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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Optical Vector Analyser & Optical Spectrum Analyser

ASTON UNIVERSITY · Transparency notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 03:58.

Opportunity overview

Supply & Installation of an Optical Vector Analyser & Optical Spectrum Analyser. The LUNA OVA 5100 is the only optical vector analyzer (OVA) that would be identified that is capable of acquiring the full Jones' matrix. This enables comprehensive characterisation of passive photonic devices, including polarisation, group delay, and phase, which are essential for optimising optical buffers, delay lines, frequency combs, and microwave photonic filters. No alternative system identified provides LUNA OVA 5100's level of accuracy and measurement speed for full vector characterisation, making it the only viable choice to support SNAP-based microresonator research and maintain Aston University's leadership in photonic device development and characterisation. A sole supplier certificate for the LUNA has been provided by Lambda Photometrics Limited regarding UK distribution. When evaluating high-resolution optical spectrum analysers (OSAs) suitable for our microphotonic device fabrication and sensing applications, The APEX OSA-AP6 provides 0.04 pm (5 MHz) resolution. This level of precision is critical for tuning and characterizing high-Q microresonators and optical frequency combs. APEX also features a higher close-in dynamic range than other options considered, which improves measurement accuracy when analysing closely spaced spectral components. The APEX OSA-AP6 has a sweep speed of up to 35 nm/s, making it significantly faster than other options considered, essential for real-time spectral analysis of fast-changing optical signals, particularly in optofluidic sensing and microwave photonics applications. The APEX OSA-AP6 uses a rectangular-shape resolution filter, which provides a more uniform spectral response, improving measurement stability for broadband and high-Q optical components. Since SNAP technology demands extremely precise spectral characterization, which lower-resolution devices cannot achieve, the APEX OSA-AP6 is the only viable option identified for advancing our research. With its improved measurement method and faster sweep speed, it ensures the sub-picometre precision, resolution, and functionality essential for SNAP microphotonic research. A sole supplier certificate for the APEX has been provided by Lambda Photometrics Limited regarding UK distribution.

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.

Published award value
£151.7k
Awarded
8 Jun 2025
Award ID
1
Status
active
Identifier
GB-COH 01332370
Location
Harpenden, UKH23, AL5 5BZ, United Kingdom
Published award value
£185.5k
Awarded
8 Jun 2025
Award ID
2
Status
active
Identifier
GB-COH 01332370
Location
Harpenden, UKH23, AL5 5BZ, United Kingdom

Classification

No classification was supplied.

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

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
1038 1039
Status
complete
Procurement Method
direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Why this procedure was chosen
Supply & Installation of an Optical Vector Analyser & Optical Spectrum Analyser. The LUNA OVA 5100 is the only optical vector analyzer (OVA) that would be identified that is capable of acquiring the full Jones' matrix. This enables comprehensive characterisation of passive photonic devices, including polarisation, group delay, and phase, which are essential for optimising optical buffers, delay lines, frequency combs, and microwave photonic filters. No alternative system identified provides LUNA OVA 5100's level of accuracy and measurement speed for full vector characterisation, making it the only viable choice to support SNAP-based microresonator research and maintain Aston University's leadership in photonic device development and characterisation. A sole supplier certificate for the LUNA has been provided by Lambda Photometrics Limited regarding UK distribution. When evaluating high-resolution optical spectrum analysers (OSAs) suitable for our microphotonic device fabrication and sensing applications, The APEX OSA-AP6 provides 0.04 pm (5 MHz) resolution. This level of precision is critical for tuning and characterizing high-Q microresonators and optical frequency combs. APEX also features a higher close-in dynamic range than other options considered, which improves measurement accuracy when analysing closely spaced spectral components. The APEX OSA-AP6 has a sweep speed of up to 35 nm/s, making it significantly faster than other options considered, essential for real-time spectral analysis of fast-changing optical signals, particularly in optofluidic sensing and microwave photonics applications. The APEX OSA-AP6 uses a rectangular-shape resolution filter, which provides a more uniform spectral response, improving measurement stability for broadband and high-Q optical components. Since SNAP technology demands extremely precise spectral characterization, which lower-resolution devices cannot achieve, the APEX OSA-AP6 is the only viable option identified for advancing our research. With its improved measurement method and faster sweep speed, it ensures the sub-picometre precision, resolution, and functionality essential for SNAP microphotonic research. A sole supplier certificate for the APEX has been provided by Lambda Photometrics Limited regarding UK distribution.

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Procedure reasons

Entry 1
Id
singleSuppliersIntellectualPropertyExclusiveRights
Entry 2
Id
singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
complete

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-COH-RC000904
Name
ASTON UNIVERSITY

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKG31
Country
GB
Locality
Birmingham
Postal Code
B4 7ET
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Aston Triangle

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Description
Public authority - sub-central government

Identifier

Id
RC000904
Scheme
GB-COH

Contact

Additional Identifiers

Entry 1
Id
PTLB-7496-TPTR
Scheme
GB-PPON
Organisation 2
Id
GB-COH-01332370
Name
LAMBDA PHOTOMETRICS LIMITED

Roles

supplier

Address

Region
UKH23
Country
GB
Locality
Harpenden
Postal Code
AL5 5BZ
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Lambda House

Details

Vcse
No
Scale
sme

Identifier

Id
01332370
Scheme
GB-COH

Contact

Additional Identifiers

Entry 1
Id
PLZC-1136-LQGN
Scheme
GB-PPON

Award information

Award 1
Id
1
Date
9 Jun 2025, 00:00
Title
Optical Spectrum Analyser
Status
active
Above Threshold
No
Main Procurement Category
goods

Items

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKG31
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 2
Region
UKG31
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 3
Region
UKG31
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
38000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Value

Currency
GBP
Including VAT
151,749.6

Documents

Entry 1
Id
030993-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK5
Description
Transparency notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
awardNotice
Published
9 Jun 2025, 14:54
Entry 2
Id
030998-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK6
Description
Contract award notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
awardNotice
Published
9 Jun 2025, 15:01

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-COH-01332370
Name
LAMBDA PHOTOMETRICS LIMITED

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
1
Type
futureSignatureDate
Status
scheduled
Due
20 Jun 2025, 23:59

Related lots

1

Contract period

Ends
30 Jun 2030, 23:59
Starts
1 Jul 2025, 00:00
Award 2
Id
2
Date
9 Jun 2025, 00:00
Title
Optical Vector Analyser
Status
active
Above Threshold
No
Main Procurement Category
goods

Items

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKG31
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 2
Region
UKG31
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 3
Region
UKG31
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
38000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Value

Currency
GBP
Including VAT
185,508

Documents

Entry 1
Id
030993-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK5
Description
Transparency notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
awardNotice
Published
9 Jun 2025, 14:54
Entry 2
Id
030998-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK6
Description
Contract award notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
awardNotice
Published
9 Jun 2025, 15:01

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-COH-01332370
Name
LAMBDA PHOTOMETRICS LIMITED

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
1
Type
futureSignatureDate
Status
scheduled
Due
20 Jun 2025, 23:59

Related lots

1

Contract period

Ends
30 Jun 2030, 23:59
Starts
1 Jul 2025, 00:00

Contracts and changes

Entry 1
Id
1
Title
Optical Spectrum Analyser
Status
active
Award ID
1
Date Signed
24 Jun 2025, 00:00
Above Threshold
No

Value

Currency
GBP
Including VAT
151,749.6

Period

Ends
30 Jun 2030, 23:59
Starts
1 Jul 2025, 00:00

Documents

Entry 1
Id
034593-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK7
Description
Contract details notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
contractNotice
Published
24 Jun 2025, 09:52
Entry 2
Id
2
Title
Optical Vector Analyser
Status
active
Award ID
2
Date Signed
24 Jun 2025, 00:00
Above Threshold
No

Value

Currency
GBP
Including VAT
185,508

Period

Ends
30 Jun 2030, 23:59
Starts
1 Jul 2025, 00:00

Documents

Entry 1
Id
034593-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK7
Description
Contract details notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
contractNotice
Published
24 Jun 2025, 09:52

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Birmingham · UKG31 · B4 7ET · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-05456d-2025-06-24T09:52:45+01:00Transparency notice on Find a Tender ·