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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Benchtop imaging microscope for neuroscience research

University Of Edinburgh · compiled

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 04:57.

Opportunity overview

The Grant Laboratory has a requirement for a specialist microscope system for neuroscience research. This is of a spinning disc type with sophisticated imaging (including imagine processing and AI assistance). As a distinctive factor it is important that the system is of a ‘single box’ type, portable, and does not require a specialist laboratory environment (climate controlled, air table) so that more devices can be fitted in a single laboratory and they are more accessible and easy to use. Two such machines are required; they must be easy to operate and the total price including all features and servicing must not exceed a total budget cost of GBP346k We believe competition is absent for technical reasons; it is reasonably believed that no alternative device with the particular properties and benefits of the Andor B43 is likely to be available and alternative devices would require significant compromises on key benefits to be acceptable.

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.

Andor Technology Ltd

Match pending…
Contract value
£345.8k
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
26 Jun 2025
Award ID
036046-2025-1
Status
active
Location
Belfast, UK, BT12 7AL, United Kingdom

Classification

  • CPV38510000 — Microscopes

Lots

  • The Grant Laboratory has a requirement for a specialist microscope system for neuroscience research. This is of a spinning disc type with sophisticated imaging (including imagine processing and AI assistance). As a distinctive factor it is important that the system is of a ‘single box’ type, portable, and does not require a specialist laboratory environment (climate controlled, air table) so that more devices can be fitted in a single laboratory and they are more accessible and easy to use. Two such machines are required; they must be easy to operate and the total price including all features and servicing must not exceed a total budget cost of GBP 346k Competition is absent for technical reasons; it is reasonably believed that no alternative device with the particular properties and benefits of the Andor B43 is likely to be available and alternative devices would require significant compromises on key benefits to be acceptableValue 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
ocds-h6vhtk-0555be
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
Competition is absent for technical reasons; it is reasonably believed that no alternative device with the particular properties and benefits of the Andor B43 is likely to be available and alternative devices would require significant compromises on key benefits to be acceptable.

Covered By

GPA

Legal basis

Id
32014L0024
Scheme
CELEX

Classification

Id
38510000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Microscopes

Procedure reasons

Entry 1
Id
D_TECHNICAL
Scheme
TED_PT_AWARD_CONTRACT_WITHOUT_CALL
Description
The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
cancelled
Has Options
No
Description
The Grant Laboratory has a requirement for a specialist microscope system for neuroscience research. This is of a spinning disc type with sophisticated imaging (including imagine processing and AI assistance). As a distinctive factor it is important that the system is of a ‘single box’ type, portable, and does not require a specialist laboratory environment (climate controlled, air table) so that more devices can be fitted in a single laboratory and they are more accessible and easy to use. Two such machines are required; they must be easy to operate and the total price including all features and servicing must not exceed a total budget cost of GBP 346k Competition is absent for technical reasons; it is reasonably believed that no alternative device with the particular properties and benefits of the Andor B43 is likely to be available and alternative devices would require significant compromises on key benefits to be acceptable

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Name
Suitability to fulfil requirement
Type
quality
Description
50
Criterion 2
Name
Total cost
Type
cost
Description
50

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery Location

Description
Edinburgh

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKM75

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-FTS-2023
Name
University Of Edinburgh

Roles

buyer
centralPurchasingBody

Address

Region
UKM75
Locality
Edinburgh
Postal Code
EH1 1HT
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Charles Stewart House, 9-16 Chambers Street

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
BODY_PUBLIC
Scheme
TED_CA_TYPE
Description
Body governed by public law
Entry 2
Id
09
Scheme
COFOG
Description
Education

Identifier

Legal Name
University Of Edinburgh

Contact

Telephone
+44 1316502759
Organisation 2
Id
GB-FTS-152891
Name
Andor Technology Ltd

Roles

supplier

Address

Region
UK
Locality
Belfast
Postal Code
BT12 7AL
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
7 Millennium Way

Details

Scale
large

Identifier

Legal Name
Andor Technology Ltd

Contact

Telephone
+44 7484084688
Organisation 3
Id
GB-FTS-1033
Name
Edinburgh Sheriff Court

Roles

reviewBody

Address

Locality
Edinburgh
Country Name
United Kingdom

Identifier

Legal Name
Edinburgh Sheriff Court

Award information

Award 1
Id
036046-2025-1
Status
active

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-FTS-152891
Name
Andor Technology Ltd

Related lots

1

Contracts and changes

Entry 1
Id
036046-2025-1
Status
active
Award ID
036046-2025-1
Date Signed
27 Jun 2025, 00:00

Value

Amount
345,825
Currency
GBP

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Edinburgh · UKM75 · EH1 1HT · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKM75

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-0555be-2025-06-30T12:04:32+01:00compiled ·