CAVA Project

Concepts

• cava project
• norwich
• research and development
• development of a prototype
• novel medical diagnostic device
• consultancy services

Location

Description

This contract is for the development of a prototype novel medical diagnostic device.

Award Detail

Renewal Options

Further prototypes and development work may be required.

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Indicators

• Options are available.

Legal Justification

The University procured three quotes for the development of a prototype novel medical diagnostic device in June 2014. The project was in its infancy and funding for a clinical trial was not secured at this time. Three quotes were obtained for the above services in accordance with the University's financial regulations. The contract was valued below the then current threshold for regulated procurement. Further services were procured in March 2016 (again below threshold both on its own and in combination with the June 2014 expenditure). The project was speculative and at the time of these procurements it was not possible to know whether the project would succeed, be taken forward or funded. In November 2017 the principal investigator was awarded Medical Research Council funding to progress the project to the stage of clinical trial. At this time the cost of next (funded) stage of work and the cost of the next (funded) stage of work combined with the original services was below the then current threshold. Due to the unexpected success of the research, it is anticipated that the University will require a further spend on services to produce further devices to allow further clinical trials, up a value over the threshold in order to bring the research to market. Competition is currently unavailable, as all preliminary clinical trials to date have been performed using a specific design with specific assurances from the original service provider. To transfer services to a different provider would require a duplication of the current work to date to repeat initial clinical trials to satisfy UK regulatory bodies. This would cost millions of pounds, and this would not be deemed acceptable by the original funding streams. Furthermore, there would be significant ethical issues associated with recruiting clinical trial participants to repeat work that would otherwise be unnecessary.

Other Information

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