Planning

250247 Contract for the Supply, Commissioning, Installation & Maintenance for a Dynamic & a Static Mechanical Testing Frame, & Associated Grips & Environmental Test Chambers.

QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

08 Oct 2025 at 13:17

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

10 Sep 2025 at 11:46

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Queen's University Belfast is conducting a procurement process to enhance its Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) by acquiring two 250kN mechanical testing frames, along with necessary grips and environmental test chambers. The focus is on both dynamic and static testing of metals and composites. Currently, the procurement is in the planning stage, with a pre-market engagement exercise underway to gather expressions of interest from potential suppliers. Interested parties are encouraged to complete a questionnaire by 17th October 2025, facilitating Queen's University in understanding the market’s capabilities. The procurement, governed under the 2023 legislation, aims to position Northern Ireland as a leader in manufacturing, leveraging state-of-the-art facilities in Belfast, UK.

This procurement offers an excellent opportunity for suppliers specialising in servo-hydraulic testing apparatuses and those experienced with sophisticated mechanical testing equipment. Companies with capabilities in supplying, commissioning, and maintaining advanced servo-hydraulic systems will find a lucrative opportunity to collaborate with a prestigious academic institution. Engaging in this tender not only presents growth potential through long-term contracts—with a potential extension up to 2041—but also offers the chance to forge relationships in the high-tech sector associated with the University’s innovative manufacturing projects.

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

Notice Information

Notice Title

250247 Contract for the Supply, Commissioning, Installation & Maintenance for a Dynamic & a Static Mechanical Testing Frame, & Associated Grips & Environmental Test Chambers.

Notice Description

The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), led by Queen's University Belfast, is key to an exciting future for manufacturing in Northern Ireland, as an industry-led, open-access manufacturing and engineering innovation centre with state-of-the-art facilities and an expert engineering team, underpinned by academic excellence. As part of this project Queen's University Belfast wish to procure two 250kN Mechanical Testing Frames. We require both a dynamic and static frame for the testing of metals and composites, with associated grips and environmental test chambers.

Planning Information

AMIC is expanding its core capabilities in Digital Factory, Smart Design, Sustainable Polymers and Composites, Nanotechnology and Photonics. As part of this project, Queen's University Belfast is seeking expressions of interest from suppliers as we wish to procure two 250kN Mechanical Testing Frames. We require both a dynamic and static frame for the testing of metals and composites, with associated grips and environmental test chambers. Queen's staff wish to engage with suppliers prior to procuring this equipment to: 1 - gain a better understanding of what the market can offer and if the market can respond to a tender meeting our requirements. 2 - identify potential suppliers able to provide the requirement. 3 - understand potential lead times. 4 - gain an understanding of the commercial profile for the requirement. A pre-market engagement questionnaire has been published here: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/queensuniversitybelfast. Interested parties are asked to complete and return this questionnaire via the InTend platform within 30 days of this notice. Queen's may then contact suppliers for further discussion of the information received in the questionnaire. Queen's do not guarantee that they will speak to every supplier who submits a return. Participation in the pre-market engagement exercise is not a pre-requisite to participation in any future tender exercise, however, the information provided may be used to inform decisions around the tender exercise. Queen's welcome all participation in this Pre Market engagement exercise. This Pre Market Engagement exercise is not a call for competition and does not commit Queen's to proceed with a formal procurement. Queen's is not obligated to adopt supplier feedback into the process.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-059782
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/063337-2025
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

38542000 - Servo-hydraulic test apparatus

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Oct 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
17 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
12 Jan 2026 - 13 Jan 2031 Over 5 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
QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT7 1NN
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

Further Information

Notice Documents

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-059782-2025-10-08T14:17:33+01:00",
    "date": "2025-10-08T14:17:33+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-059782",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-NIC-101788",
            "name": "Queen's University Belfast",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-NIC",
                "id": "101788"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "University Rd",
                "locality": "Belfast",
                "postalCode": "BT7 1NN",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKN06"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "procurement@qub.ac.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS",
                        "id": "GB-NIR",
                        "description": "Northern Irish devolved regulations apply"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-NIC-101788",
        "name": "Queen's University Belfast"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "AMIC is expanding its core capabilities in Digital Factory, Smart Design, Sustainable Polymers and Composites, Nanotechnology and Photonics. As part of this project, Queen's University Belfast is seeking expressions of interest from suppliers as we wish to procure two 250kN Mechanical Testing Frames. We require both a dynamic and static frame for the testing of metals and composites, with associated grips and environmental test chambers. Queen's staff wish to engage with suppliers prior to procuring this equipment to: 1 - gain a better understanding of what the market can offer and if the market can respond to a tender meeting our requirements. 2 - identify potential suppliers able to provide the requirement. 3 - understand potential lead times. 4 - gain an understanding of the commercial profile for the requirement. A pre-market engagement questionnaire has been published here: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/queensuniversitybelfast. Interested parties are asked to complete and return this questionnaire via the InTend platform within 30 days of this notice. Queen's may then contact suppliers for further discussion of the information received in the questionnaire. Queen's do not guarantee that they will speak to every supplier who submits a return. Participation in the pre-market engagement exercise is not a pre-requisite to participation in any future tender exercise, however, the information provided may be used to inform decisions around the tender exercise. Queen's welcome all participation in this Pre Market engagement exercise. This Pre Market Engagement exercise is not a call for competition and does not commit Queen's to proceed with a formal procurement. Queen's is not obligated to adopt supplier feedback into the process.",
                "dueDate": "2025-10-17T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "055374-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055374-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-09-10T12:46:53+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "063337-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/063337-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-10-08T14:17:33+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-059782",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "250247 Contract for the Supply, Commissioning, Installation & Maintenance for a Dynamic & a Static Mechanical Testing Frame, & Associated Grips & Environmental Test Chambers.",
        "description": "The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), led by Queen's University Belfast, is key to an exciting future for manufacturing in Northern Ireland, as an industry-led, open-access manufacturing and engineering innovation centre with state-of-the-art facilities and an expert engineering team, underpinned by academic excellence. As part of this project Queen's University Belfast wish to procure two 250kN Mechanical Testing Frames. We require both a dynamic and static frame for the testing of metals and composites, with associated grips and environmental test chambers.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "38542000",
                        "description": "Servo-hydraulic test apparatus"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-01-12T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2031-01-13T23:59:59Z",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2041-01-14T23:59:59Z"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2025-11-17T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}