Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2017-01-31
Buyer: The University of Manchester
Country: UK
Region: Greater Manchester
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 38000000 | 38800000 | 42960000
Submission deadline: 2017-02-28
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: The University wishes to appoint a Contractor or Contractors to supply a BioPrinting Platform. The equipment will be part of the Biomedical Systems and Devices theme within the Henry Royce Institute. This system includes 3D composite tissue printing. The ability to process multiple mediums, multiple print-heads, laser, biosafety cabinets.
The Biomedical Systems and Devices intends to accelerate the discovery, manufacture and translation of bio-materials through a platform of state-of-the-art equipment, enhancing the UK position as an international leader in the fields of bio-materials and biomedical systems and devices.
The Henry Royce Institute is the UK's home of advanced materials research and innovation. The 235 000 000 GBP Institute will allow the UK to grow its world-leading research and innovation base in advanced-materials science, which is fundamental to all industrial sectors and the national economy. It is a critical component of the Government's Northern Powerhouse initiative and an attempt to boost economic growth in the North of England and balance the UK economy. Royce operates on a hub-and-spoke model, with the hub based at The University of Manchester (UoM), and spokes at the founding partners; the universities of Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial College London, as well as Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) and the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL).
The equipment will be part of the Biomedical Systems and Devices theme within the Henry Royce Institute. The Biomedical Systems and Devices intends to accelerate the discovery, manufacture and translation of biomaterials through a platform of state-of-the-art equipment, enhancing the UK position as an international leader in the fields of biomaterials and biomedical systems and devices. This HUB will enable fabrication and evaluation equipment suites to allow the currently missing feedback loop for efficiency and optimisation to translate biomaterials/biomedical devices. The 2 identified grand challenges of advanced biomaterials research are restoring biological function within minimal invasiveness (e.g. regenerative medicine, novel prosthetics and implants) and developing new therapies that reduce patient risk, improve efficacy, and lower cost (e.g. nano-medicine theranostics and personalised medicine). The Biomedical Systems and Devices will enable the discovery of novel biomaterial and biomedical devices whilst accelerating the translation of such materials via scale up production facilities and efficient and appropriate evaluation and characterization suites.
The Authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. Applicants who are unsuccessful shall be informed by the Authority as soon as possible after the decision has been made as to the reasons why the Applicant was unsuccessful. If an appeal regarding the award of the contract has not been successfully resolved, The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland). Any such action must generally be brought within three months. If a declaration of ineffectiveness is sought, any such action must be brought within 30 days where the Authority has communicated the award of the contract and a summary of reasons to tenderers, or otherwise within 6 months of the contract being entered into. Where a contract has not been entered into, the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the Court may, depending on the circumstances, award damages, make a declaration of ineffectiveness, order the Authority to pay a fine, and/or order that the duration of the contract be shortened. The purpose of the standstill period referred to above is to allow the parties to apply to the Courts to set aside the award decision before the contract is entered into.