---
title: "Automated Solution to Develop and Optimise Upstream Processe"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-1c8b1bce-edc2-484b-bb2d-b637293b9a7a"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1c8b1bce-edc2-484b-bb2d-b637293b9a7a"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1c8b1bce-edc2-484b-bb2d-b637293b9a7a.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1c8b1bce-edc2-484b-bb2d-b637293b9a7a.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "VACCINES MANUFACTURING AND INNOVATION CENTRE (UK) LIMITED"
published: "2020-11-17"
---

# Automated Solution to Develop and Optimise Upstream Processe

Buyer: VACCINES MANUFACTURING AND INNOVATION CENTRE (UK) LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-1c8b1bce-edc2-484b-bb2d-b637293b9a7a

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## Summary

The Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (UK) Limited is seeking an automated solution to develop and optimise upstream processes in the pharmaceutical sector. The tender, titled "Automated Solution to Develop and Optimise Upstream Processes," is currently in the Award stage and pertains to a contract valued at £793,233. It operates under a limited procurement method, which was conducted through a negotiated procedure without prior publication. The tender period ended on 12th November 2020, and the contract is set to commence on 27th November 2020, continuing until 30th November 2021. The delivery address for this procurement is located in the South East of the United Kingdom.

This contract presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in biomedical equipment and automation, particularly those with capabilities in developing advanced technologies for the pharmaceutical industry. Companies that specialise in high levels of automation in laboratory and bioprocessing equipment, especially those positioned to support rapid development in vaccine production, would be ideally suited to compete. Furthermore, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate, as their involvement can drive innovation and efficiency within this critical area of public health.

## Notice

VMIC requires the ability to rapidly develop and optimise upstream processes using a state-of-the-art Quality by Design (QBD) approach to ensure robustness as well as rapid development. The ability to execute a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach is integral to the assurance of robustness and furthermore ensures that the processes developed are well away from the edge of failure. VMIC will be a centre of excellence for vaccine development in the UK, and must also have the capability to respond rapidly to pandemic situations, therefore it requires a solution that will allow rapid development of robust processes for clients whilst also allowing a significant reduction in operator-hours and time to create credible processes for anti-pandemic vaccine candidates. The Sartorius Ambr250 HT system, including installation and 1 year comprehensive service, allows the simultaneous operation of multiple bioreactor vessels working under different operating parameters, with each parameter, addition, feed etc. controlled by robotics in response to a pre-defined operational plan. The time saved using such an automated system is significant and allows for the rapid development of processes in a fraction of the time required using a more traditional approach. It also allows for the scale-down validation of existing processing parameters, thus speeding up the robustness testing and subsequent validation of existing process parameters. The Ambr 250 HT system is unique in the market place due to the high level of automation and robotics employed to rapidly reduce the time spent in development of mammalian or microbial process, and the high level of automation, microbiological containment, robotics and integrated liquid handling, sampling, and on board sample storage. VMIC will be a centre of excellence for vaccine development in the UK, and must have the capability to respond rapidly to pandemic situations. The Ambr system will be integral to both these missions because the solution will allow rapid development of robust processes for clients whilst also allowing a significant reduction in operator-hours and time to create credible processes for anti-pandemic vaccine candidates.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3d7a026e-357b-4061-ad96-1c2bebfd1fcd |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Negotiated procedure without prior publication (above threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 17 Nov 2020 |
| Submission deadline | 12 Nov 2020 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 12 Nov 2020 |
| Contract period | 27 Nov 2020 - 30 Nov 2021 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £793,233 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £793,233 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | VACCINES MANUFACTURING AND INNOVATION CENTRE (UK) LIMITED |
| Locality | OXFORD |
| Post town | Oxford |
| Postcode | OX4 4GP |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC |
| Local authority | Oxford |
| Electoral ward | Littlemore |
| Westminster constituency | Oxford East |
| Delivery location | TLJ South East (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SARTORIUS STEDIM |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products
- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 33600000 - Pharmaceutical products
- 38434540 - Biomedical equipment

## Release History

- 17 Nov 2020 at 09:09 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3d7a026e-357b-4061-ad96-1c2bebfd1fcd

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3d7a026e-357b-4061-ad96-1c2bebfd1fcd
  17th November 2020 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:551985-2020:TEXT:EN:HTML

## Notice URLs

- https://www.vmicuk.com

## Provenance

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