---
title: "Supply of Viral Vector Plasmids"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-049b21"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-049b21"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-049b21.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-049b21.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT"
published: "2024-09-16"
---

# Supply of Viral Vector Plasmids

Buyer: NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-049b21

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## Summary

NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) is at the planning stage of a procurement process for the supply of Viral Vector Plasmids. This tender is categorized under clinical products and will be conducted in the UK. The NHSBT's Clinical Biotechnology Centre (CBC) in Filton is spearheading this initiative, which forms part of their strategic business Cellular and Molecular Therapies function. The estimated value of the contract is £3,000,000. An early market engagement exercise is scheduled for the week of 28th October 2024, with expressions of interest due by 17:00 hrs (GMT) on Wednesday, 16th October. The engagement aims to explore the supply capabilities and innovative developments in viral vector plasmids, suitable for multiple clinically relevant vector types such as Adeno-associated and Lentiviral vectors.

This procurement process presents significant opportunities for businesses in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors, particularly those specialising in plasmid production and advanced therapy manufacturing. The NHSBT seeks partners capable of providing high-quality plasmids with robust transfection system suitability and packaging efficiency. Suppliers with innovative solutions and the ability to offer different quality standards, from R&D to GMP grade, are highly pertinent. Engaging in this early market exercise could position businesses favourably for future contracts, supporting growth through participation in NHSBT’s initiatives to advance gene therapy manufacturing in the UK.

## Notice

Viral Vector Plasmids. Please note this is not the start of a procurement process. A separate contract notice will be published to cover this requirement.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) are seeking to engage with suppliers of plasmids for Adeno-associated Viral (AAV) vectors, Lentiviral (LV) vectors and other clinically relevant viral vector types via an early market engagement exercise.

NHSBT Clinical Biotechnology Centre (CBC), Filton is part of the Cellular and Molecular Therapies (CMT) function and one of the Innovation Hubs for Gene Therapies in the UK. The CBC, is part of the strategic business CMT function of NHSBT, providing specialist advanced therapy manufacturing services for clinical trials such as gene therapies. CBC services are part of a national network of four laboratories across England which have a Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulated license for the manufacturing of investigational medicinal products. NHSBT offers viral vector manufacturing services to the Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) sector. NHSBT operates on a not-for-profit basis to support the gene therapy clinical translation from academic and other organisations, therefore cost effectiveness of plasmids is a key factor.

NHSBT seeks to engage with suppliers who provide plasmids with a proven transfection system suitability to produce high titre of viral vectors with greater ratios of full capsids by maintaining required quality standards for the use of these products in clinical use. 

NHSBT's requirement is likely to include the following:

* Plasmids must meet the quality standards for viral vector production for clinical use. 
* Plasmids should be available at different quality standards including Research and Development (R&D) grade, High-Quality and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) grade.
* It is recognised that newer and innovative viral vector plasmids/plasmid systems may become available and that NHSBT may wish to take advantage of these. The supplier must notify NHSBT of any such new developments which are relevant and, where mutually agreed, work with NHSBT to introduce these and make them available to NHSBT.
* AAV Plasmids should be available for all common AAV serotypes. along with any newer and innovative serotypes.
* Plasmids need to be available in different pack sizes from 1mg to 2g.
* All necessary plasmids should be available.
* Plasmids should demonstrate high titre/yield and packaging efficiency.
* AAV Plasmids should demonstrate high ratio of full capsids.
* Demonstration of suitability of the plasmids with different transfection systems is critical.
* Availability of different qualified plasmid identification tests and residual plasmid detections test to satisfy required regulatory authority is advisable. 

As part of the early market engagement exercise, NHSBT would like to discuss our requirement with suppliers along with: time frame for supply; whether plasmid suppliers also provide consumables etc; and what innovative plasmids may be available.

It should be noted that other health authorities may be permitted to use any agreements awarded. 

It is NHSBT's intention to hold the early market engagement exercise supplier meetings the week of 28th October 2024 (note: dates are subject to change). The meetings will be held remotely. To enable NHSBT to finalise arrangements (e.g. send meeting details and agree time slots), interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to james.marshall2@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on Wednesday 16th October. This should include a list of your requested attendees and a brief overview (or a website link) of the Goods / Services which might be of interest to NHSBT in relation to this requirement. Please include options, if available, for a managed service contract.

There is no guarantee that a formal procurement process will be launched as a result of this early market engagement exercise, nor that any contract(s) will be placed. No remuneration or compensation etc will be paid to organisations who take part in this early market engagement exercise. Suppliers should take part in this process only on the basis that they fully understand and accept this position.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029545-2024 |
| Notice type | Planning Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 16 Sep 2024 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 15 Sep 2024 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £3,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT |
| Locality | BRISTOL |
| Post town | Bristol |
| Postcode | BS34 7QH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England |
| ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire |
| Local authority | South Gloucestershire |
| Electoral ward | Filton |
| Westminster constituency | Filton and Bradley Stoke |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

### Codes

- 33698000 - Clinical products

## Release History

- 16 Sep 2024 at 12:16 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029545-2024

## Notice URLs

- https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- https://www.nhsbt.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-049b21. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-049b21.json.