---
title: "Producer Cell Line for GMP Viral Vector Packaging"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0680f1"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0680f1"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0680f1.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0680f1.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT"
published: "2026-04-30"
---

# Producer Cell Line for GMP Viral Vector Packaging

Buyer: NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0680f1

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0680f1.json)

## Summary

The NHS Blood and Transplant has recently completed a direct award procurement process under the title "Producer Cell Line for GMP Viral Vector Packaging." This procurement is classified under the health services industry category and involves the development of a GMP-compliant recombinant adeno-associated viral vector manufacturing platform. The buying organisation is located in Bristol, United Kingdom, and the procurement process concluded on 30th April 2026. The contract was awarded to Thermo Fisher Scientific, with the contract period scheduled from 22nd May 2026 to 31st March 2033. The procurement method used was a direct award based on the necessity for continuity and specialised capabilities offered by the supplier, deemed critical to avoid disproportionate re-validation and associated risks.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for large-scale suppliers and enterprises with expertise in GMP-compliant biotechnology and viral vector manufacturing. Companies capable of providing specialised cell lines for intricate biotechnological processes stand a better chance of thriving in this domain. The securement of such contracts can enhance business portfolios and expand market reach in the highly specialised field of clinical biotechnology. Enterprises similar to Thermo Fisher Scientific, with capabilities to support unique industry demands and stringent process requirements, would be well-positioned to compete and succeed in future similar opportunities.

## Notice

The Clinical Biotechnology Centre (CBC) has recently validated a GMP-compliant recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (rAAV) manufacturing platform process to support UK academic clients in transitioning their gene therapy programmes from research into human clinical trials. The work took over four years of intensive effort, including initial process development, iterative process optimisation and scale-up to ensure suitability for GMP technology transfer. Critical starting and raw materials were selected and approved for use on the platform, as well as determining the optimal process parameters to ensure consistent performance. The validated platform process is now installed within the CBC's GMP clean room viral vector manufacturing suites. As rAAV manufacturing is inherently complex, technically demanding, and highly sensitive to changes in process conditions, any modification to the validated platform carries considerable risk to the quality of the products being manufactured. Even minor changes could have a significant impact to disrupt platform performance that would require months of expensive re-optimisation and re-validation activities, which would present unacceptable operational and business risks.

### Procurement Information

CBC's validated GMP AAV platform being built and validated around VPC2.0 and continuity required to avoid disproportionate re-validation, delay, cost and operational risk. Only Thermo Fisher is able to grant the required rights and support for these specific cell lines, and no reasonable alternative exists without disproportionate consequences.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039802-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 13 Apr 2026 |
| Contract period | 21 May 2026 - 31 Mar 2033 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £180,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| 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 |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85100000 - Health services

## Release History

- 30 Apr 2026 at 10:59 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039802-2026
- 13 Apr 2026 at 11:23 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033233-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039802-2026
  30th April 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033233-2026
  13th April 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- 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-0680f1. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0680f1.json.