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Published 13 May 2026, 12:19 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Spinning Disk Confocal Microscope

Official notice

Authority: University of Exeter (Education)

GoodsOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Sectors: Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) (38) Delivery: South West (UKK)
Published estimate£200,000≈ £200k / year · £240,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 9 Jun 2026
Contract term 1 yrends 31 Jul 2027 · starts 20 Jul 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The University of Exeter’s Centre for Microbiology and Planetary Health has a requirement for a spinning disk confocal microscope system intended to function as a core, shared-access instrument suitable for a broad and diverse research user base. The system must offer intuitive operation, rapid uptake by non-specialist users, and high robustness for frequent use. The instrument must match or exceed the performance envelope associated with modern integrated spinning disk confocal systems, including multi-channel fluorescence, automated z-stack acquisition, tiling, and live-cell compatibility, while prioritising usability, accessibility, and reproducible data output. More detail about our technical specification can be found in the tender documents.

  • No preliminary market engagement: The market for this instrument is well-established and sufficiently understood by the University. The requirement itself relates to a clearly defined specification without any bespoke / innovative features.

CPV: Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1 1 yrSMEPublished value£200,000
Contract period: 20 Jul 2026 – 31 Jul 2027 (1 yr)Value: £200,000 exc. VAT · £240,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: South WestEligibility: SME eligible
38000000 Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Economic & financial standing

    In accordance with the University's terms and conditions, provided in the tender pack.

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored
Quality: 70%Price: 30%
Published sub-criteria (2)
  • Technical: 70%
  • Commercial: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
  • Technical: Technical requirements
  • Commercial: Price
Conditions of participation1
  • Economic & financial standing

    In accordance with the University's terms and conditions, provided in the tender pack.

What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Goods
Notice status
Closed
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
13 May 2026, 12:19 BST
Last source update
13 May 2026, 12:19 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 20 Jul 2026
Authority reference
UOE/2026/132/MB
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-043824
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
Delivery area
South West (UKK)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-069779 Find a Tender
Contract terms summary

In accordance with the University's terms and conditions, provided in the tender pack.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: EU-Supply (CTM) · Who buys & how to bid on EU-Supply
Public notice page · account needed to bidElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free · 5–10 minutes
Submission deadline
9 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
Clarification deadline
2 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_… ↗

Timeline

13 May 2026 → 20 Jul 2026 · 5 dates
  1. Tender notice published170 days ago
    13 May 2026, 12:19 BST
  2. Clarification questions by150 days ago
    2 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
  3. Submission deadline143 days ago
    9 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
  4. Contract starts103 days ago
    20 Jul 2026
  5. Award decision expected by102 days ago
    20 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender
  1. Tender notice published
    13 May 2026, 12:19 BST
    UK4

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

University of Exeter

Contracting authorityPublic undertaking GB-PPON: PZYG-2396-XCRZ Northcote House, Exeter, South West, EX4 4QHContact name, email, phone

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender