Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract details notice
Published 4 Apr 2025, 10:05 BST

Official UK procurement notice

High-pressure automated benchtop flow reactor system for hydrocarbon synthesis and conversions

Official notice

Authority: Loughborough University (Education)

Direct award
Sectors: Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) (38) Delivery: Delivery location not published
Awarded value£279,129published award · inc. VAT
Awarded 7 Apr 2025no call for competition
Awarded to Micrometrics Limited

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Purchase of a high-pressure automated benchtop flow reactor system with an in situ catalyst characterisation unit including acceptance test, packaging, insurance, transportation (CPT) as well as assembly, commissioning and training at Loughborough University, Loughborough.

To view this notice, please click here:

www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html ↗

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

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
4 Apr 2025, 10:05 BST
Last source update
9 Jun 2025, 09:19 BST
Authority reference
LU00968
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-030787
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04fd19 Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification

Micromeritics is the only one known source that exists for supply of such an automated flow reactor with the unique capability for in situ catalyst characterisation. The following are the unique

features of their offering:

  1. A flexible and adaptable platform allowing many chemistries to be investigated, and the

possibility of future upgrades

  1. Safety:

a. The unit can both send and accept signals to / from a laboratory central alarm system.

b. The whole reactor / pipework system is installed within an insulated ‘hot box’ that may be

temperature controlled up to 200°C, ensuring there are no cold spots where condensation

may be an issue. Also, easy access to hot parts is avoided.

  1. Micromeritics incorporates patented technologies in the design for

a. A low volume gas / liquid separation technology that operates in near real time allowing

the user to precisely follow product composition over the time scale of the reaction.

b. A low volume gas / liquid / liquid separator with the ability to separate the aqueous and

organic liquid phases e.g. for Fischer Tropsch reaction.

c. A fast-acting micro regulating valve technology to deliver fast and stable pressure control.

d. Ability to integrate other analytical technologies e.g. periodic in situ characterisation of the catalyst without interfering with the process at conditions close to real world applications. The In-Situ Catalyst Characterisation System (ICCS) is an accessory offered by Micromeritics that connects across the reactor and enables in-situ analysis using temperature programmed analysis, TPX (X = reduction, oxidation and desorption) and pulse chemisorption techniques.

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

1 May 2025 → 9 Jun 2025 · 2 dates
  1. Standstill ends
    1 May 2025, 23:59 BST
  2. Notice published
    9 Jun 2025, 09:19 BST

Notice history

4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 4 Apr 2025
  1. Transparency notice published
    4 Apr 2025, 10:05 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    22 Apr 2025, 16:05 BST
    UK6
  3. Contract signature expected
    4 May 2025, 00:59 BST
    scheduled
  4. Contract details notice published
    9 Jun 2025, 09:19 BST
    UK7

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value (inc. VAT) £279,1291 award inc. VAT; no net value published
Contracts signed 1latest 3 May 2025
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Micrometrics LimitedSME15 Aug 2025 – 1 Oct 2025 · up to 1 Oct 2028Extensions: Extensions to be taken in 2 periods – extension 1 – 24 months and extension 2 – 12 months£279,129 inc. VAT7 Apr 2025Awarded

Contracts

  • Contract 1 · Micrometrics LimitedSME

    Signed
    3 May 2025
    Value
    £279,129 inc. VAT
    Period
    15 Aug 2025 – 1 Oct 2025 · up to 1 Oct 2028 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    Extensions to be taken in 2 periods – extension 1 – 24 months and extension 2 – 12 months

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Loughborough University

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PRGT-9932-PLJN Epinal Way, Loughborough, East Midlands, LE11 3TUContact email, phone

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Micromeritics Ltd.Awarded supplierGB-PPON: PNQD-7147-ZRLD 1 MILLER COURT SEVERN DRIVE, TEWKESBURY BUSINESS PARK, TEWKESBURY, South West, GL20 8DNContact name, email, phone

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender