Official UK procurement notice
High-pressure automated benchtop flow reactor system for hydrocarbon synthesis and conversions
Authority: Loughborough University (Education)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionPurchase 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.
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The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedProcedure 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-04fd19Find 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:
- A flexible and adaptable platform allowing many chemistries to be investigated, and the
possibility of future upgrades
- 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.
- 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- Standstill ends1 May 2025, 23:59 BST
- Notice published9 Jun 2025, 09:19 BST
Notice history
4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 4 Apr 2025- Transparency notice published4 Apr 2025, 10:05 BSTUK5
- Contract award notice published22 Apr 2025, 16:05 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected4 May 2025, 00:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published9 Jun 2025, 09:19 BSTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. VAT | 7 Apr 2025 | Awarded |
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
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Micromeritics Ltd.Awarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender