This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

07 May 2026 at 07:33

Award

09 Jun 2025 at 07:44

Award

09 Jun 2025 at 07:38

Summary of the contracting process

Kent County Council, a sub-central government authority located in Maidstone, UK, has completed a procurement process titled "Kent Scientific Services (KSS) Instruments" for laboratory, optical, and precision equipment. The procurement stage was recently concluded with the award of a contract on 7th May 2026. The tender was initiated to acquire additional laboratory instruments such as Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer triple and Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometer triple quadrupole. The procurement was conducted through a direct award method due to the specific technological compatibility requirements with existing equipment to avoid operational complications. The contract, valued at £476,300, will deliver across multiple UK regions, enhancing scientific capabilities in various locations.

This tender offers vast opportunities for businesses involved in the manufacturing and supply of scientific equipment, particularly those with expertise in chromatographic and spectrometric technologies. Large enterprises with existing capacity to produce compatible laboratory equipment can potentially thrive in this domain, especially when they can ensure product compatibility with existing infrastructure. The process highlights the importance of technical consistency and presents growth potential for firms that can fulfil precise technical requirements, ensuring they remain practitioners in their specialised industry sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Kent Scientific Services (KSS) Instruments

Notice Description

Kent Scientific Services require additional equipment, to supplement existing instruments. The equipment required is as follows: Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer triple Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometer triple quadrupole 2 x High Performance Liquid Chromatography instrument with diode array and fluorescence detector Jet clean upgrade for existing LCMSQQQ (to be fitted to existing instrument)

Procurement Information

The Council requires additional instruments which are the same as, and compatible with existing provisions. A change of Supplier would result in the Council receiving goods that are different from, and incompatible with the existing equipment, which would result in significant technical difficulties in operation and maintenance. This would result in significant delays to key services undertaken by Kent Scientific Services.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0544e6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041679-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£476,300 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£476,300 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 May 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
5 Jun 20251 years ago
Contract Period
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Aug 2025 30 days
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
KENT COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MAIDSTONE
Postcode
ME14 1XQ
Post Town
Rochester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ45 Mid Kent
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Maidstone
Electoral Ward
Penenden Heath
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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-0544e6-2026-05-07T08:33:56+01:00",
    "date": "2026-05-07T08:33:56+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0544e6",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PLDL-8938-YGYW",
            "name": "Kent County Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PLDL-8938-YGYW"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "County Hall",
                "locality": "Maidstone",
                "postalCode": "ME14 1XQ",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ45"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "alison.blackman@kent.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.kent.gov.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-08815891",
            "name": "AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES LDA UK LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "08815891"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "5500 Lakeside Cheadle Royal Business Park",
                "locality": "Cheadle",
                "postalCode": "SK8 3GR",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKD35"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "uk_tenders@agilent.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false,
                "url": "https://www.agilent.com"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PCQP-6172-GDRX"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PLDL-8938-YGYW",
        "name": "Kent County Council"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "CN250435",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Kent Scientific Services (KSS) Instruments",
        "description": "Kent Scientific Services require additional equipment, to supplement existing instruments. The equipment required is as follows: Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer triple Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometer triple quadrupole 2 x High Performance Liquid Chromatography instrument with diode array and fluorescence detector Jet clean upgrade for existing LCMSQQQ (to be fitted to existing instrument)",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "The Council requires additional instruments which are the same as, and compatible with existing provisions. A change of Supplier would result in the Council receiving goods that are different from, and incompatible with the existing equipment, which would result in significant technical difficulties in operation and maintenance. This would result in significant delays to key services undertaken by Kent Scientific Services.",
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersIntellectualPropertyExclusiveRights"
            },
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
            },
            {
                "id": "additionalRepeatExtensionPartialReplacement"
            },
            {
                "id": "urgency"
            }
        ],
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "title": "KSS Instruments",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 476300,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-08815891",
                    "name": "AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES LDA UK LIMITED"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "38000000",
                            "description": "Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UKC",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKD",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKE",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKF",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKG",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKH",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKI",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKJ",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKC",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKD",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKE",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKF",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKG",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKH",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKI",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKJ",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKC",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKD",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKE",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKF",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKG",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKH",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKI",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKJ",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2025-08-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2025-08-31T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "030768-2025",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030768-2025",
                    "datePublished": "2025-06-09T08:38:22+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "030770-2025",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030770-2025",
                    "datePublished": "2025-06-09T08:44:35+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2025-07-01T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "date": "2025-06-06T00:00:00+01:00",
            "standstillPeriod": {
                "endDate": "2025-06-18T23:59:59+01:00"
            }
        }
    ],
    "language": "en",
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "awardID": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "period": {
                "startDate": "2025-08-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2025-08-31T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 476300,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "dateSigned": "2025-07-01T00:00:00+01:00",
            "noAgreedMetricsRationale": "Not Applicable",
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "041679-2026",
                    "documentType": "contractNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK7",
                    "description": "Contract details notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041679-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-05-07T08:33:56+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}