This is an extract from a document linked at the bottom. It is one that raises very significant questions about what is going on. Sinister only begins to describe this.
United Kingdom-London: Software package and information systems 2020/S 207-506291
Contract award notice Results of the procurement procedureSupplies
Legal Basis: Directive 2014/24/EU
Section I: Contracting authority I.
1)Name and addressesOfficial 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-agencyI.
4)Type of the contracting authority Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisionsI.
5)Main activityHealthSection II:
ObjectII.1)Scope of the procurement
II.1.1)Title:SafetyConnect —
AIII.1.2)Main CPV code48000000 Software package and information systems
II.1.3)Type of contractSuppliesII.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 lotsThis contract is divided into lots: noII.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 KINGDOMI
I.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
PriceII.2.11)Information about optionsOptions: 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 systemIV.1.8)Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: yesIV.2)Administrative informationIV.2.8)Information about termination of dynamic purchasing systemIV.2.9)Information about termination of call for competition in the form of a prior information noticeSection V: Award of contractA contract/lot is awarded: yesV.2)Award of contractV.2.1)Date of conclusion of the contract:14/09/2020V.2.2)Information about tendersNumber of tenders received: 1The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: noV.2.3)Name and address of the contractorOfficial name: Genpact (UK) Ltd
Town: London
NUTS code: UK UNITED KINGDOM
Country: United KingdomThe contractor is an SME: noV.2.4)Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)Total value of the contract/lot: 1 500 000.00 GBPV.2.5)Information about subcontractingSection VI: Complementary informationVI.3)Additional information:VI.4)Procedures for reviewVI.4.1)Review bodyOfficial name: Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency
Town: London
Country: United KingdomVI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:19/10/2020
https://archive.is/2JXqO#selection-763.0-1397.10
