---
title: "Provision of custom Milliplex MAP kits for multiplexed biomarker assays"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-9b43c6ae-7119-431b-98ad-fefad17aa343"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-9b43c6ae-7119-431b-98ad-fefad17aa343"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9b43c6ae-7119-431b-98ad-fefad17aa343.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9b43c6ae-7119-431b-98ad-fefad17aa343.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND"
published: "2019-04-12"
---

# Provision of custom Milliplex MAP kits for multiplexed biomarker assays

Buyer: PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-9b43c6ae-7119-431b-98ad-fefad17aa343

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## Summary

Public Health England has awarded a contract for the provision of custom Milliplex MAP kits for multiplexed biomarker assays to Merk Limited, valued at £120,000. This tender was processed through a limited procurement method via a negotiated procedure without prior publication. The contract period spans from 15 April 2019 to 30 April 2022, with the tender period closing on 4 April 2019. Located in London, the buyer, Public Health England, focuses on high containment work, making this procurement crucial for research and technical services within the public health sector, particularly involving hazardous pathogens.

This opportunity presents a significant pathway for businesses specialising in custom laboratory equipment or biotechnological services, specifically those offering innovative solutions for multiplexed biomarker assays. Companies capable of providing custom-designed luminex panels or similar products that fulfil specialised criteria may find themselves well-suited to compete for similar future tenders. The focus on quality assurance and minimisation of experimental steps creates a niche for suppliers who prioritise safety and efficiency, particularly within the bio-research industry.

## Notice

Public Health England (PHE) awarded the contract for the Milliplex MAP kits for multiplexed biomarker assays that are made according to customers specifications to Merk Limited. Research and Technical Services relay in their high containment work on custom-designed luminex panels that are made according to customers specifications. For example, together with the collaborators, a 23-plex panel has been designed (GM-CSF, IFN-a2, IFN-g, IL-1b, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-9. IL-10, IL-12(p70), IL-15, IL-17, IP-10, MIP-1b, TNF-a, G-CSF, IL-1b, IL-5, MIP-1a, MCP-1, VEGF and Eotoxin). The provider must premix the luminex beads, saving valuable laboratory time, ensuring kit consistency and reducing introduction of potential errors within the procedure. The required kits must: - Come with a serum matrix which alters the shape of the calibration curve to give increased consistency with these types of samples - Be standardly supplied with two QC samples to allow interrogation of data accuracy and provide an extra layer of quality assurance; - The calibration range of the standard within kits must be set at 10%; - The kits must come with standards covering all of the analytes to be measured. - Fewer experimental steps are required. This is pertinent as the samples to be tested contain hazard group 4 pathogens so for safety reasons manipulations should be kept to a minimum. In addition, MILLIPLEX(tm) MAP kits are the only one found to not require prior dilution of samples before addition to the assay, and reagents are mainly supplied at the required dilutions thus reducing manipulations at Containment Level 4. Following extensive market research, PHE believes that only Milliplex MAP kits for multiplexed biomarker assays meet all the mandatory requirements. Merk Ltd is the only supplier in the market capable of providing those custom Luminex beads. No queries were received following the publication of VEAT notice (2019/S 055-126910).

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/92855bc4-7bc9-4377-9a64-3f32cb03ff3e |
| 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 |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 12 Apr 2019 |
| Submission deadline | 4 Apr 2019 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 3 Apr 2019 |
| Contract period | 14 Apr 2019 - 30 Apr 2022 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £120,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £120,000 |
| 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 | PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South East London |
| Postcode | SE1 8UG |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI45 Lambeth |
| Local authority | Lambeth |
| Electoral ward | Waterloo & South Bank |
| Westminster constituency | Vauxhall and Camberwell Green |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | MERK |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

### Codes

- 33651500 - Immune sera and immunoglobulins

## Release History

- 12 Apr 2019 at 09:57 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/92855bc4-7bc9-4377-9a64-3f32cb03ff3e

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/92855bc4-7bc9-4377-9a64-3f32cb03ff3e
  12th April 2019 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england
  General information about PHE

## Provenance

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