NCA20968 Custom made cell lines, CVS

Description

Genetic editing of two different cell types to generate human disease models critical to prosecution of a Wellcome Trust-funded research project. The gene to be edited is POLD1, mutations in which cause a rare form of human lipodystrophy, and all 4 mutations to be studied are disease-causing. 3 mutations will be engineered into an immortalised cell line (TK6) that is very difficult to work with, and that we have previously managed to introduce only one mutation to, while 2 mutations will be introduced into human pluripotent stem cells. The proposed supplier offers an editing service using novel reagents, but more importantly using a highly engineered approach that optimises condition at large scale in a highly multiplexed manner that is beyond an academic lab. Ordering now at scale is a critical strategy to mitigate the damaging effects of lockdown on progress of the project. Under Regulation Reg 6(1)(b)(ii) of the Procurement (Scotland) Regulations 2016, a contracting authority may award a contract without competition based on the following justification: 2. Competition is absent for technical reasons (only if it is not caused by artificial narrowing down of the parameters of the procurement and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists);