Award

Cell Sorter for Biological Sciences

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

04 Apr 2025 at 14:51

TenderUpdate

12 Nov 2024 at 16:31

Tender

12 Nov 2024 at 15:15

Summary of the contracting process

The University of Southampton is seeking to procure a cell sorter for its Biological Sciences department. This procurement falls under the "Checking and Testing Apparatus" industry category (CPV code 38500000) and is focused on acquiring goods. The tender is completed and the awarded contract, valued at £532,016.57, was signed on 6th March 2025. The cell sorter is intended to separate and sort biological cells into different fractions while maintaining sterility. The project, lasting for 39 months, includes a 12-month warranty and 36 months of support and maintenance. The cell sorter will be delivered to the University of Southampton's main campus in Southampton (postcode SO17 1BJ).

This contract presents excellent growth opportunities for businesses involved in high-performance, multi-parameter fluorescence-activated cell sorting, especially those serving the life sciences, computational sciences, and bioengineering sectors. The procurement requires the cell sorter to support a cross-disciplinary consortium of research groups and external collaborators investigating human health, aging, food, and environmental sustainability. Companies specialising in medical computer equipment, detection, and analysis apparatus, with the ability to provide training and ongoing technical support, are well-suited for this contract. Additionally, the collaboration with regional partnerships such as the BBSRC National Biofilm and Innovation Centre (NBIC) and the South Coast Biosciences Doctoral Partnership (SoCoBio DTP) will further facilitate new business opportunities.

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

Notice Title

Cell Sorter for Biological Sciences

Notice Description

Biological Sciences have a requirement for a cell sorter, an instrument with the capability to separate and sort a mixed population of biological cells into different fractions for analysis or ongoing growth in separate cultures. Once sorted, cells must be kept sterile and uncontaminated, the cell sorter will have the capability of sorting populations into a multi-well plate format inside an integral biological safety cabinet. This requirement includes training for University staff and ongoing technical and experimental support.

Lot Information

Lot 1

This procurement builds on a pressing need for a system capable of spectral high-performance, multi-parameter fluorescence-activated cell/nucleus sorting that will serve a cross-disciplinary consortium of research groups in life sciences at the University of Southampton and external academic and industrial collaborators within the South of England, investigating the mechanisms underpinning human health and aging, and food and environmental sustainability. The system will integrate significant advancements in cell and nuclear sorting, allowing the highest power, performance, and flexibility, enabling researchers across diverse disciplines in biological and computational sciences and bioengineering, with the highest relevance to those interested in temporal and spatial changes in cell states within tissues and microbial and environmental systems and how this defines their heterogeneities, functional relationships, and interaction with their environment. The advanced multi-parameter sorter will act as a hub that catalyses new cross-disciplinary collaborations between its diverse user base, from basic biology to ioengineering and biotechnology. This will be facilitated through established regional partnerships with the BBSRC National Biofilm and Innovation Centre (NBIC) and South Coast Biosciences Doctoral Partnership (SoCoBio DTP). The University proposes to enter into a Contract for 39 months with the successful tenderer(s). This will comprise of an initial contract period of 39 months for the provision of the cell sorter including a 12 month warranty with a 36 month support and maintenance (to run concurrently) subject to the satisfactory performance and at the discretion of the University. The contract will be effective on signing. The initial term of the warranty of 12 months will run from the date of acceptance of the equipment.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04b5df
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013192-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

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


CPV Codes

33197000 - Medical computer equipment

38431000 - Detection apparatus

38432000 - Analysis apparatus

38500000 - Checking and testing apparatus

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£745,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£745,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£532,016 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Apr 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
6 Dec 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Mar 20251 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SOUTHAMPTON
Postcode
SO17 1BJ
Post Town
Southampton
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ32 Southampton
Delivery Location
TLJ32 Southampton

Local Authority
Southampton
Electoral Ward
Portswood
Westminster Constituency
Southampton Test

