Award

CEFAS25-115 Contract for liquid scintillation counter for Cefas laboratory

CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

06 Jan 2026 at 15:20

Award

01 Dec 2025 at 11:20

Tender

28 Oct 2025 at 15:34

Summary of the contracting process

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), located in Lowestoft, UK, has successfully awarded a contract for the provision of a liquid scintillation counter, an essential piece of laboratory equipment designed to improve the efficiency and reliability of radioanalytical measurements within its programmes. The procurement process, which was an open procedure under the legal basis of UKPGA 2023/54, began with a tender notice published in October 2025. The contract was awarded to Southern Scientific Limited, an SME based in Henfield, West Sussex, on 12 December 2025, and commenced on 13 December 2025, lasting until 30 April 2027. The total contract value is £228,430 exclusive of VAT, with delivery required no later than late March 2026, ensuring timely adherence to Cefas' financial year requirements.

This tender presents an opportunity for growth for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) like Southern Scientific Limited, who have the ability to provide high-specification scientific equipment that meets stringent operational needs of public authorities such as Cefas. The contract specifically serves the laboratory, optical, and precision equipment industry category, and businesses that specialise in producing precision instrumentation could benefit the most. Potential suppliers would need to demonstrate robust technical capabilities to meet the precise technical specifications and efficiencies, as well as secure financial positioning to handle the contract within the UK's regulatory framework. This procurement exemplifies how innovative solutions and superior technical offerings can open new avenues for competitive suppliers and strengthen their business credentials within governmental procurement circles.

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Notice Title

CEFAS25-115 Contract for liquid scintillation counter for Cefas laboratory

Notice Description

The Radioanalytical team at Cefas Lowestoft has a requirement to replace some existing end-of-life equipment with a more efficient and reliable model. The Liquid Scintillation counter will have an exceptionally low background count rate to enable necessary improvements to our already low Limits of Detection to support a range of programmes, including Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE), and to help Cefas develop systems approaches and tackle complex environmental challenges. The Supplier will provide an ultra-Low level Liquid Scintillation counter as follows: 3.1. with substantial passive shielding in addition to active methods of background count reduction (integral guard counter, electronic BGD reduction systems etc) 3.2. provide the lowest achievable background count rates for both alpha and beta determinations 3.3. be capable of alpha/beta discrimination and simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple radionuclides/ROI's (e.g. Plutonium alphas and Pu-241 beta emissions) at low environmental levels as well as the typical H-3, C-14, U-234/238, Ra-226, Rn-222, Y-90, Sr-89 etc 3.4. be capable of detecting beta's up to 2MeV and alpha's up to 10MeV 3.5. have beta efficiencies of at least 35% for samples with significant quench although much higher efficiencies would be anticipated for unquenched samples 3.6. have alpha efficiencies of at least 95% and Cerenkov efficiency of at least 60% 3.7. have in-built cooling to maintain appropriate, stable temperature 3.8. have internal, radioactive standard for quench correction curves 3.9. Power supply to be UK socket compatible.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d585
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000752-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

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
£196,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£196,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£228,430 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£228,430 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
24 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
28 Nov 20252 months ago
Contract Period
13 Dec 2025 - 30 Apr 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procure@cefas.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LOWESTOFT
Postcode
NR33 0HT
Post Town
Norwich
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH6 Suffolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH63 East Suffolk
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
East Suffolk
Electoral Ward
Kirkley & Pakefield
Westminster Constituency
Lowestoft

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SOUTHERN SCIENTIFIC

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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