Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS England
Wellington House, 133-135 Waterloo Rd
London
SE1 8UG
UK
Contact person: Jessica Gaucher-Thompson
E-mail: jessica.gaucher-thompson@nhs.net
NUTS: UKJ1
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.england.nhs.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.england.nhs.uk/
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
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
Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapy hubs for Melanoma (Adults)
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGCSU), on behalf of NHS England Specialised Commissioning (referred to as the Authority) is inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers to express interest in the provision of Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapy hubs for Melanoma (Adults) by responding to this accreditation process.<br/><br/>As a result of this procurement exercise an agreement will be established with the successful bidder(s) for a period of five (5) years with the Commissioners having the option to extend for up to an additional four (4) year(s) (maximum contract duration nine (9) years).<br/><br/>The deadline for submissions is12.00pm (noon) on Monday 13th October 2025.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
142 512 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85100000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The key objective of this procurement is to commission Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapy Hubs for adult patients. Initially, this will be for the provision of Lifileucel for previously treated unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Services will be commissioned across seven (7) geographical regions to serve the population of England, as outlined below:<br/><br/>Lot 1: London <br/>Lot 2: East of England <br/>Lot 3: South East <br/>Lot 4: South West<br/>Lot 5: Midlands <br/>Lot 6: North East and Yorkshire <br/>Lot 7: North West <br/><br/>Bidders are to note:<br/><br/>- Providers may only bid for one Lot.<br/>- There is no restriction on the number of sites that may be commissioned.<br/>- Providers must be located in and deliver services from the geographical area(s) they are bidding to serve. that Providers must be located in and deliver services from the defined geographical area(s) that they are interested in providing services to.<br/><br/>Link to NHS England Regions:<br/>NHS England » Regional teams(https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/regional-area-teams/). <br/><br/>The commissioner reserves the right to expand the scope of the contract during its term to include the delivery of additional TIL therapies to treat the same or similar conditions/indications, should they become available and deemed appropriate for inclusion.<br/><br/>Lifileucel is a first in class autologous tumour infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy. This infusion is followed by a short course of interleukin-2 (IL-2). IL-2 is a potent drug and has the potential to cause significant side effects. As such, it is recommended that patients receive treatment at a trust with immediate access to an Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU).<br/><br/>Lifileucel is being assessed via NICE’s technology appraisal programme for previously treated unresectable or metastatic melanoma in adults, with an expected final guidance publication date in early 2026.<br/><br/>Link for the current NICE paperwork:<br/>https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta10752<br/><br/>Providers are required to be an established site for the delivery of specialist skin cancer care that complies with the requirements as set out in the current specification, and any future reiterations below: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Cancer-skin-adult.pdf<br/><br/>Providers must also;<br/>• Have access to surgical expertise which enables them to perform tumour resections to obtain enough sample tissue for final product to be made. <br/>• Hold the appropriate Human Tissue Authority licences, which includes having the licence to cover the procurement, donor testing and exporting of the resected tissue.<br/>• Have expertise in delivering and managing cellular therapies <br/>• Have experience of managing the adverse effects of interleukin 2 inhibitors. Examples of these adverse events would be those similar to cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome.<br/>• Hold a Joint Accreditation Committee of ISCT and EBMT of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (JACIE) Immune Effector Cells (IEC) accreditation or be working towards such accreditation with accreditation being in place before contracts are awarded.<br/>• Have experience relevant to Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. <br/> <br/>Providers must be able to meet the requirements set out in this Competitive Process and deliver the contract in accordance with its terms.<br/><br/>To express interest and participate in the Competitive Process, please register and apply via Atamis esourcing portal https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome Should Tenderers have any queries, or problems using the portal, they should contact the Helpdesk at:<br/>Phone: 08000988201<br/>E-mail: support-health@atamis.co.uk<br/><br/>The closing date for completed Competitive Process responses is 12:00pm (noon), on Monday 13th October 2025.<br/><br/>Atamis Project reference C385818.<br/><br/>The contract duration is for five (5) years with the Commissioners having the option to extend for up to an additional four (4) year(s) (maximum contract duration nine (9) years).<br/><br/>This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
142 512 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 104
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The contract duration is for five (5) years with the Commissioners having the option to extend for up to an additional four (4) year(s) (maximum contract duration nine (9) years).
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
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
13/10/2025
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Tender must be valid until:
13/10/2026
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
13/10/2025
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit
Cardinal Square, 10 Nottingham Road
Derby
DE1 3QT
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
08/09/2025