Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2020-09-18
Buyer: Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre UK Ltd
Country: UK
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 33600000: Pharmaceutical products | 38434540 | 38810000
Submission deadline: 2020-10-16
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: VMIC are seeking to procure a semi-automatic Inspection Unit to enable visual testing, particle leakage testing and to support the training of VMIC personnel in inspection of packaging and products.
(a) to enable the visual inspection of a wide range vaccines products which may in liquid and freeze dried forms contained within, vials, syringes, cartridges and other primary containment. The primary function will be to inspect small quantities being produced for clinical trials, limited quantity pre-manufacturing batches and research and development;
(b) the inspection function at VMIC shall also require equipment to undertake particle leakage testing. These additional operations need not be part of the optical inspection system but may be separate units. Vendors are to recommend appropriate arrangements, taking into account the requirements of items 3(a) above;
(c) in addition to the primary function of the unit, an important element of VMIC’s future activities will be training of students and operational personnel in the key aspects of the inspection and identification of defects both in the packaging and the product.
Based on the above, VMIC requires that the equipment can be used for training pursposes to enable the inspection staff to gain a a more detailed knowledge and understanding parameters of the inspection process than would be the case with an automatic inspection system. It should be noted that production inspection at the VMIC facility is automatic and does not form part of this procurement. The procurement includes technical support and maintenance services.
To participate in this procurement participants must send an expression of interest to: Tenders@vmicuk.com
All correspondence and expressions of interest relating to this procurement must be made through this email address. Non-compliant expressions of interest will not be considered or acknowledged.
(i) not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process related to the publication of this notice; and
(ii) to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the procurement (limited to the extent permitted under the Public Contract Regulations 2015);
(iii) to procure some of their needs covered by this notice outside of this procurement exercise and resulting agreement.
In no circumstances will VMIC be liable for any costs incurred by the candidates. Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken prior to contract award is accordingly a matter solely for the commercial judgement of the candidate.
In accordance with regulation 86 and 87 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, VMIC incorporated a minimum 10 calendar days standstill period starting from the day when contract award was notified to the bidders. Unsuccessful bidders were provided with a de-brief of the award decision at the start of the standstill period including details of their bid in relation to the winning bid(s) comprising:
Bidders have the right to appeal provided for within the Public Contract Regulations 2015. Any such proceedings must be brought before the High Court of England and Wales.