--- title: "Services to deliver Onasemnogene abeparvovec/Zolgensma" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-7eae1ca1-9b8d-44b1-922b-e9940b4db374" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-7eae1ca1-9b8d-44b1-922b-e9940b4db374" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7eae1ca1-9b8d-44b1-922b-e9940b4db374.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7eae1ca1-9b8d-44b1-922b-e9940b4db374.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "NHS ARDEN AND GREATER EAST MIDLANDS COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT" published: "2021-02-02" --- # Services to deliver Onasemnogene abeparvovec/Zolgensma Buyer: NHS ARDEN AND GREATER EAST MIDLANDS COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-7eae1ca1-9b8d-44b1-922b-e9940b4db374 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-7eae1ca1-9b8d-44b1-922b-e9940b4db374) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7eae1ca1-9b8d-44b1-922b-e9940b4db374.json) ## Summary NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit is facilitating a tender process for the provision of services to deliver Onasemnogene abeparvovec/Zolgensma, a gene therapy aimed at treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). This procurement falls within the health and social work services industry category and is set to conclude the tender period on 8th March 2021, with contract execution anticipated to start on 30th April 2021 and last through to 29th April 2025. The total contract value is estimated at £6 million, with a minimum bid value of £2.5 million. Interested providers must navigate an open procurement process. This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in health services, particularly those with expertise in gene therapies and treatment for rare conditions. Companies that can demonstrate a strong neuromuscular multidisciplinary team and the ability to manage containment level 1 product delivery will find themselves well-positioned to compete. Additionally, providers must cooperate closely with Novartis Gene Therapies to ensure compliance with their guidelines and are encouraged to engage in preliminary discussions before submitting their proposals. ## 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/884abb56-80f3-400c-b548-180d1abad56e | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 2 Feb 2021 | | Submission deadline | 8 Mar 2021 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 29 Apr 2021 - 29 Apr 2025 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £6,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | 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 | ## 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 - 2 Feb 2021 at 14:00 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/884abb56-80f3-400c-b548-180d1abad56e ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/884abb56-80f3-400c-b548-180d1abad56e 2nd February 2021 - Opportunity 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 This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-7eae1ca1-9b8d-44b1-922b-e9940b4db374. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7eae1ca1-9b8d-44b1-922b-e9940b4db374.json.