AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
Swansea University awarded and signed a contract with CARL ZEISS LTD to upgrade its existing Zeiss 980 confocal microscope. The direct, below-threshold procurement is intended to enhance capability while maintaining compatibility with the University's microscopy infrastructure.
Published outcomeOne active award and active contract are recorded for CARL ZEISS LTD. The contract was signed and started on 8 October 2026, with an end date of 7 October 2027.
Market significanceThis is a specialist single-supplier laboratory and optical equipment procurement, with compatibility with existing Zeiss infrastructure stated as the requirement context.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
CARL ZEISS LTD
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · Shared contract value: £49,931.27 excluding VAT; £59,917.50 including VAT GBP · verified; active award and contract
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Award 1 names CARL ZEISS LTD as supplier. Verified company name supplied as CARL ZEISS LTD (company number 00542141). Contract 1, linked to award 1, states £49,931.27 and £59,917.50 gross.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Published notice
99% confidence8 October 2026
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Contract details notice published 2026-10-08T16:32:51+01:00.
Award status
99% confidenceActive
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Award 1 status is recorded as active.
Contract status
99% confidenceActive
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Contract 1 status is recorded as active.
Contract signature
99% confidence8 October 2026
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Contract 1 dateSigned is 2026-10-08T00:00:00+01:00.
Contract start
99% confidence8 October 2026
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Contract period startDate is 2026-10-08T00:00:00+01:00.
VALUES
Published values explained
Contract value excluding VAT
99% confidence£49,931.27
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Contract 1 value.amount is 49931.27 GBP.
Contract value including VAT
99% confidence£59,917.50
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Contract 1 value.amountGross is 59917.5 GBP.
Value allocation
98% confidenceThe published contract value is linked to the single award and supplier.
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Contract 1 is linked to award 1; award 1 names one supplier.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Contract signed
99% confidence8 October 2026
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Contract 1 dateSigned is 2026-10-08.
Contract start
99% confidence8 October 2026
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Contract period startDate is 2026-10-08.
Contract end
99% confidence7 October 2027
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Contract period endDate is 2027-10-07T23:59:59+01:00.
Stated term
98% confidence1 year
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The published start and end dates run from 8 October 2026 to 7 October 2027.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceUpgrade of an existing Zeiss 980 confocal microscope.
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Procurement title states "Upgrade of Zeiss 980 confocal microscope".
Purpose
99% confidenceEnhance the existing equipment's capabilities and maintain compatibility with the University's current microscopy infrastructure.
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Published description states these aims.
Procurement category
99% confidenceGoods
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Award 1 mainProcurementCategory is goods.
Classification
99% confidenceCPV 38000000 — Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excluding glasses).
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Award item 1 includes CPV 38000000.
Delivery regions
99% confidenceUKL18 and UKL17, United Kingdom.
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Award item 1 lists delivery addresses in regions UKL18 and UKL17.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procurement method
99% confidenceDirect
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Tender procurementMethod is direct.
Procedure detail
99% confidenceBelow threshold - without competition
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Tender procurementMethodDetails states "Below threshold - without competition".
Competition information
98% confidenceNo competition or bid-count information was supplied beyond the stated direct below-threshold procedure.
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The notice states a direct, below-threshold procurement without competition; no bid count is provided.
Legal framework
98% confidenceUK Procurement Act 2023; Welsh devolved regulations apply.
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Tender legal basis is UKPGA 2023/54; buyer details state Welsh devolved regulations apply.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Contract status
99% confidenceActive
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Contract 1 status is active.
Above-threshold status
99% confidenceBelow threshold
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Contract 1 aboveThreshold is false.
Term
99% confidence8 October 2026 to 7 October 2027
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Contract 1 period provides these dates.
Extension or options
99% confidenceUnknown
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Information not supplied in the published notice.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Compatibility-led requirement
99% confidenceThe stated requirement centres on upgrading University-owned Zeiss equipment while maintaining compatibility with existing microscopy infrastructure.
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Published description expressly cites the existing Zeiss microscope and compatibility requirement.
Route to market
99% confidenceThe buyer used a direct, below-threshold procedure without competition.
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Tender procurementMethod and procurementMethodDetails state direct and below threshold - without competition.
Award structure
99% confidenceOne lot, one award and one named supplier are recorded.
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Tender lists lot 1; award 1 relates to lot 1 and names CARL ZEISS LTD; contract 1 links to award 1.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Award date
99% confidenceNo separate award date is published.
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Award record has no award_date; contract signature and start dates are published separately.
Lot detail
99% confidenceLot 1 has no published title, description or standalone value.
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Lot 1 is recorded without title, description or value.
Evaluation and pricing detail
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice.
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No evaluation, scoring, bid-price breakdown or award rationale is provided.
Extension terms
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice.
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No extension or option fields are published.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- No separate award date was supplied; the published contract signature date is 8 October 2026.
- Lot 1 has no published title, description or individual value.
- Information not supplied in the published notice: bid count, evaluation methodology, scoring, pricing breakdown, extension terms and renewal commitments.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
Swansea UniversityCARL ZEISS LTDZeiss 980 confocal microscopemicroscope upgradelaboratory equipmentdirect procurementUK public procurement
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who won the Swansea University Zeiss 980 microscope upgrade contract?
CARL ZEISS LTD, verified as company number 00542141, is the named supplier for award 1.
What is the value of the microscope upgrade contract?
The published contract value is £49,931.27 excluding VAT and £59,917.50 including VAT.
When does the contract run?
The contract was signed and started on 8 October 2026 and is scheduled to end on 7 October 2027.
What procedure was used?
The notice records a direct, below-threshold procedure without competition.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.