British Government Expect A Huge Amount Of Adverse Reactions From The Vaccines.. The MHRA urgently seeks an Artificial Intelligence (AI) software tool to process the expected high volume of Covid-19 vaccine Adverse Drug Reaction (ADRs)

November 30, 2020 Q

The MHRA urgently seeks an Artificial Intelligence (AI) software tool to process the expected high volume of Covid-19 vaccine Adverse Drug Reaction (ADRs) and ensure that no details from the ADRs’ reaction text are missed.”

2020-OJS207-506291-en

https://archive.is/kXqxI

United Kingdom-London: Software package and information systems

2020/S 207-506291

Contract award notice

Results of the procurement procedure

Supplies

Legal Basis:

Directive 2014/24/EU

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1)Name and addresses

Official name: MHRA Buyer Organisation
Town: London
NUTS code: UK UNITED KINGDOM
Postal code: E14 4PU
Country: United Kingdom
E-mail: purchasing@mhra.gov.uk
Telephone: +44 2030806000
Internet address(es):
Main address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency

I.4)Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions

I.5)Main activity

Health

Section II: Object

II.1)Scope of the procurement

II.1.1)Title:

SafetyConnect — AI

II.1.2)Main CPV code

48000000 Software package and information systems

II.1.3)Type of contract

Supplies

II.1.4)Short description:

The MHRA urgently seeks an Artificial Intelligence (AI) software tool to process the expected high volume of Covid-19 vaccine Adverse Drug Reaction (ADRs) and ensure that no details from the ADRs’ reaction text are missed.

II.1.6)Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: no

II.1.7)Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: 1 500 000.00 GBP

II.2)Description

II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)

48000000 Software package and information systems

II.2.3)Place of performance

NUTS code: UK UNITED KINGDOM

II.2.4)Description of the procurement:

The MHRA urgently seeks an Artificial Intelligence (AI) software tool to process the expected high volume of Covid-19 vaccine Adverse Drug Reaction (ADRs) and ensure that no details from the ADRs’ reaction text are missed.

II.2.5)Award criteria

Price

II.2.11)Information about options

Options: no

II.2.13)Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

II.2.14)Additional information

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)Description

IV.1.1)Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the Official Journal of the European Union in the cases listed below

The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive

Explanation:

For reasons of extreme urgency under Regulation 32(2)(c) related to the release of a Covid-19 vaccine MHRA have accelerated the sourcing and implementation of a vaccine specific AI tool.

Strictly necessary — it is not possible to retrofit the MHRA’s legacy systems to handle the volume of ADRs that will be generated by a Covid-19 vaccine. Therefore, if the MHRA does not implement the AI tool, it will be unable to process these ADRs effectively. This will hinder its ability to rapidly identify any potential safety issues with the Covid-19 vaccine and represents a direct threat to patient life and public health.

Reasons of extreme urgency — the MHRA recognises that its planned procurement process for the SafetyConnect programme, including the AI tool, would not have concluded by vaccine launch. Leading to a inability to effectively monitor adverse reactions to a Covid-19 vaccine.

Events unforeseeable — the Covid-19 crisis is novel and developments in the search of a Covid-19 vaccine have not followed any predictable pattern so far.

IV.1.3)Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system

IV.1.8)Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: yes

IV.2)Administrative information

IV.2.8)Information about termination of dynamic purchasing system

IV.2.9)Information about termination of call for competition in the form of a prior information notice

Section V: Award of contract

A contract/lot is awarded: yes

V.2)Award of contract

V.2.1)Date of conclusion of the contract:

14/09/2020

V.2.2)Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 1

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: no

V.2.3)Name and address of the contractor

Official name: Genpact (UK) Ltd
Town: London
NUTS code: UK UNITED KINGDOM
Country: United Kingdom

The contractor is an SME: no

V.2.4)Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot: 1 500 000.00 GBP

V.2.5)Information about subcontracting

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.3)Additional information:

VI.4)Procedures for review

VI.4.1)Review body

Official name: Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency
Town: London
Country: United Kingdom

VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:

19/10/2020