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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Automated Library Synthesis System

University of Portsmouth · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 13:23.

Opportunity overview

The University of Portsmouth is looking for an automated library synthesis system to support current and future research projects in the School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Science. The equipment will be used in research and teaching across the school in areas such as vaccine development, gene therapy, lipid nanoparticle research, drug formulation screening and process optimisation for manufacturing. We are looking to purchase an automated microfluidic platform designed for high-throughput screening and optimisation of nanoparticle formulations. It should enable users to run large numbers of experiments within a single workflow while tightly controlling formulation and process parameters, using minimal reagent volumes and incorporating automated cleaning to avoid cross-contamination. The system should combine programmable pumping, robotic liquid handling, interchangeable microfluidic mixing devices and integrated software for experimental design and data capture. It should offer an efficient and scalable approach to rapid formulation screening and the transfer of optimised conditions to downstream process development. The seller is expected to supply, deliver, install the equipment and provide training to key users. We are seeking a five-year service plan to be included in the purchase. The seller must meet the mandatory essential criteria outline in the specification.

Classification

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

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
25RP525
Status
planning
Above Threshold
Yes
Main Procurement Category
goods

Amendments

Entry 1
Id
077728-2025
Description
edited to add contact details

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Communication

Future Notice Date
1 Apr 2026, 23:59

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
planning

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Ends
31 May 2031, 23:59
Starts
1 Jun 2026, 00:00

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKJ3
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 2
Region
UKJ3
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 3
Region
UKJ3
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Additional Classifications

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

Planning and budget

Documents

Entry 1
Id
077358-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Published
26 Nov 2025, 15:19
Entry 2
Id
077366-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Published
26 Nov 2025, 15:25
Entry 3
Id
077728-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Published
27 Nov 2025, 14:32

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Status
scheduled
Due
18 Dec 2025, 23:59
Description
The University is conducting early market engagement to understand the range of automated microfluidic nanoparticle generation systems currently available that may meet our emerging specification for use in pharmaceutical research. The device should allow for high throughput manufacturing of large libraries of lipid nanoparticles. This is required for formulation screening and optimization for encapsulation and cellular delivery of nucleic acids (gene therapies). The equipment should enable automated and high-speed manufacturing of lipid nanoparticles (maximum 10 m in per formulation) at a small scale (1- 2 mL per run), preferably in a 96 well plate format. It should also allow us to choose the suitable design of the microfluidic mixer which is fit for our purpose. The equipment will be instrumental in our ongoing and future research projects that involve optimization of LNPs for enhanced and targeted delivery of various therapeutic nucleic acids to different types of cells and/or specific subcellular organelles for development of new gene therapies and vaccines. We invite interested suppliers to provide information on their available systems, supporting documentation, technical specifications and provide any relevant product literature. This engagement is being undertaken through a document based information gathering exercise only; no meetings or presentations are planned at this stage. Suppliers wishing to participate should outline the capabilities of the proposed system, key technical parameters, optional modules or configurations, and any additional information that would help us understand how the system could meet our requirements. The deadline for providing this information is 18th December 2025. Following the review of the submissions, the University may undertake further engagement activities if required, or may use the documentation received to inform the future procurement approach. Participation in the process is voluntary, and suppliers will bear their own costs. This engagement does not form part of any procurement process and does not commit the University to undertake a competitive process at a later date. Please send responses to ruth.powell@port.ac.uk

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-PPON-PWYV-2655-NPMQ
Name
University of Portsmouth

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKJ31
Country
GB
Locality
Portsmouth
Postal Code
PO1 2EG
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Mercantile House, Hampshire Terrace

Details

Classifications

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

Identifier

Id
PWYV-2655-NPMQ
Scheme
GB-PPON

Contact

Name
Ruth Powell

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Portsmouth · UKJ31 · PO1 2EG · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKJ3 · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-05e97a-2025-11-27T14:32:09ZPreliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·