---
title: "CDMO for EMBED 3.0 Research Study"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-068b66"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-068b66"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068b66.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068b66.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "CARDIFF UNIVERSITY"
published: "2026-04-27"
---

# CDMO for EMBED 3.0 Research Study

Buyer: CARDIFF UNIVERSITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-068b66

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## Summary

Cardiff University is advancing its EMBED 3.0 Research Study by directly awarding a contract for the development of contraceptive microneedles. The specific industry category involves research and experimental development services, focusing on microinjection-moulding (MIM) of formulations containing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API). This contract is located in Cardiff, United Kingdom, under the Welsh devolved regulations framework. The process has moved to the award stage as of 27th April 2026, with the contract period set from 11th May to 31st December 2026. ProMed Pharma, LLC, a large-scale American supplier, has been identified as the vendor capable of meeting the project’s stringent requirements.

This procurement presents lucrative growth opportunities for businesses specialising in pharmaceutical manufacturing and research services, particularly those with expertise in MIM technology and API formulation. A direct award method was employed due to the prototype nature of the product, allowing for specialised vendors to display their capabilities in producing novel goods and services. Though selected, ProMed Pharma, LLC represents the type of organisation ideally suited to engage in highly technical and compliance-driven contracts within this specialised market, suggesting that similar businesses with advanced manufacturing capabilities could also compete effectively in future opportunities.

## Notice

Due to the highly specific technical requirements regarding product manufacture (microinjection-moulding (MIM) of formulations containing API) it rapidly became clear that we needed to separate the production from the clinical trial services and identify separate vendors for these services. At the current stage of the program, the identification and selection of a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) was prioritized by the EMBED team and the funder.

### Procurement Information

Because the product required highly specialised manufacture using microinjection moulding (MIM) of API-containing formulations, production had to be separated from clinical trial services and a dedicated CDMO selected. The EMBED team and the Foundation prioritised an independent, structured global CDMO selection process, beginning with defining capability-focused criteria, identifying and engaging 29 potential CDMOs, and holding introductory meetings with 14 to assess alignment with technical and GMP requirements. Based on these discussions, CDMOs were categorised by the extent of their MIM and API capabilities, leading to a detailed RFI issued to 12 candidates and NDA execution with 8 shortlisted organisations to enable feasibility assessments. This process was further narrowed through an RFP to three CDMOs, after which Promed Pharma was selected as the only provider able to meet the project's technical, timeline and budget needs. Both the Foundation and other shortlisted CDMOs supported the decision, with final qualification to be confirmed through a due diligence site visit prior to contracting and project initiation. As this work is the development of prototypes, PA23 allows for the direct award for this under Regulation 41 - Schedule 5, para 2 - The public contract concerns the production of a prototype, or supply of other novel goods or services, for the purpose of-- (a)testing the suitability of the goods or services, (b)researching the viability of producing or supplying the goods or services at scale and developing them for that purpose, or (c)other research, experiment, study or development.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038100-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 26 Apr 2026 |
| Contract period | 10 May 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £325,000 |
| 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 | CARDIFF UNIVERSITY |
| Locality | CARDIFF |
| Post town | Cardiff |
| Postcode | CF24 4HQ |
| Country | Wales |
| ITL 1 | TLL Wales |
| ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales |
| ITL 3 | TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan |
| Local authority | Cardiff |
| Electoral ward | Cathays |
| Westminster constituency | Cardiff South and Penarth |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | PROMED PHARMA |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

## Release History

- 27 Apr 2026 at 13:40 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038100-2026
- 27 Apr 2026 at 10:31 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037949-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038100-2026
  27th April 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037949-2026
  27th April 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/business/why-work-with-us/for-suppliers
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-068b66. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068b66.json.