Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract details notice
Published 4 Jul 2025, 15:42 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Silicon Wafers for Test Chips

Official notice

Authority: OPEN UNIVERSITY(THE) (Education)

Direct award
Budget not disclosedValue not published
Awarded 4 Jul 2025no call for competition
Awarded to X-FAB Sarawak Sdn. Bhd.

What is being bought

Published requirement description

As part of the existing Technology Development Element (TDE) contract with the European Space Agency (ESA), the Open University (OU), in company with Teledyne-e2v, are required to procure and test three experimental test chips for characterisation and testing.

Phase 1: To procure Silicon wafers for the manufacture of Front Side Illuminated (FSI) soft X-ray Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) imaging detectors to characterise their Electro Optical (EO) performance both pre and post irradiation.

Phase 2: A potential second phase subject to funding to process any remaining Silicon wafers from the first phase for the manufacture of Back Side Illuminated (BSI) soft X-ray CMOS imaging detectors to characterise their EO performance both pre and post irradiation.

Phase 3: A potential third phase subject to funding to procure Silicon wafers to manufacture another batch of either FSI or BSI soft X-ray CMOS imaging detectors for further characterisation of their EO performance both pre and post irradiation.

Cost

Phase 1: £220,000

Phase 2: £250,000

Phase 3: £350,00

Total: £820,000

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 Jul 2025, 15:42 BST
Last source update
15 Aug 2025, 15:27 BST
Authority reference
OUPA11504
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-049225
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Delivery area
North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)East Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)London (UKI)South East (UKJ)
+1 moreSouth West (UKK)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-055960 Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification

The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract-

a) due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and

b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.

Teledyne-e2v have previously performed a competitor analysis and based on a comparison of price and technical performance, XFAB were selected as the preferred supplier for all their silicon chip products. As a result, Teledyne's CMOS imaging device design and manufacturing plans for this project have been developed to align with XFAB's design rules and processes. Consequently, in order to meet the requirements of the ESA agreement the OU must procure wafers from XFAB to ensure compatibility with Teledyne's design and manufacturing standards.

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

16 Jul 2025 → 15 Aug 2025 · 2 dates
  1. Standstill ends
    16 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST
  2. Notice published
    15 Aug 2025, 15:27 BST

Notice history

4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 4 Jul 2025
  1. Transparency notice published
    4 Jul 2025, 15:42 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    4 Jul 2025, 16:22 BST
    UK6
  3. Contract signature expected
    17 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
  4. Contract details notice published
    15 Aug 2025, 15:27 BST
    UK7

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Contracts signed 1latest 17 Jul 2025
Awarded toValueDateStatus
X-FAB Sarawak Sdn. Bhd.18 Jul 2025 – 31 Jan 2026 · up to 1 Oct 2029Extensions: Extension End Date: Phase 2: March 2028 Phase 3: September 2029€220,0004 Jul 2025Awarded

Contracts

  • Silicon Wafers for Test Chips · X-FAB Sarawak Sdn. Bhd.

    Signed
    17 Jul 2025
    Value
    €220,000
    Period
    18 Jul 2025 – 31 Jan 2026 · up to 1 Oct 2029 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    Extension End Date: Phase 2: March 2028 Phase 3: September 2029

    No agreed KPIs: Not applicable.

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-CHC: RC000391 · GB-PPON: PYNW-6296-ZJQQ Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, South East, MK7 6AAContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • X-FAB Sarawak Sdn. Bhd.Awarded supplierGB-PPON: PLGZ-1483-CXTX 1 Silicon Drive, Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone, Kuching · Sarawak, MY, 93350, MYContact 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