# Automated Solution to Develop and Optimise Upstream Processe

> A sourced UK public sector contract award published by Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre \(UK\) Limited.

## Key facts

- Buyer: Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre \(UK\) Limited
- Supplier: Sartorius Stedim UK Ltd
- Award value: £793,233
- Tender value: £793,233
- Award date: 12 November 2020
- Published: 17 November 2020
- Contract start: 27 November 2020
- Contract end: 30 November 2021
- Stage: awarded
- Procurement category: goods
- Notice ID: 3d7a026e-357b-4061-ad96-1c2bebfd1fcd-393795
- OCID: ocds-b5fd17-1c8b1bce-edc2-484b-bb2d-b637293b9a7a

## Description

VMIC requires the ability to rapidly develop and optimise upstream processes using a state-of-the-art Quality by Design \(QBD\) approach to ensure robustness as well as rapid development\. The ability to execute a Design of Experiments \(DoE\) approach is integral to the assurance of robustness and furthermore ensures that the processes developed are well away from the edge of failure\. VMIC will be a centre of excellence for vaccine development in the UK, and must also have the capability to respond rapidly to pandemic situations, therefore it requires a solution that will allow rapid development of robust processes for clients whilst also allowing a significant reduction in operator-hours and time to create credible processes for anti-pandemic vaccine candidates\. The Sartorius Ambr250 HT system, including installation and 1 year comprehensive service, allows the simultaneous operation of multiple bioreactor vessels working under different operating parameters, with each parameter, addition, feed etc\. controlled by robotics in response to a pre-defined operational plan\. The time saved using such an automated system is significant and allows for the rapid development of processes in a fraction of the time required using a more traditional approach\. It also allows for the scale-down validation of existing processing parameters, thus speeding up the robustness testing and subsequent validation of existing process parameters\. The Ambr 250 HT system is unique in the market place due to the high level of automation and robotics employed to rapidly reduce the time spent in development of mammalian or microbial process, and the high level of automation, microbiological containment, robotics and integrated liquid handling, sampling, and on board sample storage\. VMIC will be a centre of excellence for vaccine development in the UK, and must have the capability to respond rapidly to pandemic situations\. The Ambr system will be integral to both these missions because the solution will allow rapid development of robust processes for clients whilst also allowing a significant reduction in operator-hours and time to create credible processes for anti-pandemic vaccine candidates\.

## Related contract awards

- [Enterprise Resource Planning \(ERP\) system \(for manufacturing, materials movement & warehousing, quality management, engineering & asset management, Finance and Human Resources\)](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-f5a00a05-542c-471b-9e2e-875578ee6581) — Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre \(UK\) Limited
- [MALDI-TOF MS for microbial identification](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-67da1d89-1ad7-479b-bd9f-127faf0a50e4) — Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre \(UK\) Limited
- [Programme Management Services to Support the VMIC Programme of Projects](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-d15a60d4-b72a-4e61-9688-babb5b9b3786) — Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre \(UK\) Limited
- [Software Solution for Quality Control \(QC\) Micro Environmental Monitoring Data](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-4c1be761-e55c-4448-9af2-399722190edd) — Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre \(UK\) Limited
- [Purchase of an Automated Aseptic Liquid Handling System](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-c548088e-4d23-49c8-b9b7-d107844d261e) — Cell Therapy Catapult Limited
- [Ongoing Supply of Specialist Filters](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-7317c0dc-b9ce-4e9f-a5b5-e80353156684) — CENTRE FOR PROCESS INNOVATION LIMITED
- [BioSealer Equipment for the Manufacture of Vaccines](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-d0c20d88-6691-4f13-86aa-ab608b2e526f) — Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre \(UK\) Limited
- [Biowelder Equipment for the Manufacture of Vaccines](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-0d910e17-188e-4a42-9fc9-2f9a03f07d8f) — Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre \(UK\) Limited
- [Award of Conductive Energy Devices and Associated Equipment](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-1908f0dd-8662-49a0-b6ab-b4c7a997fe5b) — Ministry of Justice
- [WSFT - Capital Purchase - IT - Dell laptops](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-7526b81a-7a2b-4360-bb23-85432986289d) — West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
- [Provision of Office Supplies](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-5e1046dd-5ef8-47df-b38b-5818911c0973) — Government Commercial Agency
- [Oxygen Cylinders \(Medical Gas Cylinders & Associated Cylinder Tracking](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-bb47217e-c4d2-4cbf-bcc8-1dd4d167c514) — Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management Limited

## Source

[View the original notice on Contracts Finder](https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3d7a026e-357b-4061-ad96-1c2bebfd1fcd-393795)