---
title: "Services to deliver Onasemnogene abeparvovec/Zolgensma"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-70b4c5bd-ae37-49bf-9dfc-6fbadf695fd8"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-70b4c5bd-ae37-49bf-9dfc-6fbadf695fd8"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-70b4c5bd-ae37-49bf-9dfc-6fbadf695fd8.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-70b4c5bd-ae37-49bf-9dfc-6fbadf695fd8.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS ARDEN AND GREATER EAST MIDLANDS COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT"
published: "2021-06-30"
---

# Services to deliver Onasemnogene abeparvovec/Zolgensma

Buyer: NHS ARDEN AND GREATER EAST MIDLANDS COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-70b4c5bd-ae37-49bf-9dfc-6fbadf695fd8

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## Summary

NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit has initiated a public procurement process for the delivery of Onasemnogene abeparvovec/Zolgensma, a gene therapy treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The procurement is classified under health and social work services, specifically targeting providers across England, including the North, Midlands, and South regions. This tender process concluded on 8th March 2021, with an awarded contract value of £6 million, expected to run from 31st May 2021 to 30th May 2026.

This opportunity presents significant business growth potential for healthcare providers who specialise in gene therapy and treatment for rare conditions like SMA. Organisations with a proven track record in managing complex neuromuscular conditions, particularly those equipped with multidisciplinary teams ready to handle the administration of Zolgensma, will be well-suited to compete. The selected providers will play a crucial role in establishing effective patient care pathways and will need to be prepared to operate in compliance with Novartis Gene Therapies’ contractual requirements while addressing the demands of the NHS’s strict adherence to timeliness and quality in service delivery.

## Notice

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. 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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8d4d3b33-232f-4147-b769-89605ca04778 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Jun 2021 |
| Submission deadline | 8 Mar 2021 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 27 May 2021 |
| Contract period | 30 May 2021 - 30 May 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £6,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £6,000,000 |
| 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 | NHS ARDEN AND GREATER EAST MIDLANDS COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South East London |
| Postcode | SE1 6LH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark |
| Local authority | Southwark |
| Electoral ward | St George's |
| Westminster constituency | Bermondsey and Old Southwark |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 4 |
| Supplier names | GUY'S AND ST THOMAS' NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS FOUNDATION TRUST; SHEFFIELD CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BRISTOL AND WESTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services
- 85100000 - Health services
- 85140000 - Miscellaneous health services

## Release History

- 30 Jun 2021 at 16:00 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8d4d3b33-232f-4147-b769-89605ca04778

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8d4d3b33-232f-4147-b769-89605ca04778
  30th June 2021 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=36403&B=AGCSU
  Additional data
- https://uk.eu-supply.com/ctm/Company/CompanyInformation/Index/68205
  User / Company

## Notice URLs

- http://www.england.nhs.uk

## Provenance

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