Published date: 30 June 2021
Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.
Contract summary
Industry
Health and social work services - 85000000
Health services - 85100000
Miscellaneous health services - 85140000
Location of contract
Any region
Value of contract
£2,500,000 to £6,000,000
Procurement reference
20210630170028-68205
Published date
30 June 2021
Closing date
8 March 2021
Closing time
12pm
Contract start date
30 April 2021
Contract end date
29 April 2025
Contract type
Service contract
Procedure type
Open procedure
Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.
Contract is suitable for SMEs?
No
Contract is suitable for VCSEs?
No
Description
Spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, is a rare genetic disorder that causes
muscle weakness and progressive loss of movement. It is most commonly
caused by defects in the gene SMN1.
Onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma, AveXis) is a single-use gene
replacement therapy made of a viral vector that has been modified to contain
the primary gene for the human survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, which is
lacking or mutated in people with SMA. When injected, the vector is expected
to carry the gene into the nerve cells, enabling production of sufficient
amounts of SMN. It is administered intravenously.
NHS England is seeking to commission a service to deliver Onasemnogene abeparvovec/Zolgensma from four providers in England. It is currently anticipated that there may be one provider to cover the North of England, one to cover the Midlands, one to cover the South of England plus one other. The commissioner is by no means fixed on this geographical spread as the quality of the service provision is the most important factor.
As well as having a neuromuscular MDT and experience in treating children with SMA, the successful providers will need to have the capability to safely manage the product itself in line with it being classified as 'containment level 1' and ensure that all elements of the patient pathway (pre-treatment, during treatment and post-treatment) can be put into place. The providers will also be expected to operate as a national-MDT to ensure that eligible patients can be treated within appropriate timescales.
It is anticipated that the number of children requiring treatment each year is between 25 and 35, although this number may be subject to change, depending on the outcome of the NICE evaluation and, for example, if new-born screening for SMA was introduced.
Novartis Gene Therapies is the company who produce this gene therapy and providers will be required to comply with the company's contractual documentation. This is currently in draft so providers will be expected to have contacted Novartis Gene Therapies prior to submitting a tender response to discuss their requirements in respect of providing a service to deliver Onasemnogene abeparvovec/Zolgensma.
Given the significant amount of preparatory work that needs to be undertaken to deliver a gene therapy service, it is not feasible for commissioners and providers to wait until NICE has made its recommendation. To do so would risk the NHS not being ready to provide access within the timeframe set out in the Mandate requirements on NICE approved treatments and not being able to make the treatment available as soon as possible after the NICE decision has been made. Providers are therefore submitting bids to deliver a service 'at risk' and it may be the case that the product does not receive a positive NICE recommendation. Bidders are responsible for their own costs incurred throughout each stage of the Procurement process.
More information
Links
Award information
Awarded date
28 May 2021
Contract start date
31 May 2021
Contract end date
30 May 2026
Total value of contract
£6,000,000
This contract was awarded to 4 suppliers.
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Trust HQ
Marlborough Street
Bristol
BS1 3NUReference
None
Supplier is SME?
No
Supplier is VCSE?
No
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Great Maze Pond
London
SE1 9RTReference
None
Supplier is SME?
No
Supplier is VCSE?
No
Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust
Address
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9WlReference
None
Supplier is SME?
No
Supplier is VCSE?
No
Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2THReference
None
Supplier is SME?
No
Supplier is VCSE?
No
About the buyer
Contact name
Anna Salt
Address
80 London Road
London
SE1 6LH
ENG
Website
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Closing: 8 March 2021, 12pm
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