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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of Automated Block Trimmer and Laser Slice Printers

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · compiled

Tender information last checkedLast checked 29 Sept 2026, 21:45.

Opportunity overview

Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of Automated Block Trimmer and Laser Slice Printers

Awarded to

Amounts belong to published awards or contracts. Where several suppliers share one value, it is labelled as shared and is not a supplier-specific allocation.

Axlab Ltd

Matched by exact name
Contract value
£640k
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
13 Feb 2025
Award ID
004976-2025-ADD/PU/EW/24/40-1
Status
active
Location
Ipswich, UKH14, IP7 5EL, United Kingdom

Classification

  • CPV38000000 — Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Lots

  • The Histopathology team at CUH is part of the Pathology Directorate and forms part of Division B comprising a number of other services including Genomics and Cancer Services. The department currently processes approximately 80,000 cases per year generating approximately 240.000 wax blocks and 500,000 slides. CUH is currently in the process of tendering for the provision of a solution to complement the automation of existing workflow from microtomy to block check of blocks and stained slides. The solution must include on-demand printing of slides, and a fully automated walk-away system for block trimming of paraffin embedded blocks that can be sectioned either manually or automated using the AS-410M auto sectioner. The laboratory currently makes use of batch slide printing for manual microtomy, and manually trims paraffin embedded blocks to be sectioned through automated sectioning and slide mounting. The solution must allow the laboratory to implement a continuous workflow that eliminates batching requirements, and checking of block against slide at the quality check step. The slide printing component of the solution must be able to interface to EPIC Beaker. The devices must fulfill the following essential requirements: • Solution must be compatible with existing equipment, consumables and workflow for maintaining operational efficiency • Solution must be within current budget • Solution must be able to trim in blocks full face as a walk-away system • Solution and associated consumables must be compatible to automated sectioner AS-410 and manual microtomy • Evidence of implementation and validation of equipment must be provided • Solution must be able to automatically change blades as required • Solution must be able to automatically orientate block surface without human intervention • Solution must allow continuous loading of blocks • Solution must have integrated imaging system to capture image of blocks trimmed for reference purposes and quality check • Solution must have built in wax waste collection • Solution must have a notification system for status update • Solution must be able to trim paraffin blocks at a minimum rate of 1 to 2 minutes per block • Solution must have a capacity of being able to hold up to 192 blocks for continuous trimming • Solution must have functionality to be able to trim various tissue types. Please confirm tissue types that have been validated to be trimmed on equipment. • Slide printing must use non-contact UV laser marking technology • Slide printing component must be able to print at a rate of up to 5 seconds per slide • Slides used on the slide printers must be agnostic and validated to downstream histopathology equipment including but not limited to VIP6 Tissue processors, Automated microtomy AS-140s, immunohistochemistry platform including BOND-III, BOND PRIME, Ventana platforms, any microtomes and archiving systems. • Slide printing solution must have minimum of 1 to 2 slide hoppers, which can be removable and allow swapping between slide hoppers • There must be a i interface between the Supplier’s slide printing and EPIC Beaker • Slide printing must have standalone functionality in case of LIMS connection failure to equipment The department is planning to relocate to its new base in 1000 Discovery Drive over a 3 week period from 25th July 2025. Tenderers should be aware that they may be required to install their solution in the current premises before relocating to the 1000 Discovery Drive site.Value not stated

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
ADD/PU/EW/24/40
Status
complete
Procurement Method
limited
Main Procurement Category
goods
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Why this procedure was chosen
The Trust believes that only the AT-192M FFPE Tissue Block Automatic Facing Device, SurePrint S200 and SurePrint S10 slide printers from Axlab Ltd contains and complies with all of the essential requirements and functionalities described at II.2.4 above. Axlab is the sole provider of both type of equipment to provide a solution compatible to existing workflows. This includes an automated and true walkaway of block trimming and slide printing using non-contact UV laser printing technology, while complementing existing workflow and LIMS integration, and agnostic to existing consumables such as slides used. There are no known automated and walk-away block trimming solution that compares to the AT-192. The S10 and S200 slide printing solutions also provides an enhanced printing resolution, greater compatibility with LIMS reducing needs for software modifications. There are lower maintenance requirements, thus reduced downtime and training requirements for a high volume and high throughput laboratory.

