Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract award notice
Published 20 May 2025, 17:18 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Ultrasound Neuromodulation Device (Transducer)

Official notice

Authority: University of Plymouth (Education)

Direct awardSME suitableVCSE suitable
Awarded value£337,000published award · exc. VAT
Award in standstill 4 Jun 2025no call for competition
Award (standstill) to Attune Neurosciences Inc

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The University of Plymouth requires a ultrasound neuromodulation device which is designed for human use, specifically for non-invasive brain modulation.

It is not a High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) device and is not intended for surgery or tissue ablation. The system will utilize a multi-phased array transducer with 256 elements, with 128 elements positioned on each side of the head, targeting the temples. Acoustic simulation is included to optimize targeting and effectiveness. An MR-compatible version of the device is available for precise positioning and integration with imaging. Additionally, the system incorporates facial recognition to facilitate individualized device registration and setup for each participant.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1AwardedSMEVCSE
Delivery: South WestEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible

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
20 May 2025, 17:18 BST
Last source update
4 Jun 2025, 16:10 BST
Authority reference
MW/UoP/Ultrasound_Neuromodulation/102/25
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-030001
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Delivery area
South West (UKK41)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-051980 Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Prototypes Development; Defence Security Operational
Published justification

This supplier is the sole owner and manufacturer of a multi-phased array system for human transcranial focused ultrasound research with 256 elements, with 128 elements positioned on each side of the head, targeting the temples.

Acoustic simulation is included to optimize targeting and effectiveness. An MR-compatible version of the device is available for precise positioning and integration with imaging.

Additionally, the system incorporates facial recognition to facilitate individualized device registration and setup for

each participant.

This device is a prototype designed for human use, specifically for non-invasive brain modulation. It is understood to be a prototype/novel good to be used for the purposes of research, experiment, study or development.

This allows for a direct award to a supplier under the Procurement Act 2023, Schedule 5, Paragraph 2 (c)

The device will be used by the University as part of the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) funded research programme.

Further details; www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/6-5m-project-ai… ↗

Additional Information:

No Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (UK2) has been issued due to the prototype nature of this goods.

Internal Conflict Assessment has been completed.

The Supplier is not understood to be an Excluded Supplier as defined by the Procurement Act 2023, Section 57

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

4 Jun 2025 → 13 Jun 2025 · 2 dates
  1. Notice published
    4 Jun 2025, 16:10 BST
  2. Standstill ends
    13 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST

Notice history

3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 20 May 2025
  1. Transparency notice published
    20 May 2025, 17:18 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    4 Jun 2025, 16:10 BST
    UK6
  3. Contract signature expected
    14 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £337,0001 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Attune Neurosciences Inc14 Jun 2025 – 30 May 2026£337,0004 Jun 2025standstill to 13 Jun 2025Standstill

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

University of Plymouth

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PQHL-4825-PGGL · GB-UKPRN: 10007801 Drakes Circus, Plymouth, South West, PL4 8AAContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Attune Neurosciences IncAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PDPC-6183-TQJP 2325 3rd Street, Suite 424, San Francisco, US, 94107, USContact email

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

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