Respiratory Metagenomics Expansion Programme to Oxford Nanopore Technologies PLC

CPV: Medical consumables · Miscellaneous medical devices and products

Procedure method

Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition

Legal basis

CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)

Procurement category

Goods

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

2 Dec 2025, 17:05 GMT

Last source update

2 Dec 2025, 17:05 GMT

Authority reference

C395947 (Ref # 5940-26)

FTS notice number

2025/S 000-079107

Classification (CPV)

Medical consumablesMiscellaneous medical devices and products

Delivery area

London (UKI44)

Official registry OCID

ocds-h6vhtk-05ed66 Find a Tender

Why no open competition

The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons

Published justification

Direct award justification<br/>Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights<br/>In accordance with Section 41 and Schedule 5 of the PA23, this direct award is to be<br/>made on the grounds of absence of competition for technical reasons as the products and<br/>services are subject to patented technology by Oxford Nanpore Technologies PLC. <br/>It is unique in that it is the only sequencing technology available on the market that enables<br/>direct, real-time analysis of short to ultra-long fragments of DNA/RNA, in fully scalable<br/>formats. No other provider is able to supply equivalent goods or services.<br/>

• Additional Information - The contracting authority has concluded that the conditions for a<br/>direct award are satisfied due to their being no alternatives and an absence of competition<br/>due to patent status of the required products and services. A Contract Award Notice<br/>(UK6) will be published following the expiry of the standstill period.

Publisher note: The Trust has been in contract with Oxford Nanopore for a period of 1 year as part of the pilot programme for delivery of an initial pilot metagenomics service at 9 NHS sites in 2024/25. <br/>A number of collaboration agreements have existed between GSTT and ONT prior to this, under which the two institutions developed the joint elements of our respective components of the end to end workflow.<br/>Given the requirement to continue the pilot arrangements and the continuation of the grant funding from DSIT and OLS, it was necessary to engage in direct negotiations with Oxford Nanopore. In addition, the technology under development is patented and GSTT are working in collaboration with Oxford Nanopore to continue to develop the protocols and undertake the research activity.<br/>Under PA23 there are 2 relevant provisions for a direct award for patented technology covered under section 41, Schedule 5. (1) “a supplier is in possession of IP and there are no reasonable alternatives…”and (2) “the absence of competition for technical reasons”, both sectioned under “Single Suppliers” where a particular supplier owns the intellectual rights and is the only supplier able to provide that product / service.

• Oxford Nanopore Technologies LimitedAwarded supplier05386273 Gosling Building Edmund Halley Road, Oxford Science Park, Oxfordshire, South East, OX4 4DQContact phoneShow contact details

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