Legal basis

Id
32014L0024
Scheme
CELEX

Classification

Id
38000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Procedure reasons

Entry 1
Id
D_OUTSIDE_SCOPE
Scheme
TED_PT_AWARD_CONTRACT_WITHOUT_CALL
Description
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Has Options
No
Description
The Histopathology team at CUH is part of the Pathology Directorate and forms part of Division B comprising a number of other services including Genomics and Cancer Services. The department currently processes approximately 80,000 cases per year generating approximately 240.000 wax blocks and 500,000 slides. CUH is currently in the process of tendering for the provision of a solution to complement the automation of existing workflow from microtomy to block check of blocks and stained slides. The solution must include on-demand printing of slides, and a fully automated walk-away system for block trimming of paraffin embedded blocks that can be sectioned either manually or automated using the AS-410M auto sectioner. The laboratory currently makes use of batch slide printing for manual microtomy, and manually trims paraffin embedded blocks to be sectioned through automated sectioning and slide mounting. The solution must allow the laboratory to implement a continuous workflow that eliminates batching requirements, and checking of block against slide at the quality check step. The slide printing component of the solution must be able to interface to EPIC Beaker. The devices must fulfill the following essential requirements: • Solution must be compatible with existing equipment, consumables and workflow for maintaining operational efficiency • Solution must be within current budget • Solution must be able to trim in blocks full face as a walk-away system • Solution and associated consumables must be compatible to automated sectioner AS-410 and manual microtomy • Evidence of implementation and validation of equipment must be provided • Solution must be able to automatically change blades as required • Solution must be able to automatically orientate block surface without human intervention • Solution must allow continuous loading of blocks • Solution must have integrated imaging system to capture image of blocks trimmed for reference purposes and quality check • Solution must have built in wax waste collection • Solution must have a notification system for status update • Solution must be able to trim paraffin blocks at a minimum rate of 1 to 2 minutes per block • Solution must have a capacity of being able to hold up to 192 blocks for continuous trimming • Solution must have functionality to be able to trim various tissue types. Please confirm tissue types that have been validated to be trimmed on equipment. • Slide printing must use non-contact UV laser marking technology • Slide printing component must be able to print at a rate of up to 5 seconds per slide • Slides used on the slide printers must be agnostic and validated to downstream histopathology equipment including but not limited to VIP6 Tissue processors, Automated microtomy AS-140s, immunohistochemistry platform including BOND-III, BOND PRIME, Ventana platforms, any microtomes and archiving systems. • Slide printing solution must have minimum of 1 to 2 slide hoppers, which can be removable and allow swapping between slide hoppers • There must be a i interface between the Supplier’s slide printing and EPIC Beaker • Slide printing must have standalone functionality in case of LIMS connection failure to equipment The department is planning to relocate to its new base in 1000 Discovery Drive over a 3 week period from 25th July 2025. Tenderers should be aware that they may be required to install their solution in the current premises before relocating to the 1000 Discovery Drive site.

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery Location

Description
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKH12

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-FTS-799
Name
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKH12
Locality
Cambridge
Postal Code
CB2 0QQ
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Hills Rd

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
BODY_PUBLIC
Scheme
TED_CA_TYPE
Description
Body governed by public law
Entry 2
Id
07
Scheme
COFOG
Description
Health

Identifier

Legal Name
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Contact

Name
Eos Wong
Telephone
+44 7719412765
Organisation 2
Id
GB-FTS-137894
Name
Axlab Ltd

Roles

supplier

Address

Region
UKH14
Locality
Ipswich
Postal Code
IP7 5EL
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
112C High Street, Hadleigh

Details

Scale
large

Identifier

Legal Name
Axlab Ltd
Organisation 3
Id
GB-FTS-122172
Name
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Roles

reviewBody

Address

Locality
Cambrdige
Postal Code
CB2 0QQ
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Hills Road

Identifier

Legal Name
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Award information

Award 1
Id
004976-2025-ADD/PU/EW/24/40-1
Title
Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of Automated Block Trimmer and Laser Slice Printers
Status
active
Has Subcontracting
Yes

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-FTS-137894
Name
Axlab Ltd

Related lots

1

Contracts and changes

Entry 1
Id
004976-2025-ADD/PU/EW/24/40-1
Title
Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of Automated Block Trimmer and Laser Slice Printers
Status
active
Award ID
004976-2025-ADD/PU/EW/24/40-1
Date Signed
13 Feb 2025, 00:00

Value

Amount
640,000
Currency
GBP

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Cambridge · UKH12 · CB2 0QQ · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKH12

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-04dec7-2025-02-13T15:22:59Zcompiled ·