United Kingdom-Manchester: Proton range verification detectors

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Ref: (2022/S 000-001865/EN)
Nature of contract: Supply contract
Procedure: Open procedure
Type of bid required: Global bid

Contract notice
Supplies

Section I: Contracting authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Official name: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Postal address: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Wilmslow Road
Town: Manchester
Postal code: M20 4BX
Country: United Kingdom
Contact Person: Mr Chris Robson
Telephone: +44 1614468531
Email: christopher.robson4@nhs.net
Internet address(es):
Main address:
Address of the buyer profile:

I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge,at:
Additional information can be obtained from:
the above mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted:
electronically via:
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Health

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title: Proton range verification detectors

Reference number: DN591219
II.1.2) Main CPV code: 38431000
II.1.3) Type of contract: Supplies
II.1.4) Short Description: LaBr3 detectors (crystal + PMT+ voltage divider) required to measure the prompt gammas emitted during proton beam therapy in order to verify proton range
II.1.5) Estimated total value:
Value excluding VAT: 130000 Currency: GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots:
The contract is divided into lots: no
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
Nuts code:
II.2.4) Description of the procurement:
The PRECISE proton therapy research group at the University of Manchester and the Christie NHS Foundation Trust is developing a system to verify range during proton beam therapy treatments. Range uncertainty is arguably one of the biggest challenges in proton therapy. Range uncertainty arises from a number of sources: imaging, dosimetry, stopping powers, however, the largest uncertainty is always the patient. Patient setup, highly heterogeneous tissue, implants, or bone/tissue interfaces as well as anatomical changes during treatment can all influence proton range and thus, treatment outcomes. The full potential of proton beam therapy, particularly when there are organs-at-risk in the vicinity of the tumour, cannot be exploited unless these uncertainties are reduced or mitigated.
One possible method of determining proton range is through the detection of the prompt gamma-rays that are emitted naturally during therapy. It has been shown experimentally that the maximum intensity of these prompt gamma rays correlates well with the Bragg peak and end-of-range. By detecting these prompt gamma-rays and determining their origin the proton beam range could be established.
The system being developed is based on an array of scintillator detectors coupled with an image reconstruction algorithm based on gamma-ray coincidences. The detectors of choice are LaBr3 scintillators which exhibit good energy and timing resolution for the detection of the high energy gamma-rays emitted. The typical gamma-ray energy range of interest is 2 – 8 MeV so large crystal, 38.1 mm (1.5”) diameter and 50.8 mm (2”) long, detectors are required in order to obtain full energy photo peaks. As the reconstruction algorithm utilises gamma-ray coincidences, the detectors need to have an energy resolution of 3.5% or less at 662 keV and a coincidence resolving time of 0.5 ns or less. Ideally we are also looking for the detectors to have an anode pulse rise time of 0.8 ns or less and an electron transit time of 16 ns or less.
II.2.5) Award criteria

II.2.7) Duration of the contract,framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
End: 2022-12-31
This contract is subject to renewal: no
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: no
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
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure:
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement(GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: no
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date: 2022-02-24 Local time: 16:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted:EN
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening tenders
Date: 2022-03-03 Local time: 16:00

Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence:
This is a recurrent procurement: no
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Official name: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Postal address: Wilmslow Road
Town: Manchester
Postal code: M20 4BX
Country: United Kingdom
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice:2022-01-21