Planning

Procurement of Rack Washer for Constrained Laboratory Environment - Preliminary Market Engagement

UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX(THE)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

26 Jun 2025 at 08:51

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Sussex is in the planning stage of a procurement process to acquire a cage and rack washer for its Biomedical Research Facility in Falmer, Brighton. This initiative stems from the need to negotiate specific structural constraints, notably the 100mm maximum pit depth at the facility. The procurement, estimated at approximately £425,000 excl. VAT, entails the supply, installation, and commissioning of laboratory equipment under CPV codes 38434540 and 42920000. Suppliers are invited to engage in a preliminary market exploration, voluntarily submitting information on their capabilities before the response deadline of 10th July 2025. This process aims to inform the university's strategy and assess the viability of a competitive tender or potentially a direct award.

This procurement presents growth opportunities for suppliers specialising in biomedical equipment, industrial cleaning machinery, and similar environments facing spatial constraints. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are specifically identified as suitable to participate. Businesses with expertise in designing equipment for restricted lab spaces or those experienced in innovative modifications to adapt to unique structural challenges are well-positioned to respond. Given the complexity introduced by the architectural limitations, suppliers offering tailored solutions and those with previous experience in installations constrained by pit depth are particularly encouraged to explore this engagement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Procurement of Rack Washer for Constrained Laboratory Environment - Preliminary Market Engagement

Notice Description

The University of Sussex is undertaking preliminary market engagement to better understand the availability of equipment solutions that can meet a specific set of technical and structural constraints within our Biomedical Research Facility. We are particularly interested in cage and rack washers capable of operating within a 100mm maximum pit depth, due to the presence of significant structural constraints that preclude deeper pit depths and structural alterations. This notice is issued to: * Seek information from suppliers about their capability to meet these requirements. * Understand any technical or commercial developments in the market that may affect the procurement approach. * Assess whether a competitive process remains viable or whether the technical constraints may lead to a compliant direct award.

Planning Information

1. Contracting Authority Details Name: University of Sussex Address: Sussex House, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RH Contact Point: Claire Hutchinson ________________________________________ 2. Description of Intended Procurement Title: Cage and rack washer for the Biomedical Research Facility (BRF). Estimated Value: Approx. £423,502 (inclusive of VAT) Procurement Type: Supply, installation, and commissioning of laboratory equipment CPV Code(s): 38434540 - Biomedical Equipment Additional CPV Code 42920000 - Industrial Cleaning Machinery ________________________________________ 3. Purpose of the Engagement The University of Sussex is undertaking preliminary market engagement to better understand the availability of equipment solutions that can meet a specific set of technical and structural constraints within our Biomedical Research Facility. We are particularly interested in cage and rack washers capable of operating within a 100mm maximum pit depth, due to the presence of significant structural constraints that preclude deeper pit depths and structural alterations. This notice is issued to: • Seek information from suppliers about their capability to meet these requirements. • Understand any technical or commercial developments in the market that may affect the procurement approach. • Assess whether a competitive process remains viable or whether the technical constraints may lead to a compliant direct award. ________________________________________ 4. Market Engagement Format Interested suppliers are invited to respond in writing to the questions set out in Section 6 below. Responses may be followed up with clarification calls or site visits if required. This is not a call for competition. Participation in this engagement is voluntary and will not affect the supplier's ability to participate in any future procurement. ________________________________________ 5. Background Information The BRF is a live, regulated facility with significant architectural constraints. A structural engineering investigation has confirmed that modifying the pit depth (currently 100mm) would require substantial and disruptive structural interventions. We are therefore exploring whether compliant cage and rack washers exist that function fully within this constraint. ________________________________________ 6. Information Requested from Suppliers Please respond to the following: 1. Do you offer a cage and rack washer capable of operating within a maximum 100mm pit depth? 2. What are the design, manufacturing, installation, weight and maintenance requirements for your solution? 3. Have you supplied similar solutions in constrained laboratory or animal research environments? 4. Can your equipment design be modified to meet unique spatial constraints? 5. Are you aware of any comparable installations in the UK or EU where pit depth has been a limiting factor? Please include relevant brochures, technical drawings, and references as appropriate. ________________________________________ 7. Timeline for Responses Responses should be submitted by: 10th July Send responses to: FinanceServiceDesk@sussex.ac.uk ________________________________________ 8. Confidentiality and Further Engagement All information shared during this process will be treated in confidence and used solely to inform the University's procurement strategy. A formal procurement notice will be issued in due course if a competitive procedure is pursued. ________________________________________ 9. Disclaimer This notice does not constitute a commitment to any future procurement process. The University reserves the right to revise its requirements and/or proceed via direct award where lawful grounds (e.g., Regulation 41 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2023) can be robustly demonstrated.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0553e2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035280-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

42 - Industrial machinery

CPV Codes

38434540 - Biomedical equipment

42990000 - Miscellaneous special-purpose machinery

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£425,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Jun 20258 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
10 Jul 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Sep 2025 - 30 Sep 2028 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX(THE)
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
financeservicedesk@sussex.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
FALMER, BRIGHTON
Postcode
BN1 9RH
Post Town
Brighton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ21 Brighton and Hove
Delivery Location
TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
Brighton and Hove
Electoral Ward
Coldean & Stanmer
Westminster Constituency
Brighton Pavilion

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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