---
title: "Proton range verification detectors"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-030de2"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-030de2"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-030de2.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-030de2.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "THE CHRISTIE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST"
published: "2022-06-01"
---

# Proton range verification detectors

Buyer: THE CHRISTIE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-030de2

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## Summary

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is initiating a public procurement process for "Proton range verification detectors" aimed at enhancing proton beam therapy by addressing range uncertainty issues. This tender falls under the classification of goods, specifically detection apparatus, with an estimated value of £130,000. The procurement method is an open procedure, and the tender period concludes on 24 February 2022, with a contract period ending on 31 December 2022. The procurement is based in Manchester, UK, and seeks innovative solutions to improve the accuracy of proton therapy treatments.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in medical technology and detection apparatus, particularly those focused on advanced imaging systems or radiation detection. Companies with expertise in developing high-resolution scintillator detectors, particularly LaBr3 scintillators as specified, would be well-positioned to compete. The successful bidder will contribute to a vital healthcare enhancement, potentially leading to further collaboration with NHS organisations and expanding their footprint in the public health sector.

## Notice

The PRECISE proton therapy research group at the University of Manchester and the Christie NHS Foundation Trust is developing a system to verify range during proton beam therapy treatments. Range uncertainty is arguably one of the biggest challenges in proton therapy. Range uncertainty arises from a number of sources: imaging, dosimetry, stopping powers, however, the largest uncertainty is always the patient. Patient setup, highly heterogeneous tissue, implants, or bone/tissue interfaces as well as anatomical changes during treatment can all influence proton range and thus, treatment outcomes. The full potential of proton beam therapy, particularly when there are organs-at-risk in the vicinity of the tumour, cannot be exploited unless these uncertainties are reduced or mitigated. One possible method of determining proton range is through the detection of the prompt gamma-rays that are emitted naturally during therapy. It has been shown experimentally that the maximum intensity of these prompt gamma rays correlates well with the Bragg peak and end-of-range. By detecting these prompt gamma-rays and determining their origin the proton beam range could be established. The system being developed is based on an array of scintillator detectors coupled with an image reconstruction algorithm based on gamma-ray coincidences. The detectors of choice are LaBr3 scintillators which exhibit good energy and timing resolution for the detection of the high energy gamma-rays emitted. The typical gamma-ray energy range of interest is 2 - 8 MeV so large crystal, 38.1 mm (1.5") diameter and 50.8 mm (2") long, detectors are required in order to obtain full energy photo peaks. As the reconstruction algorithm utilises gamma-ray coincidences, the detectors need to have an energy resolution of 3.5% or less at 662 keV and a coincidence resolving time of 0.5 ns or less. Ideally we are also looking for the detectors to have an anode pulse rise time of 0.8 ns or less and an electron transit time of 16 ns or less.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The PRECISE proton therapy research group at the University of Manchester and the Christie NHS Foundation Trust is developing a system to verify range during proton beam therapy treatments. Range uncertainty is arguably one of the biggest challenges in proton therapy. Range uncertainty arises from a number of sources: imaging, dosimetry, stopping powers, however, the largest uncertainty is always the patient. Patient setup, highly heterogeneous tissue, implants, or bone/tissue interfaces as well as anatomical changes during treatment can all influence proton range and thus, treatment outcomes. The full potential of proton beam therapy, particularly when there are organs-at-risk in the vicinity of the tumour, cannot be exploited unless these uncertainties are reduced or mitigated. One possible method of determining proton range is through the detection of the prompt gamma-rays that are emitted naturally during therapy. It has been shown experimentally that the maximum intensity of these prompt gamma rays correlates well with the Bragg peak and end-of-range. By detecting these prompt gamma-rays and determining their origin the proton beam range could be established. The system being developed is based on an array of scintillator detectors coupled with an image reconstruction algorithm based on gamma-ray coincidences. The detectors of choice are LaBr3 scintillators which exhibit good energy and timing resolution for the detection of the high energy gamma-rays emitted. The typical gamma-ray energy range of interest is 2 - 8 MeV so large crystal, 38.1 mm (1.5") diameter and 50.8 mm (2") long, detectors are required in order to obtain full energy photo peaks. As the reconstruction algorithm utilises gamma-ray coincidences, the detectors need to have an energy resolution of 3.5% or less at 662 keV and a coincidence resolving time of 0.5 ns or less. Ideally we are also looking for the detectors to have an anode pulse rise time of 0.8 ns or less and an electron transit time of 16 ns or less.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015374-2022 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Jun 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 24 Feb 2022 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 23 May 2022 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £130,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £120,290 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE CHRISTIE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST |
| Locality | MANCHESTER |
| Post town | Manchester |
| Postcode | M20 4BX |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester |
| ITL 3 | TLD33 Manchester |
| Local authority | Manchester |
| Electoral ward | Withington |
| Westminster constituency | Manchester Withington |
| Delivery location | TLD3 Greater Manchester |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | MI-NET TECHNOLOGY LTT |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 38431000 - Detection apparatus

## Release History

- 1 Jun 2022 at 14:01 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015374-2022
- 21 Jan 2022 at 14:15 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001865-2022

## Notice URLs

- https://procontract.due-north.com/
- https://www.christie.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-h6vhtk-030de2. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-030de2.json.