Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2019-06-24
Buyer: NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership on behalf of Velindre University NHS Trust
Country: UK
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Contract award without prior publication
CPV classification: 33698000 | 48000000 | 48100000 | 48814400
Estimated value: 200000 GBP

Technical requirements: Velindre University NHS Trust require an Artificial Intelligence (AI) software clinical trials matching products in reading structured and un-structured data in patient records for the purpose of matching patient for inclusion/exclusion to/from clinical trials. This will enable Velindre University NHS Trust to improve its participation in clinical trials with the aim of providing an improved outcome for patients along with aligning ourselves with the Trusts AI strategy. It is key for the Trust to have a solution that provides AI capability to deliver its’ obligations of matching patients to the most suitable clinical trial.
Please note that this is a ex-voluntary transparency notice to inform the market of our intention for 10 calendar days.
Velindre University NHS Trust (OJEU Reference 2019/S 042-094659) held supplier engagement day to establish market readiness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) software clinical trials matching products in reading structured and un-structured data in patient records for the purpose of matching patient for inclusion/exclusion to/from clinical trials. The supplier day identified that only one supplier currently has a fully developed off-the shelf AI solution (Watson Clinical Trials Matching) that will enable Velindre University NHST Trust to improve its participation in clinical trials with the aim of providing an improved outcome for patients along with aligning ourselves with the Trusts AI strategy. It is key for the Trust to have a solution that provides AI capability to deliver its’ obligations of matching patients to the most suitable clinical trial.
Therefore the Trust is proposing to directly award a contract to IBM UK Ltd for the provision of an AI clinical trials matching system by placing reliance upon Regulation 32 (2) (b) (ii) (competition absent for technical reasons) Following the issue of the PIN notice and market engagement IBM UK Ltd are the only supplier able to deliver the software solution within the required timescales (and the intellectual property vests wholly in them — client to delete is not relying upon exclusive rights ground). It is proposed that the contract duration shall be for an initial 15 months period with options to extend up to a further 12 months.
Please note that this is a ex-voluntary transparency notice to inform the market of our intention for 10 calendar days.
Velindre University NHS Trust (OJEU Reference 2019/S 042-094659) held supplier engagement day to establish market readiness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) software clinical trials matching products in reading structured and un-structured data in patient records for the purpose of matching patient for inclusion/exclusion to/from clinical trials. The supplier day identified that only one supplier currently has a fully developed off-the shelf AI solution (Watson Clinical Trials Matching) that will enable Velindre University NHST Trust to improve its participation in clinical trials with the aim of providing an improved outcome for patients along with aligning ourselves with the Trusts AI strategy. It is key for the Trust to have a solution that provides AI capability to deliver its’ obligations of matching patients to the most suitable clinical trial.
Therefore the Trust is proposing to directly award a contract to IBM UK Ltd for the provision of an AI clinical trials matching system by placing reliance upon Regulation 32 (2) (b) (ii) (competition absent for technical reasons) Following the issue of the PIN notice and market engagement IBM UK Ltd are the only supplier able to deliver the software solution within the required timescales (and the intellectual property vests wholly in them — client to delete is not relying upon exclusive rights ground). It is proposed that the contract duration shall be for an initial 15 months period with options to extend up to a further 12 months.
Please note that this is a ex-voluntary transparency notice to inform the market of our intention for 10 calendar days.
The research and development unit provide support services for the running and management of an extensive clinical trials program and are looking to modernise and make use of technology to improve the process of matching cancer patients to clinical trials using artificial and augmented intelligence and are looking for a partner to work with on this project.
A Prior Information Notice (PIN) has been issued (OJEU Reference 2019/S 042-094659) to establish market readiness and ability to provide an off the shelf Artificial Intelligence (AI) software system that will allow the trust to match patients for inclusion/exclusion to/from clinical trials to:
— support the improvement of participation in clinical trials to speed up studies that may provide better/faster outcomes for patients,
We had interest from 14 suppliers however only 4 suppliers took up the meeting offer since they declined as they didn’t have a trained equipment. They were still invited to partake however they declined.
Following these engagement it became apparent that only one supplier had the required trained solution since others were either in proof of concept stage or not AI compliant which is a key requirement to ensure we align with the following NHS strategies:
A system is required to be in place this year due to planned reduction in manpower which will reduce the ability to continue to manually match patients to trails. This would lead to the Trust failing its KPI resulting in reputational damage and loss of and potential loss of future financial commitments. The impact of this would be further decline in matching patient to trials.
The system would take 3-5 months to implement and we would be looking at 12 months evaluation period. Therefore we would be looking to place an place the contract for an initial 15 months with an option to extend up to an additional 12 months for continuation of system access.


Winner: IBM
Award value: 200000