Award

RBGKEW1366 Ergonomic Microscopes

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

01 Apr 2025 at 10:49

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process conducted by The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew involves the purchase of ergonomic stereoscopes for the Millennium Seed Bank, one of the largest repositories of wild seeds globally. This tender, classified under the microscopes category (CPV: 38510000), is valued at £83,000 GBP. The procurement method utilised was a direct single tender action. The contract period commenced on 6th February 2025 and concluded on 5th March 2025. The award was issued to Vision Engineering Ltd on 5th February 2025, with the delivery location set at Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AE, England.

This tender offers significant prospects for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially those specialising in precision instruments and ergonomic design. Businesses producing high-quality microscopes with advanced features like variable zoom, LED illumination, and user-friendly ergonomics will have a competitive edge. The procurement's focus on creating a comfortable and effective research environment presents an opportunity for suppliers to showcase their commitment to quality and innovation, thereby facilitating business growth through enhanced visibility and client trust in specialised scientific equipment.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

RBGKEW1366 Ergonomic Microscopes

Notice Description

Trust Millennium Seed Bank is home to one of the largest ex situ repositories of wild seeds in the world, with collections of more than 40,000 species from across the globe. Kew requires replacement ergonomic stereoscopes to support the routine maintenance and research of these collections, including tasks such as germination scoring, seed counting, and morphological studies, which often require extended periods of stereoscope use. These stereoscopes are critical to both research and education. We require stereoscopes with a variable zoom range between 4x and 60x, providing sufficient working distance to allow the use of dissection tools on samples without obstruction. The stereoscopes should feature powerful LED illumination from above to ensure clear visibility of samples. They must be comfortable for users wearing glasses and designed for ease of operation to minimize discomfort during extended periods of use. Additionally, the stereoscopes should allow samples to be observable even when the user's eyes are not perfectly aligned with the viewing lens, providing freedom of head movement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-b17e4db4-5e6f-4ca8-ba6b-e745f7262898
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/88f38951-1618-4b72-bbdd-b0d8b4641d38
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Single tender action (below threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

CPV Codes

38510000 - Microscopes

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£83,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£83,000 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Apr 202510 months ago
Submission Deadline
5 Feb 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
5 Feb 20251 years ago
Contract Period
6 Feb 2025 - 5 Mar 2025 30 days
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
RICHMOND
Postcode
TW9 3AE
Post Town
Twickenham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI7 Outer London - West and North West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI75 Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Richmond upon Thames
Electoral Ward
Kew
Westminster Constituency
Richmond Park

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

VISION ENGINEERING

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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