Award

Confocal Microscope

DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

13 Apr 2026 at 14:02

Summary of the contracting process

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, located in Salisbury, England, has concluded a procurement process under the title "Confocal Microscope" within the optical instruments category. The procurement method was a selective competitive procedure with negotiation, tailored for contracts above the threshold. This concluded tender, which has progressed to the award stage, with the contract valued at £807,722.88, saw its contract period commencing from 13th April 2026 to 31st August 2026. The buying organisation's aim was to secure goods in the South West region of the United Kingdom, and the award was published for transparency purposes on 13th April 2026.

This tender creates avenues for business growth, particularly for companies specialising in scientific and optical instruments. Large enterprises such as CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY LIMITED, which was selected as the supplier, may find similar opportunities lucrative given their scale and capabilities. While this specific tender was not suitable for SMEs or VCSEs, businesses operating at a large scale in the optical technology sector stand to benefit substantially from participating in tenders that follow a competitive procedure with negotiation. Engagement in such contracts, especially those by entities like the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, can catalyse growth and establish extensive industry partnerships.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Confocal Microscope

Notice Description

This Notice is to notify of Contract Award and is published for transparency purposes.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-e322df79-2fa4-48cb-b657-95a449faf9d6
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9227eeb7-5c0b-418c-9a4e-46cb562c2789
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive procedure with negotiation (above threshold)
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

38600000 - Optical instruments

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£807,722 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£807,722 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
15 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
12 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
12 Apr 2026 - 31 Aug 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SALISBURY
Postcode
SP4 0JQ
Post Town
Salisbury
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK72 Wiltshire
Delivery Location
TLK South West (England)

Local Authority
Wiltshire
Electoral Ward
Winterslow & Upper Bourne Valley
Westminster Constituency
Salisbury

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-b5fd17-e322df79-2fa4-48cb-b657-95a449faf9d6-2026-04-13T15:02:01+01:00",
    "date": "2026-04-13T15:02:01+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-b5fd17-e322df79-2fa4-48cb-b657-95a449faf9d6",
    "language": "en",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "DSTL0000063474",
        "title": "Confocal Microscope",
        "description": "This Notice is to notify of Contract Award and is published for transparency purposes.",
        "status": "complete",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "38600000",
            "description": "Optical instruments"
        },
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "South West",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amount": 807722.88,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "selective",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive procedure with negotiation (above threshold)",
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-01-15T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
            "startDate": "2026-04-13T00:00:00+01:00",
            "endDate": "2026-08-31T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "suitability": {
            "sme": false,
            "vcse": false
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "goods"
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-GOR-EA42",
            "name": "Defence Science and Technology Laboratory",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Defence Science and Technology Laboratory",
                "scheme": "GB-GOR",
                "id": "EA42"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Porton Down",
                "locality": "SALISBURY",
                "postalCode": "SP40JQ",
                "countryName": "England"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "DstlCommercial-IPMOandOperationalServices@dstl.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ]
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-03053545",
            "name": "CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY LIMITED",
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "03053545"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Great Cambourne CB23 6BW GB"
            },
            "details": {
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-GOR-EA42",
        "name": "Defence Science and Technology Laboratory"
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "ocds-b5fd17-e322df79-2fa4-48cb-b657-95a449faf9d6-1",
            "status": "active",
            "date": "2026-04-13T00:00:00+01:00",
            "datePublished": "2026-04-13T15:02:01+01:00",
            "value": {
                "amount": 807722.88,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-03053545",
                    "name": "CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY LIMITED"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-04-13T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2026-08-31T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "description": "Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder",
                    "url": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9227eeb7-5c0b-418c-9a4e-46cb562c2789",
                    "datePublished": "2026-04-13T15:02:01+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html",
                    "language": "en"
                },
                {
                    "id": "2",
                    "documentType": "contractSigned",
                    "description": "Dstl Purchase Order",
                    "url": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/f658100b-57ee-4693-a787-b760bdaa4858",
                    "format": "application/pdf"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}