMD, leveraging a placebo-controlled clinical trial approach.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturers with expertise in developing and producing clinical trial medications. Companies with capabilities in producing overencapsulated tablets and compliance with MHRA standards will find this contract appealing. Moreover, the direct award nature of the procurement process can streamline participation for suppliers capable of delivering innovative and novel medical solutions efficiently. Businesses focused on research and development, especially those working on treatments concerning visual impairments or similar clinical trials, are particularly well-suited to engage in opportunities like this.

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Notice Title

Manufacture and testing of overencapsulated tablets and placebo capsules for research purposes - LAMDARCT clinical trial

Notice Description

This procurement is for the manufacture and testing of over encapsulated tablets and placebo capsules for research purposes - LAMDARCT clinical trial

Procurement Information

Schedule 5, (2) The public contract concerns the production of a prototype, or supply of other novel goods or services, for the purpose of (c) other research, experiment, study or development. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of visual loss. There are two main forms of AMD: dry and wet. The current wet AMD treatment is intravitreal antiVEGF injections, repeated every 4-12 weeks. Due to the cost of the medication, the route and frequency of administration, this treatment is a significant burden on the NHS budget. An additional treatment option for wet AMD is L-dopa. L-dopa is a widely available drug (used in treatment of Parkinson's), typically in the form of Carbidopa-L-Dopa. It is taken as an oral tablet and is significantly cheaper than the antiVEGF injections. The study will be a placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eligible patients will be randomised to receive either 100mg L-DOPA+25mg carbidopa or placebo twice a day, for 24 months, in addition to the current standard of care to determine if this is a more cost-effective and easier-to-administer treatment regime than the current standard of care. To 'blind' this clinical trial (to reduce bias) requires the development, manufacture and testing of over encapsulated 100mg L-DOPA+25mg carbidopa tablets and development and manufacture of matching placebo capsules. The expertise required to develop and manufacture these capsules in the quantity required for this trial requires outsourcing to a manufacturer licensed by the MHRA possessing the necessary technical expertise.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f108
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005092-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products


CPV Codes

33600000 - Pharmaceutical products

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£494,447 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£494,447 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
8 Dec 20252 months ago
Contract Period
19 Jan 2026 - 5 Jan 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
BELFAST HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE TRUST
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
financeprocurement@belfasttrust.hscni.net
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT12 6BA
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Falls
Westminster Constituency
Belfast West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ALMAC CLINICAL SERVICES

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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