Official UK procurement notice
LIONNS-D2 Project - Production of T3S API, IMP and FDF
Authority: Cardiff University (Education)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionCardiff University's School of Medicine is procuring the manufacture of a novel investigational medicinal product (IMP), Triiodothyronine sulphate (T3S), for use in a Phase 2b clinical trial. The service includes the production of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), the IMP, and the finished drug formulation (FDF) in blister packs. This bespoke drug is intended for hypothyroid patients with a specific genetic variation affecting thyroid hormone metabolism. The supplier will manufacture the product to GMP standards, using a validated Route of Synthesis supported by existing preclinical and toxicology data.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Awarded
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 23 Oct 2025, 17:25 BST
- Last source update
- 24 Oct 2025, 09:23 BST
- Authority reference
CU.1623.RR- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-068032- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d2dfFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Prototypes Development
- Published justification
T3S is not commercially available and must be manufactured to GMP standards using a specific Route of Synthesis (RoS) supported by existing preclinical and toxicology data.
Following extensive market engagement, Ardena NV has been identified as the only supplier capable of delivering the full scope of requirements: sourcing raw materials, manufacturing the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), producing the IMP, and packaging the Finished Drug Formulation (FDF) in blister packs. Other CDMOs approached were unable to meet the technical and regulatory requirements.
The direct award is justified under the following provisions of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023:
- The contract concerns the supply of novel goods for research and development purposes.
- Due to technical reasons and absence of competition, only one supplier can meet the requirement.
- There are no reasonable alternatives available.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
24 Oct 2025 → 4 Nov 2025 · 2 dates- Notice published369 days ago24 Oct 2025, 09:23 BST
- Standstill ends357 days ago4 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
Notice history
4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 23 Oct 2025- Transparency notice published23 Oct 2025, 17:25 BSTUK5
- Contract award notice published24 Oct 2025, 09:23 BSTUK6
- Buyer details updated24 Oct 2025, 09:23 BST
- Contract signature expected5 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ardena Holding NV6 Nov 2025 – 31 Jan 2027 | €953,600 | 22 Oct 2025standstill to 4 Nov 2025 | Standstill |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeBidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Ardena Holding NVAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender