---
title: "Equipment including single use bioreactors, biosealers, biowelders, benchtop controllers for stirred and rocking motion systems plus Single Use Centrifugal systems for the use in the manufacture of gene therapy drugs/treatment for research and development, education/teaching and training"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03027f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03027f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03027f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03027f.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD"
published: "2022-07-27"
---

# Equipment including single use bioreactors, biosealers, biowelders, benchtop controllers for stirred and rocking motion systems plus Single Use Centrifugal systems for the use in the manufacture of gene therapy drugs/treatment for research and development, education/teaching and training

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-03027f

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## Summary

The University of Sheffield is procuring biomedical equipment for their new Gene Therapy Innovation Manufacturing Centre (GTIMC), a key research facility aimed at developing gene therapy drugs. The contract involves the purchase of bioreactors and ancillary equipment such as biosealers and biowelders, with a total estimated value of approximately £2.3 million. This procurement process, classified under goods, is currently in the award stage and includes a recent award made on 16 December 2021. The equipment is intended for delivery to the university's Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, located in Sheffield, with the facility expected to open in summer 2022.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses within the biomedical and laboratory equipment sector, particularly those specialising in equipment for research, experimentation, and manufacturing of gene therapies. Suppliers of high-quality bioreactors, sterilisation systems, and associated technical services would be particularly well placed to compete. Furthermore, the urgency of the tech transfer process from the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult indicates a swift procurement timeline, allowing responsive suppliers to potentially establish valuable partnerships within this cutting-edge research framework.

## Notice

The University of Sheffield (UoS) is establishing a new 'Gene Therapy Innovation Manufacturing Centre' (GTIMC) to advance scientific discoveries into life-changing treatments for patients with life threatening diseases. The Sheffield GTIMC will be one of three cutting edge hubs in the UK dedicated to advancing the clinical development of new genetic treatments. This facility is due to open in the Summer of 2022 and further details can be found at the following link:- https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/new-gene-therapy-innovation-centre-advance-scientific-discoveries-life-changing-treatments The UoS requires various bioreactors and complimentary/integrated equipment (sealer, welder etc), in order to undertake this co-ordinated work in parallel to 2 other UK sites (NHS Blood and Transplant (Bristol) and Kings College London working on identical methods and processes. To ensure the consistency of the science and comparability of the results, the same equipment needs to be purchased as the other two facilities.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

In order to assist with the tech transfer from Catapult the following items are being purchased are to be purchased asap: 1 x Sartorius Biowelder 1 x Sartorius Biosealer 1 x Sartorius BIOSTAT(r) RM 20 / 50 (BIOSTAT(r) B - perfusion ready) 1 x Sartorius Twin UniVessel 2 L STR + BIOSTAT(r) B Between 2022 and 2027 the following items may be purchased:- 2 x Sartorius Biowelder 2 x Sartorius Biosealer 2 x Sartorius BIOSTAT(r) RM 20 / 50 (BIOSTAT(r) B - perfusion ready) 2 x Sartorius Twin UniVessel 2 L STR + BIOSTAT(r) B 3 x Sartorius Biostat STR 50 3 x Sartorius kSep The above equipment will be used to furnish one research and development lab and two clean rooms. Installation, commissioning, consumables, training and annual support/maintenance/calibration will be incorporated for between 3 and 5 years as part of the purchase. Additional information: Regulation 32 of PCR 2015 is being applied as in 32. (2) (b) (ii) and 32. (5) (a). No contract will be entered into until after a 10 calendar day period from the submission of the VEAT notice date. As of 27/07/2022 The University of Sheffield has placed orders for the following equipment:- a) 1 x Sartorius Biowelder and 1 x Sartorius Biosealer b) 1 x Sartorius BIOSTAT(r) RM 20 / 50 (BIOSTAT(r) B - perfusion ready) and 1 x Sartorius Twin UniVessel 2 L STR + BIOSTAT(r) B c) 1 x Sartorius Biostat STR 50

### Procurement Information

The University of Sheffield signed an agreement with Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGT Catapult) to tech transfer the Catapult AAV (Adeno-Associated Virus) manufacturing platform to Gene Therapy Innovation Manufacturing Centre' (GTIMC). This task is one of the milestones under the funding award supporting the establishment of the GTIMC in Sheffield. The milestone must be completed within 12 months of the start of the GTIMC Project, i.e. by end July 2022. Any delay in the tech transfer will also impact on the milestone related to MHRA accreditation of GTIMX due by end Q4 2024. Using exactly the same equipment as the set up at Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult facilities will minimise delays and reduce time/avoid the need for optimisation of manufacturing protocols at GTIMC and allow us timely and within budget achievement of tech transfer milestones, optimisation using non generic equipment may introduce inconsistent results and invalidate the process which as a result would delay process, characterisation and final production processes. The GTIMC and University of Sheffield will jointly acquire a technology license from CGT Catapult to be able to use their AAV manufacturing platform. This platform was established and optimised based on the processes developed using the proposed list of equipment. The list of equipment (as set out herein) and the estimated timescales we plan to purchase was included in our proposal to the MRC/LifeArc to secure funding for the establishment of GTIMC in Sheffield. The subsequent Grant Offer includes the specific brands/models of equipment set out herein. A single source is therefore proposed to formalise the solution provided by Sartorius Stedim UK Limited for the following reasons: - This equipment has been identified and is currently used by CGT Catapult and therefore to not use the same equipment would invalidate the Tech Transfer processes and agreements. Furthermore, this specific equipment and supplier was identified by CGT Catapult as the optimum type to produce the results and treatments for the better advancement of the process, deviation from this would require significant lengthy additional optimisation which would significantly delay the process and miss funding milestones and therefore minimise delays and reduce time/avoid the need for optimisation of manufacturing protocols at GTIMC and allow us timely and within budget achievement of tech transfer milestones, optimisation using different equipment may introduce inconsistent results and invalidate the process which as a result would delay process, characterisation and final production processes. Finally, the equipment set out herein will purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development within the University and no commercial licence will be held during the lifespan of this equipment. The prime functions of the GTIMC hub is to accelerate translational of gene therapy programs and clinical trials for rare monogenic diseases. To increase the U.K. capacity for GMP clinical vector manufacturing using the catapult process to allow for expansion of U.K. skills and training within the GTIMC space and increase partnerships with other academia which will create a fertile ecosystem for innovation and research excellence in this field across academia.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020442-2022 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Jul 2022 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 16 Dec 2021 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £2,812,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD |
| Locality | SHEFFIELD |
| Post town | Sheffield |
| Postcode | S10 2TN |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |
| ITL 2 | TLE3 South Yorkshire |
| ITL 3 | TLE32 Sheffield |
| Local authority | Sheffield |
| Electoral ward | Broomhill and Sharrow Vale |
| Westminster constituency | Sheffield Central |
| Delivery location | TLE32 Sheffield |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 2 |
| Supplier names | SARTORIS STEDIM; SARTORIUS STEDIM |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 51 - Installation services (except software)

### Codes

- 38434540 - Biomedical equipment
- 51430000 - Installation services of laboratory equipment

## Release History

- 27 Jul 2022 at 10:15 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020442-2022
- 16 Dec 2021 at 17:07 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031496-2021

## Notice URLs

- https://www.sheffield.ac.uk
- https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/new-gene-therapy-innovation-centre-advance-scientific-discoveries-life-changing-treatments

## Provenance

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