Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership on behalf of Velindre University NHS Trust
4-5 Charnwood Court,, Heol Billingsley, Parc Nantgarw
Cardiff
CF15 7QZ
UK
Telephone: +44 2920902255
E-mail: Paul.Thomas4@wales.nhs.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.procurement.wales.nhs.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0221
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
The provision of Artificial Intelligence Clinical trial matching software
Reference number: VCC-R&D-VEAT-41648
II.1.2) Main CPV code
48000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
II.1.4) Short description
Velindre University NHS Trust require an Artificial Intelligence (AI) software Clinical Trials Matching Products in reading structured and un-structured data in patient records for the purpose of matching patient for inclusion/exclusion to/from clinical trials. This will enable Velindre University NHS Trust to improve its participation in clinical trials with the aim of providing an improved outcome for patients along with aligning ourselves with the Trusts AI strategy. It is key for the Trust to have a solution that provides AI capability to deliver its’ obligations of matching patients to the most suitable clinical trial.
Therefore the Trust is proposing to directly award a contract to IBM UK Ltd.
Please note that this is a Ex Voluntary Transparency Notice to inform the market of our intention for 10 calendar days.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
48100000
48000000
48814400
33698000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL22
Main site or place of performance:
Velindre Cancer Centre
Velindre Road
Whitchurch
Cardiff
CF14 2TL
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Velindre University NHS Trust (OJEU Reference 2019/S 042-094659) held supplier engagement day to establish market readiness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) software Clinical Trials Matching Products in reading structured and un-structured data in patient records for the purpose of matching patient for inclusion/exclusion to/from clinical trials. The supplier day identified that only one supplier currently has a fully developed off-the shelf AI solution (Watson Clinical Trials Matching) that will enable Velindre University NHST Trust to improve its participation in clinical trials with the aim of providing an improved outcome for patients along with aligning ourselves with the Trusts AI strategy. It is key for the Trust to have a solution that provides AI capability to deliver its’ obligations of matching patients to the most suitable clinical trial.
Therefore the Trust is proposing to directly award a contract to IBM UK Ltd for the provision of an AI Clinical Trials Matching system by placing reliance upon Regulation 32 (2) (b) (ii) (competition absent for technical reasons) Following the issue of the PIN notice and market engagement IBM UK Ltd are the only supplier able to deliver the software solution within the required timescales. It is proposed that the contract duration shall be for an initial 15 months period with options to extend up to a further 12 months.
Please note that this is a Ex Voluntary Transparency Notice to inform the market of our intention for 10 calendar days.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
Option to extend 12 months
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
Velindre University NHS Trust (OJEU Reference 2019/S 042-094659) held supplier engagement day to establish market readiness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) software Clinical Trials Matching Products in reading structured and un-structured data in patient records for the purpose of matching patient for inclusion/exclusion to/from clinical trials. The supplier day identified that only one supplier currently has a fully developed off-the shelf AI solution (Watson Clinical Trials Matching) that will enable Velindre University NHST Trust to improve its participation in clinical trials with the aim of providing an improved outcome for patients along with aligning ourselves with the Trusts AI strategy. It is key for the Trust to have a solution that provides AI capability to deliver its’ obligations of matching patients to the most suitable clinical trial.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2019/S 123-300349
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: VCC-R&D-VEAT-41648
A contract/lot is awarded:
No
V.1 Information on non-award
The contract/lot is not awarded
Other reasons (discontinuation of procedure)
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
The Research and Development unit provide support services for the running and management of an extensive clinical trials program and are looking to modernise and make use of technology to improve the process of matching cancer patients to clinical trials using artificial and augmented intelligence and are looking for a partner to work with on this project.
A Prior Information Notice (PIN) has been issued (OJEU Reference 2019/S 042-094659) to establish market readiness and ability to provide an off the shelf Artificial Intelligence (AI) software system that will allow the trust to match patients for inclusion/exclusion to/from clinical trials to:
o increase the numbers of pre-screened patients recruited to studies;
o increase the rate at which patients are recruited to studies;
o reduce the screen failure rate;
o support the improvement of participation in clinical trials to speed up studies that may provide better/faster outcomes for patients
o improve income generated to Trust via participation in clinical trials
Following this engagement it became apparent that only one supplier had the required trained solution since others were either in proof of concept stage or not AI compliant which is a key requirement to ensure we align with the following NHS strategies:
i. Velindre Research & Development strategy
ii. 5th Industrial Revolution (DOH)
iii. Topol Review NHS
The system would take 3 - 5 months to implement and we would be looking at 12 months evaluation period. Therefore we would be looking to place an place the contract for an initial 15 months with an option to extend up to an additional 12 months for continuation of system access.
Please note that this is a Ex Voluntary Transparency Notice to inform the market of our intention for 10 calendar days.
(WA Ref:103282)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court
The Royal Courts Of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
04/08/2020