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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Supply and Installation of a HIGH RESOLUTION FOURIER TRANSFORM BENCH-TOP LIQUID CHROMATROGRAPHY-ORBITRAP MASS SPECTROMETER (THERMO ORBITRAP EXPLORIS 240) to the University of Birmingham University of Birmingham Project Reference: SC10850/25

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM · Transparency notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 14:03.

Opportunity overview

Total cost excluding VAT: £356,548.16 The equipment (Thermo Orbitrap Exploris 240) that we are requesting will permit us to detect changes in multiple metabolic pathways in a single analytical run as it combines the high mass resolution observed in 'multi-reflecting time of flight' instruments with increased sensitivity giving the ability to detect and gain additional molecular information on high numbers of metabolites present in low abundance as found in with 'triple quadrupole' instruments. Importantly for us (Metabolic Tracer Analysis Core (MTAC)), the high mass resolution will also allow us to deconvolute changes in mass due to incorporation of different stable isotopes (e.g. 15N, 13C, 2H), giving us the ability to examine nutrient use in more complex ways. This model is the only such instrument - the 'Orbitrap' part of the mass spectrometer is what provides this capability highlighted above, and Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited trading as Thermo Fisher Scientific hold the patent for this technology. It includes nitrogen generator with high purity collision gas module, biocompatible liquid chromatography system, and full system integration with proprietary Thermo software (including tracing analysis software), all required to maintain the scientific edge of our metabolic research.

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.

Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited

Matched by number
Published award value
£356.5k
Awarded
15 Dec 2025
Award ID
1
Status
pending
Identifier
GB-COH 441506
Location
Altrincham, UKD34, WA14 2DT, 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
SC10850/25
Status
complete
Procurement Method
direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Why this procedure was chosen
This was previously Tendered and only one response was received which was from the supplier we are directly awarding to. This procurement is being undertaken via a single-source route due to the unique technical capabilities of the Thermo Orbitrap Exploris 240 and the exclusive rights held by its manufacturer; Thermo Fisher Scientific is the only company globally that offers a fully integrated system combining: • Sensitivity: tSIM: 200 fg Reserpine on column yields S/N 250:1 RMS or better • Mass Resolution: 240,000 (FWHM) at m/z 200 for all scan modes and both polarities • Mass Accuracy: < 1 ppm RMS - with EASY-IC internal calibration for at least 5 days • Dynamic Range: >5,000:1 within one spectrum (single transient acquisition) • Polarity Switching: one cycle consisting of acquiring one full scan in positive mode and one full scan in negative mode at a rate of 1.4 Hz • Various Scan Functions: Full Scan, Data Independent Acquisition, All-Ion-Fragmentation, Multiplexed SIM (up to 20 simultaneously detected precursor ions) • Advanced Functions: Automatic Gain Control (AGC) with predictive AGC • Application Specific Software: Thermo Scientific TraceFinder (for quantitative tracing analysis), Thermo Scientific Compound Discoverer, and AcquireX Intelligent Data Acquisition Workflow • General: High resolution Fourier transform bench-top liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system with an MS footprint of 71 x 77 x 54 cm (h x d x w). No other commercially available instrument can provide the above whilst adhering to the small footprint (bench-top) size and the required high resolution, mass accuracy, and sensitivity. Given the patented, proprietary nature of this technology and the absence of any technically equivalent alternative on the market, the procurement of the Thermo Orbitrap Exploris 240 from Thermo Scientific constitutes a justified sole-source purchase. The University confirms that no other supplier can meet the required functional specifications and integrated features necessary for our research objectives.

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Procedure reasons

Entry 1
Id
singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
complete

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
conflictOfInterest
Description
Not published
Document Type
conflictOfInterest

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-COH-RC000645
Name
THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKG31
Country
GB
Locality
Birmingham
Postal Code
B15 2TT
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Edgbaston

Details

Classifications

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

Identifier

Id
RC000645
Scheme
GB-COH

Contact

Name
Samina Rana

Additional Identifiers

Entry 1
Id
PHCQ-3464-LVTM
Scheme
GB-PPON
Organisation 2
Id
GB-COH-441506
Name
Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited

Roles

supplier

Address

Region
UKD34
Country
GB
Locality
Altrincham
Postal Code
WA14 2DT
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
3rd Floor, 1 Ashley Road

Details

Vcse
No
Scale
large
Sheltered Workshop
No
Public Service Mission Organization
No

Identifier

Id
441506
Scheme
GB-COH

Contact

Additional Identifiers

Entry 1
Id
PQNM-6125-XPWL
Scheme
GB-PPON

Award information

Award 1
Id
1
Date
15 Dec 2025, 00:00
Title
Supply and Installation of a HIGH RESOLUTION FOURIER TRANSFORM BENCH-TOP LIQUID CHROMATROGRAPHY-ORBITRAP MASS SPECTROMETER (THERMO ORBITRAP EXPLORIS 240) to the University of Birmingham University of Birmingham Project Reference: SC10850/25
Status
pending
Above Threshold
Yes
Main Procurement Category
goods

Items

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
38433100
Scheme
CPV
Description
Mass spectrometer

Value

Amount
356,548
Currency
GBP
Including VAT
477,240

Documents

Entry 1
Id
081686-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK5
Description
Transparency notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
awardNotice
Published
10 Dec 2025, 16:38
Entry 2
Id
083023-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK6
Description
Contract award notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
awardNotice
Published
15 Dec 2025, 15:59

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-COH-441506
Name
Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
1
Type
futureSignatureDate
Status
scheduled
Due
25 Dec 2025, 23:59

Related lots

1

Contract period

Ends
27 Mar 2026, 23:59
Starts
25 Dec 2025, 00:00

Standstill Period

Ends
24 Dec 2025, 23:59

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Birmingham · UKG31 · B15 2TT · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-05f32f-2025-12-15T15:59:30ZTransparency notice on Find a Tender ·