The Cell Therapy Catapult has received government funding to establish a large scale Cell Therapy Manufacturing Centre in the UK. Currently, UK manufacturing is served by small academic centres that are designed to provide material for early stage clinical trials. There is currently no large-scale infrastructure in the UK that would enable the manufacture of cell therapies for late stage, phase III manufacturing and subsequently for in-market supply. The location of the centre is in the process of being selected and it is possible the centre will be a new build facility, or the retro fit of an existing building. The Centre will be located in an area capable of supplying the main European Centres via a robust supply chain within 18 hrs — 24 hrs of product manufacture, as this is a common current constraint on shelf life. This location will also position the facility to be able to supply the large potential Middle East and North African (MENA) markets.

The Cell Therapy Catapult intends to appoint a combined project management and design team to work with the CTC to deliver the proposed new Manufacturing Centre. The appointment will include both the detailed design of the new facility (this will either be on the basis of a conversion of an existing building or a bespoke new build) together with full project and cost management and Construction Design Management Co-ordinator services to ensure on time and on budget construction and qualification of the manufacturing centre facility (the Services). It is envisaged that the team will work closely with the CTC project team to prepare and submit a planning application for the new facility as early as possible. In addition, it is expected the team will work with the CTC to prepare the detailed specification and Employer's Requirements of the new facility and the preparation and evaluation of tender documentation for the appointment of a suitable Principal Contractor on the basis of an NEC3 form of contract.

The appointed project management and design team will be required to work with CTC and the CTC advisors to develop a detailed design and construction plan for the manufacturing centre from the initial pre-concept design that will be provided by CTC. The detailed design is likely to include architectural and interior design services, civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering services, and other relevant design and planning functions. The detailed design and construction plan must be completed in time for construction works to begin in the first half of 2015. It is expected that the detailed design will be completed by April 2015. Further details of the timescales will be provided in the ITT.