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

LIFE TECHNOLOGIES

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-h6vhtk-04b5df-2025-04-04T15:51:09+01:00",
    "date": "2025-04-04T15:51:09+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-04b5df",
    "description": "E-Tendering Portal: The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool, In-Tend (https://intendhost.co.uk/ universityofsouthampton) to manage this procurement and to communicate with potential suppliers and/or tenderers (as appropriate). All documentation in relation to this tender can be downloaded from In-Tend. Potential suppliers/tenderers are advised that there will be no hard copy documents issued and all communications with the University, including the submission of Selection Stage and/or Invitation to Tender responses will be conducted via In-Tend. Regular monitoring of the portal is the responsibility of the potential supplier/tenderer. If you are not already registered as a supplier with the University of Southampton, you will need to register in In-Tend in order to access the procurement documentation. Once you have logged in as a supplier: click on 'Tenders'; locate the relevant project; and click 'View Details'. Once you are in the project screen, you will be able to register your organisation against the project and access all documentation by clicking 'Express Interest'. Potential suppliers/tenderers are advised that formal expressions of interest in the project must be by way of completion and return of the relevant documents via In-Tend. Further instructions for the submission of responses are below: To submit your return: 1. Log in 2. Click 'Tenders' 3. Locate the relevant project 4. View details 5. Click on the tab relating to the relevant project stage (e.g. 'Invitation to Tender') 6. Click on the 'Attach Documents' button and upload your return. 7. Check ALL your response documents are uploaded and displayed in the 'My Tender Return' panel. The system will only permit your organisation to make one return. 8. Click the red 'Submit Return' button. Please note, to preserve the integrity of the procurement, all communications with the University must be made via the correspondence function within In-Tend. Publication of Award Details: The University intends to publish the value of any resulting contract at the award stage, and reserves the right to do so. By submitting a response, potential suppliers/tenderers are consenting to publication of this information unless otherwise agreed in advance with the University. Costs and Expenses: Potential suppliers/tenderers are solely responsible for their costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation and submission of responses and participation in this and all future stages of this procurement. Under no circumstances will the University be liable for any costs or expenses borne by potential suppliers/tenderers or any of their supply chain, partners or advisers in this procurement process. The University is not liable for any costs in the event of the cancellation of this procurement process.",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "2024UoS-1337",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "Cell Sorter for Biological Sciences",
        "status": "complete",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "38500000",
            "description": "Checking and testing apparatus"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
        "description": "Biological Sciences have a requirement for a cell sorter, an instrument with the capability to separate and sort a mixed population of biological cells into different fractions for analysis or ongoing growth in separate cultures. Once sorted, cells must be kept sterile and uncontaminated, the cell sorter will have the capability of sorting populations into a multi-well plate format inside an integral biological safety cabinet. This requirement includes training for University staff and ongoing technical and experimental support.",
        "value": {
            "amount": 745000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "This procurement builds on a pressing need for a system capable of spectral high-performance, multi-parameter fluorescence-activated cell/nucleus sorting that will serve a cross-disciplinary consortium of research groups in life sciences at the University of Southampton and external academic and industrial collaborators within the South of England, investigating the mechanisms underpinning human health and aging, and food and environmental sustainability. The system will integrate significant advancements in cell and nuclear sorting, allowing the highest power, performance, and flexibility, enabling researchers across diverse disciplines in biological and computational sciences and bioengineering, with the highest relevance to those interested in temporal and spatial changes in cell states within tissues and microbial and environmental systems and how this defines their heterogeneities, functional relationships, and interaction with their environment. The advanced multi-parameter sorter will act as a hub that catalyses new cross-disciplinary collaborations between its diverse user base, from basic biology to ioengineering and biotechnology. This will be facilitated through established regional partnerships with the BBSRC National Biofilm and Innovation Centre (NBIC) and South Coast Biosciences Doctoral Partnership (SoCoBio DTP). The University proposes to enter into a Contract for 39 months with the successful tenderer(s). This will comprise of an initial contract period of 39 months for the provision of the cell sorter including a 12 month warranty with a 36 month support and maintenance (to run concurrently) subject to the satisfactory performance and at the discretion of the University. The contract will be effective on signing. The initial term of the warranty of 12 months will run from the date of acceptance of the equipment.",
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "name": "Hardware Requirement",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "2"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Software Requirement",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "4"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Automation",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "11"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Detection and discrimination of specimens for ongoing sorting into multiple fractions",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "8"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Experimental Flexibility",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "4"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Output",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "8"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Input",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "6"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Acceptance",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "2"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Warranty and Servicing Provision",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "5"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Training and Delivery",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "5"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Sustainability",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "5"
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "price",
                            "description": "40"
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "value": {
                    "amount": 745000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "durationInDays": 1170
                },
                "hasRenewal": false,
                "submissionTerms": {
                    "variantPolicy": "notAllowed"
