AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
UK Atomic Energy Authority published a transparency notice for a direct award to NU INSTRUMENTS LIMITED for an Evolution 2 ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometer, associated equipment, software, installation and staff training.
Published outcomeThe notice records one pending award, valued at £998,000 excluding VAT (£1,197,600 including VAT), to NU INSTRUMENTS LIMITED. It does not evidence a signed or active contract.
Market significanceThis is an above-threshold specialist scientific-instrument procurement awarded without competition on stated technical-exclusivity grounds.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
NU INSTRUMENTS LIMITED
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots LOT-0000 · 998000 GBP · pending
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Verified supplier identity is NU INSTRUMENTS LIMITED (company number 03046042). Award 1 names this supplier, relates to LOT-0000, has status pending, and reports £998,000 excluding VAT.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Notice status
99% confidencePublished transparency notice; procurement and lot marked complete, while the award is pending.
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Process notice type is “Transparency notice on Find a Tender”; tender and LOT-0000 statuses are “complete”; award 1 status is “pending”.
Award/contract position
99% confidencePending award; not evidenced as signed or commenced.
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Award 1 has status “pending”. A future signature date is scheduled for 2 November 2026.
Scheduled signature date
98% confidence2 November 2026
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Award milestone type “futureSignatureDate” has dueDate 2026-11-02T23:59:59Z and status “scheduled”.
VALUES
Published values explained
Award value excluding VAT
99% confidence£998,000
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Award 1 value.amount is 998000 GBP.
Award value including VAT
99% confidence£1,197,600
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Award 1 value.amountGross is 1197600 GBP.
Value allocation
95% confidenceThe published award value applies to the single reported award and supplier.
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One award is reported, with one supplier and one related lot.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Notice publication
99% confidence15 October 2026
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Transparency notice publication timestamp: 2026-10-15T17:03:33+01:00.
Planned contract start
97% confidence2 November 2026
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Award 1 contractPeriod.startDate is 2026-11-02T00:00:00Z.
Planned contract end
97% confidence31 October 2027
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Award 1 contractPeriod.endDate is 2027-10-31T23:59:59Z.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceUltra-high-resolution mass spectrometer and inlet system with sample, calibration and spare connections; associated pumps; software; installation including SAT procedure; and staff training.
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Published tender title and description.
Award title
99% confidenceEvolution 2 Mass Spectrometer
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Award 1 title.
Category
99% confidenceGoods, with associated services.
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Award 1 mainProcurementCategory is goods and additionalProcurementCategories includes services.
Classification
99% confidenceCPV 38433100 — Mass spectrometer.
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Award item classification.
Delivery region
96% confidenceUKJ14, United Kingdom.
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Award delivery address specifies region UKJ14 and country GB.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procedure
99% confidenceDirect award.
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Tender procurementMethod is direct and procurementMethodDetails is “Direct award”.
Stated justification
98% confidenceAbsence of competition for technical reasons.
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The notice cites Schedule 5, paragraph 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 and states that only Nu Instruments Ltd can meet the technical requirements, with no reasonable alternative or substitute following market engagement and optioneering.
Competitive process
97% confidenceNo competitive tender process is reported in the published notice.
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The procurement method is direct award; no submission deadline or bid information is supplied.
Threshold status
99% confidenceAbove threshold.
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Award 1 aboveThreshold is true.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Reported period
97% confidence2 November 2026 to 31 October 2027.
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Award 1 contractPeriod specifies these start and end dates.
Contract conclusion
99% confidenceUnknown; the record is pending and only a future signature milestone is supplied.
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Award 1 status is pending; futureSignatureDate is scheduled for 2 November 2026.
Extension or options
99% confidenceUnknown.
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Information not supplied in the published notice.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Direct-award market signal
98% confidenceThe buyer states that technical requirements and lack of a reasonable substitute supported selecting a single supplier.
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Published direct-award rationale.
Supply package
99% confidenceThe requirement combines instrument supply with installation, site acceptance testing, software and training.
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Tender description.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Pending award status
99% confidenceThe award is pending, so the notice does not establish that a contract has been signed, started or is active.
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Award 1 status is pending and its signature date is scheduled.
Publication scope
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice includes bid counts, pricing breakdown, evaluation details, award decision date, contract signature confirmation, extension terms and lot-level value.
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These fields are absent or null in the supplied record.
Lot metadata
99% confidenceLOT-0000 has no published title, description or separate value.
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Lot title, description and value fields are null.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- The award is marked pending; it must not be represented as a signed, concluded or active contract.
- Information not supplied in the published notice includes bid numbers, evaluation results, pricing breakdown, award decision date, confirmation of signature, extension terms and renewal options.
- LOT-0000 has no published title, description or individual value.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
UK Atomic Energy AuthorityNU INSTRUMENTS LIMITEDEvolution 2 Mass Spectrometermass spectrometerdirect awardProcurement Act 2023scientific equipment
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who is the named supplier?
NU INSTRUMENTS LIMITED, verified as company number 03046042.
What is the reported award value?
£998,000 excluding VAT, or £1,197,600 including VAT.
Is the contract signed or active?
The supplied notice does not evidence this. The award is marked pending and a signature date is scheduled for 2 November 2026.
Why was a direct award used?
UKAEA states that only the named supplier could meet the technical requirements and that no reasonable alternative or substitute was identified.
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.