Public procurement notice: Contract Award Notice
Published: 2016-02-25
Buyer: Ministry of Defence, Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
Country: UK
Region: Wiltshire CC
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Contract award without prior publication
CPV classification: 33000000 | 33600000: Pharmaceutical products | 33680000 | 73000000 | 73100000
Estimated value: 215000 EUR
Award criteria: Technical ability and Price

Technical requirements: Technical ability and Price
Research and development services and related consultancy services. Research and experimental development services. Research services. Research laboratory services. Research and Development services on security and defence materials. Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Pharmaceutical products. Pharmaceutical articles. The Authority has a requirement for a feasibility study into the potential for improving on the formulation of an existing Physostigmine / Hyocine Patch (in terms of variability of drug delivery) which is under development as pre-treatment for nerve agent poisoning.
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence, has awarded a contract to Acino AG for a feasibility study into the potential for improving on the formulation of an existing Physostigmine / Hyocine Patch (in terms of variability of drug delivery) which is under development as pre-treatment for nerve agent poisoning. The value is 215 000 EUR and the duration 10 months. It is considered that this contract can be placed using the Negotiated Procedure without prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union for technical reasons pursuant to Article 32(2)(b)(ii) Directive 2014/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of UK Public Contracts Regulations 2015). Acino AG have been developing the Patch since 2002. They have an established manufacturing facility, validated processes and a significant amount of scientific know-how and development data relating to the Patch. Any variation in the formulation of the Patch will need to be assessed in comparison with the current formulation, using the same in vitro tests and using the same laboratory. Should a different supplier be engaged to look at modifications which might elicit an improvement in the dose delivery variability it would be unclear how that data might link with the original data as it would have been generated in an unrelated laboratory i.e. MOD needs as few variables in this process as possible. Different formulations therefore need to be manufactured using the same facilities and processes as the Patch in order to ensure consistency and comparability of process. Possible ways to reformulate the Patch will also rely heavily on the scientific know-how of Acino and are also likely to rely upon background IP generated by Acino. A change in supplier at this stage would introduce unacceptable variables which would give rise to uncertainty and fail to produce comparable data. Only Acino have access to both the original data for release of the Patch and more critically, the development data for the Patch, to compare with any modified patch made under the proposed work.
Suppliers interested in working with the Ministry of Defence should register on the MOD Supplier Information Database (SID) Register, available at www.contracts.mod.uk
The MOD SID is a database of active and potential suppliers available to all MOD and UK Defence procurement personnel, and is the main supplier database of MOD Procurement organisations. Please note: the registration and publication of a company profile on the MOD SID does not mean or imply that the supplier has in any way been vetted or approved by the MOD. Suppliers wishing to compete for advertised MOD contracts must respond to any specific call for competition by submitting a separate expression of interest in accordance with the instructions of the purchasing organisation.
From 2.4.2014 the Government is introducing its new Government Security Classifications Policy (GSC) to replace the current Government Protective Marking Scheme. A key aspect of this is the reduction in the number of security classifications used. All suppliers to the Department are encouraged to make themselves aware of the changes as it may impact on this Requirement. The link below to the Gov.uk website provides information on the new GSC.
The Authority reserves the right to amend any condition related to security of information to reflect any changes in national law or government policy. If any contract documents are accompanied by instructions on safeguarding classified information (e.g. a Security Aspects Letter), the Authority reserves the right to amend the terms of these instructions to reflect any changes in national law or government policy, whether in respect of the applicable protective marking scheme, specific protective markings given, the aspects to which any protective marking applies, or otherwise.
Advertising Regime OJEU: This contract opportunity is published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), the MoD Defence Contracts Bulletin and www.contracts.mod.uk


Winner: Acino AG
Number of bids: 1