Supply of a Parallel Bioreactor, associated consumables and maintenance

NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) are seeking to engage with suppliers of Parallel Bioreactors via an early market engagement exercise. <br/><br/> The Clinical Biotechnology Centre (CBC) is a recognised manufacturer of clinical-grade biologicals in support of late pre-clinical and early clinical trials for investigational medicinal products (IMPs). As part of the MRC/LifeArc/BBSRC-funded hub network for improvements for gene therapies, the CBC is undertaking extensive process optimisation and scale-up developments on existing research and development (R&D) processes to manufacture viral vectors and other investigational medicinal products for gene and cell therapy applications. The CBC requires parallel bioreactor capability for suspension culture of mammalian cells. <br/><br/>NHSBT’s requirement is likely to include the following: <br/><br/>- Fully-closed parallel bioreactor system (not requiring biological safety cabinet) with equal or more than 16 parallel vessels <br/><br/>- bioreactor vessels with ability to gas sparge and headspace with standard 3-gas mixtures <br/><br/>- bioreactor vessels with modifiable impeller designs <br/><br/>- bioreactor vessels that can individually be dosed with liquid reservoirs each <br/><br/>- Extendable system that allows for future incorporation of R&D features such as novel analytical probes and perfusion capability <br/><br/>As part of the early market engagement exercise, NHSBT would like to discuss our draft requirement with suppliers along with: system footprint size, extendable system design, remote access to system via cloud or other and collaborations for future extensions of the system in terms of analytical capabilities and process intensifications. <br/> <br/>It should be noted that other health authorities may be permitted to use any agreements awarded. <br/><br/>It is NHSBT's intention to hold the early market engagement exercise supplier meetings on the 28th March 2025 (note: date is 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 carley.butcher@nhsbt.nhs.uk & rowena.thomas@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on Friday, 21st March 2025. 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. <br/><br/>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.