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Find a TenderAwarded without competitionTransparency notice
Published 7 Mar 2025, 11:51 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Transfusion Technology Products - LOVO instrument – med device CE marked

Official notice

Authority: The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Central government)

Direct award
Sectors: Medical Devices & Pharma (33) Delivery: Delivery location not published
Awarded value£188,000published award · exc. VAT
Award in standstill Not publishedno call for competition

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Advanced Therapies service for 2x LOVO systems. Direct Award Section 41, Schedule 5 - The justification is an absence of competition and technical reasons. CRCR240163

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1Awarded
33100000 Medical equipments

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
7 Mar 2025, 11:51 GMT
Last source update
7 Mar 2025, 11:51 GMT
Authority reference
C340408
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-008323
Latest notice
Transparency notice (UK5)
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04ea6f Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification
  • The LOVO MED is the only commercially available device with the correct level of CE Marking and the capability to handle all the techniques and processes our department requires. Alternatives on the market, would require the purchase of two different devices to cover the array of processes.
  • The LOVO system is tailored for larger volume applications, while the Cue system is optimized for small-volume processes. While there are only one or two alternative manufacturers in the field (or world) Fresenius Kabi’s LOVO and Cue machines are specialised in the volumes they treat.
  • The choice of LOVO and Cue by CGT specialists has been based on Fresenius Kabi’s systems due to the demand on specific criteria, such as volume capacity, automation level, and integration capabilities.
  • Fresenius Kabi’s Cell and Gene therapy is unique in that it requires advanced biological, genetic, and engineering expertise. It is not a standard piece of equipment that sees many vendors. It involves complex processes such as gene editing, stem cell manipulation, and immune cell reprogramming, which demand specialized equipment and regulatory compliance.
  • Strict regulations from agencies like the FDA (U.S.), EMA (Europe), and MHRA (UK) govern CGT manufacturing, requiring companies to meet rigorous compliance standards. The regulatory involvement does put off many other manufacturers wishing to develop in this field due to such high focused compliance standards.
  • The market for CGT is still emerging, with fewer patients receiving these therapies compared to traditional drug treatments. As CGT adoption grows, demand for automated, closed-system collection and processing equipment will maybe increase. This could lead to more competition and innovation, but for now the choice is extremely limited and we are currently the devices of choice in this field.

Notice history

2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 7 Mar 2025
  1. Transparency notice published
    7 Mar 2025, 11:51 GMT
    UK5
  2. Contract signature expected
    20 Mar 2025, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1some still in standstill
Awarded value £188,0001 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
supplier not published21 Mar 2025 – 20 Mar 2026£188,000—Standstill

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PDCY-5582-YRHQ Regent Point, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, North East, NE7 7DNContact email

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender