✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 5 Oct 2026, 16:01.
Opportunity overview
AMIC is seeking to establish a state-of-the-art ultrafast laser processing capability focused on precision micromachining and laser welding of metals and engineering materials. The equipment will support research and industrial projects involving micro-drilling, micro-cutting, surface texturing, structuring, thin-film patterning, precision joining and next-generation manufacturing processes.
The system will be used for both research and industrial development activities and should provide flexibility across a broad range of materials including stainless steel, aluminium, copper, titanium, nickel alloys, precious metals, polymers, ceramics and multi-material assemblies.
Classification
CPV38636100 — Lasers
CPV38636110 — Industrial lasers
Lots
Lot 1Value not stated
Documents and notices
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a TenderOpen source ↗
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.
AMIC is expanding its core capabilities in Digital Factory, Smart Design, Sustainable Polymers and Composites, Nanotechnology and Photonics. As part of this project, Queen's University Belfast is seeking expressions of interest from suppliers as we wish to procure a Femtosecond Laser Workstation.
Queen's staff wish to engage with suppliers prior to procuring this equipment to:
1 - gain a better understanding of what the market can offer and if the market can respond to a tender meeting our requirements.
2 - identify potential suppliers able to provide the requirement.
3 - understand potential lead times.
4 - gain an understanding of the commercial profile for the requirement.
A pre-market engagement questionnaire has been published here: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/queensuniversitybelfast/aspx/Home. Interested parties are asked to complete and return this questionnaire via the InTend platform within 30 days of this notice. Queen's may then contact suppliers for further discussion of the information received in the questionnaire.
Queen's do not guarantee that they will speak to every supplier who submits a return.
Participation in the pre-market engagement exercise is not a pre-requisite to participation in any future tender exercise, however, the information provided may be used to inform decisions around the tender exercise. Queen's welcome all participation in this Pre Market Engagement exercise.
This Pre Market Engagement exercise is not a call for competition and does not commit Queen's to proceed with a formal procurement. Queen's is not obligated to adopt supplier feedback into the process.
Due
1 Nov 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled
Documents
Entry 1
Id
093886-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
2 VERSIONS
1
093391-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
2
093886-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Queen's University Belfast is conducting preliminary market engagement for a planned procurement of a femtosecond laser workstation. The intended system will support precision micromachining, laser welding and related research and industrial development work on metals, engineering materials, polymers and ceramics.
Who this may suit
Potential fit for suppliers of industrial ultrafast/femtosecond laser systems, laser-processing workstations, installation and commissioning, consumables, and maintenance services. This is an early-stage planned procurement; bidding and supplier participation requirements are unknown.
Key points identified
EquipmentFemtosecond laser workstation for applications in metalsEvidence: Title: "Supply, delivery, commission, installation, consumables, & maintenance of a Femtosecond Laser Workstation for applications in metals".
Processing applicationsPrecision micromachining and laser welding, including micro-drilling, micro-cutting, surface texturing, structuring, thin-film patterning and precision joiningEvidence: Description lists these intended applications.
Materials capabilityFlexibility across stainless steel, aluminium, copper, titanium, nickel alloys, precious metals, polymers, ceramics and multi-material assembliesEvidence: Description specifies these materials.
94% approved-analysis confidence7 supplier criteria identified4 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Queen's University Belfast is conducting preliminary market engagement for a planned procurement of a femtosecond laser workstation. The intended system will support precision micromachining, laser welding and related research and industrial development work on metals, engineering materials, polymers and ceramics.
Who this may suit
Potential fit for suppliers of industrial ultrafast/femtosecond laser systems, laser-processing workstations, installation and commissioning, consumables, and maintenance services. This is an early-stage planned procurement; bidding and supplier participation requirements are unknown.
Key deliverables
Supply of a femtosecond laser workstation
Delivery, commissioning and installation
Consumables
Maintenance
Capability for precision micromachining and laser welding across a broad range of materials
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
7 criteria identified
Equipment
99% confidence
Femtosecond laser workstation for applications in metals
View supporting evidence
Title: "Supply, delivery, commission, installation, consumables, & maintenance of a Femtosecond Laser Workstation for applications in metals".
Processing applications
98% confidence
Precision micromachining and laser welding, including micro-drilling, micro-cutting, surface texturing, structuring, thin-film patterning and precision joining
View supporting evidence
Description lists these intended applications.
Materials capability
98% confidence
Flexibility across stainless steel, aluminium, copper, titanium, nickel alloys, precious metals, polymers, ceramics and multi-material assemblies
View supporting evidence
Description specifies these materials.
Support scope
99% confidence
Supply, delivery, commissioning, installation, consumables and maintenance
View supporting evidence
Explicitly stated in the opportunity title.
Supplier eligibility requirements
98% confidence
Unknown
View supporting evidence
The supplied preliminary market engagement notice data does not state eligibility, financial, technical or exclusion requirements.
SME suitability
99% confidence
Unknown
View supporting evidence
suitable_for_sme is not stated.
VCSE suitability
99% confidence
Unknown
View supporting evidence
suitable_for_vcse is not stated.
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Estimated maximum value
98% confidence
Up to £750,000
View supporting evidence
Opportunity value_max is 750000 GBP.
Contract pricing and payment terms
98% confidence
Unknown
View supporting evidence
No commercial terms are supplied in this preliminary market engagement notice data.
Delivery
Buyer location
97% confidence
Belfast, United Kingdom (BT7 1NN)
View supporting evidence
Location is recorded as buyer location: Belfast, UKN06, BT7 1NN.
Delivery and installation location
90% confidence
Unknown
View supporting evidence
The supplied data identifies a buyer location but does not explicitly confirm the delivery or installation site.
Delivery timetable
99% confidence
Unknown
View supporting evidence
No contract start, end or delivery dates are supplied.
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Procurement stage
99% confidence
Planning / preliminary market engagement
View supporting evidence
Stage is "planning" and notice type is "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender".
Opportunity status
99% confidence
Early-stage planned procurement; bidding is not confirmed as open
View supporting evidence
The source status is planning and the notice is for preliminary market engagement. No tender start or submission deadline is supplied.
Procurement method
99% confidence
Unknown
View supporting evidence
procurement_method and procurement_method_details are null.
Publication date
98% confidence
2 October 2026
View supporting evidence
published_at is 2026-10-02T14:12:52+01:00.
Submission deadline
99% confidence
Unknown
View supporting evidence
submission_deadline is null.
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Early-stage scope risk
97% confidence
Technical specification, final scope and lot structure may change after market engagement.
View supporting evidence
This is a planning-stage preliminary market engagement notice; no detailed specification or lot description is supplied.
Competition and submission risk
99% confidence
Tender route, participation process and submission deadline are unknown.
View supporting evidence
No procurement method, tender start date or submission deadline is supplied.
Commercial risk
97% confidence
Contract term, pricing model, payment terms and final value are unknown; only a maximum value is provided.
View supporting evidence
No contract dates or commercial terms are supplied; value_max is £750,000.
Technical integration risk
96% confidence
Detailed performance, safety, acceptance, servicing and consumables requirements are not stated.
View supporting evidence
The supplied description gives intended applications and materials but no technical specification.
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
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