                },
                "hasOptions": false,
                "status": "cancelled"
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "33197000",
                        "description": "Medical computer equipment"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "38431000",
                        "description": "Detection apparatus"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "38432000",
                        "description": "Analysis apparatus"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKJ32"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKJ32"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryLocation": {
                    "description": "University of Southampton University Road Southampton SO17 1BJ"
                },
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "submissionMethod": [
            "electronicSubmission"
        ],
        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton/aspx/Home",
        "selectionCriteria": {
            "criteria": [
                {
                    "type": "suitability",
                    "description": "To support the financial assessment, the University will obtain a Business Risk Report for all Tenderers and every organisation that is being relied on to meet this procurement, using an independent company called Creditsafe. The University reserves the right to exclude a Tenderer or request provision of further assurances such as parent company/bank guarantee or performance bonds where a Tenderer's Business Risk Score is: \"Moderate Risk\"; \"High Risk\"; \"Very High Risk\"; or \"Not Rated\", based on the rating provided by Creditsafe",
                    "appliesTo": [
                        "supplier"
                    ]
                },
                {
                    "type": "economic",
                    "description": "To support the financial assessment, the University will obtain a Business Risk Report for all Tenderers and every organisation that is being relied on to meet this procurement, using an independent company called Creditsafe. The University reserves the right to exclude a Tenderer or request provision of further assurances such as parent company/bank guarantee or performance bonds where a Tenderer's Business Risk Score is: \"Moderate Risk\"; \"High Risk\"; \"Very High Risk\"; or \"Not Rated\", based on the rating provided by Creditsafe Where a Business Risk Score from our external system is not available, then an alternative method of assessing financial standing will be used. This method is detailed within the Invitation to Tender document set.",
                    "minimum": "Tenderers are advised that a requirement of this procurement is to have in place, or commit to obtain prior to the commencement of the contract, the following minimum insurance levels: Employers (Compulsory) Liability: PS5 million GBP per occurrence. Public Liability: PS10 million GBP per occurrence. Product Liability: PS10 million GBP per occurrence and in aggregate Professional Indemnity Insurance: PS2 million GBP per occurrence.",
                    "appliesTo": [
                        "supplier"
                    ]
                },
                {
                    "type": "technical",
                    "description": "Tenderers attention is drawn to the MANDATORY requirements of the award criteria: Grounds for mandatory exclusion - Mandatory technical requirements M1 to M7 - Failure to meet the minimum requested score for Highly Desirable requirements H1 to H6 Grounds for discretionary exclusion - Economic & Financial Standing - Insurance - Compliance with equality legislation - Health & Safety - Legal requirements",
                    "appliesTo": [
                        "supplier"
                    ]
                }
            ]
        },
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2024-12-06T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "submissionTerms": {
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ],
            "bidValidityPeriod": {
                "durationInDays": 120
            }
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "startDate": "2024-12-07T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "bidOpening": {
            "date": "2024-12-07T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "hasRecurrence": false,
        "contractTerms": {
            "hasElectronicOrdering": true,
            "hasElectronicPayment": true
        },
        "amendments": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "unstructuredChanges": [
                    {
                        "oldValue": {
                            "date": "2024-12-06T12:00:00Z"
                        },
                        "newValue": {
                            "date": "2024-12-17T12:00:00Z"
                        },
                        "where": {
                            "section": "IV.2.2",
                            "label": "Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate"
                        }
                    }
                ]
            }
        ]
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-UKPRN-10007158",
            "name": "University of Southampton",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "University of Southampton",
                "id": "10007158",
                "scheme": "GB-UKPRN"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "University Road, Highfield",
                "locality": "Southampton",
                "region": "UKJ32",
                "postalCode": "SO171BJ",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Danielle Stephenson",
                "telephone": "+44 2380595000",
                "email": "procurement@soton.ac.uk",
                "url": "https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.southampton.ac.uk",
                "buyerProfile": "https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton/aspx/Home",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Higher Education Institution not subject to PCR15 or any replacement legislation"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "id": "09",
                        "description": "Education"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-5788",
            "name": "University of Southampton",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "University of Southampton"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Southampton",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "procurement@soton.ac.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-SC083107",
            "name": "Life Technologies Limited",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Life Technologies Limited",
                "id": "SC083107",
                "scheme": "GB-COH"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Paisley",
                "region": "UKM83",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large"
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-UKPRN-10007158",
        "name": "University of Southampton"
    },
    "language": "en",
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "013192-2025-1",
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "status": "active",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-SC083107",
                    "name": "Life Technologies Limited"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "013192-2025-1",
            "awardID": "013192-2025-1",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amount": 532016.57,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "dateSigned": "2025-03-06T00:00:00Z"
        }
    ],
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "2",
                "measure": "bids",
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "value": 3
            }
        ]
    }
}