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Published 11 Jul 2025, 13:47 BST

Official UK procurement notice

C-Trap Dymo 400. Optical Tweezers-Fluorescence Microscope

Official notice

Authority: THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Education)

Direct awardSME suitable
Sectors: Medical Devices & Pharma (33)Construction & Civil Engineering (45) Delivery: UK
Awarded value£650,000published award · exc. VAT
Award in standstill Not publishedno call for competition
Award (standstill) to Lumicks B.V

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The University of Birmingham, within the College of Medicine and Health, is expanding its capabilities for advanced single-molecule biophysics research. This expansion includes the acquisition of a highly specialised instrument: the C-Trap® Dymo 400, manufactured by LUMICKS B.V. This instrument integrates cutting-edge optical trapping, confocal fluorescence microscopy, and laminar flow microfluidics into a single, coherent system.

The C-Trap® Dymo 400 will be installed at the University to support high-precision, real-time studies of molecular interactions, particularly in areas involving DNA-protein complexes, RNA structures, ubiquitin structures and cytoskeletal filament dynamics. It includes multi-colour confocal fluorescence (488, 561, 638 nm), dual force detection (x,y), short tether capabilities, microfluidics, and full system integration with proprietary Bluelake software, all required to maintain the scientific edge of our ongoing biophysical and molecular biology research.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1AwardedSME
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
33100000 Medical equipments45214630 Scientific installations

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Direct award
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
11 Jul 2025, 13:47 BST
Last source update
11 Jul 2025, 13:47 BST
Authority reference
SC14161/25
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-039280
Latest notice
Transparency notice (UK5)
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-055daa Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Technical Reasons; Urgency
Published justification

This procurement is being undertaken via a single-source route due to the unique technical capabilities of the C-Trap® Dymo 400 and the exclusive rights held by its manufacturer, LUMICKS B.V. the unique elements of this are:

  • Multi-trap continuous-wave optical tweezers,
  • Multi-colour confocal fluorescence microscopy, and
  • Multi-channel laminar flow microfluidics.

These technologies are protected by several granted patents, including: US9952421, EP3256254B1 (optical traps), US9766180, EP3004848B1 (fluorescence imaging), S11156513B2 (optical force measurement) and EP3737756B1 (DNA supercoiling).

No other commercially available instrument can provide simultaneous, correlated force-distance-fluorescence measurements with the required resolution and sensitivity.

Key performance features exclusive to the C-Trap include:

  • Force resolution < 0.1 pN and drift stability < 0.3 pN over 2 minutes
  • Confocal localisation precision < 15 nm
  • Real-time imaging of single molecules under physiological flow conditions
  • Escape force > 1000 pN, allowing for broad biological applicability
  • Integrated hardware/software for fast setup and automated experimental workflows.

Additionally, the system includes a complete service and application support package, exclusive training kits, and proprietary components that are not available from any other provider.

Notice history

2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 11 Jul 2025
  1. Transparency notice published
    11 Jul 2025, 13:47 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract signature expected
    12 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1some still in standstill
Awarded value £650,0001 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Lumicks B.V12 Jul 2025 – 31 Jul 2025£650,000—Standstill

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-COH: RC000645 · GB-PPON: PHCQ-3464-LVTM Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2TTContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Lumicks B.V.Awarded supplierGB-COH: 60187263 Paalbergweg 3, Amsterdam, NL, 1105AG, NLContact email

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender