Planning

Pre Market Engagement Exercise - 250123 Xenon Arc Chamber

QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

28 Nov 2025 at 10:47

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

31 Oct 2025 at 11:42

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Queen's University Belfast is currently in the planning stage of a public procurement process for procuring a xenon arc chamber as part of their AMIC project. Situated in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the university is expanding its capabilities in fields such as Digital Factory, Smart Design, Sustainable Polymers and Composites, Nanotechnology, and Photonics. The procurement opportunity primarily falls under the goods category and relates to instruments for checking physical characteristics and testing apparatus (CPV codes: 38400000 and 38500000). A pre-market engagement exercise is underway to gather insights from potential suppliers. Interested suppliers are encouraged to participate in a pre-market engagement questionnaire, which must be submitted by 4pm on 8th December 2025 via the InTend platform. The procurement follows the Northern Irish devolved regulations and involves a contract period beginning on 2nd March 2026, with potential contract renewal options extending up to 2041.

This procurement process represents a significant opportunity for businesses in the field of manufacturing specialised scientific instruments and testing equipment. Firms that specialise in advanced manufacturing, materials science, and cutting-edge technology applications may find this opportunity particularly aligned with their capabilities. Engaging in the pre-market phase provides businesses the chance to influence the shaping of the tender requirements and showcases their capabilities to meet Queen’s University Belfast’s needs. This exercise can also facilitate networking with the buyer, potentially leading to future contracts. While engaging in this pre-market phase is not a prerequisite for future tenders, it does offer strategic benefits for businesses aiming to expand their public sector portfolio, especially those poised to offer innovative solutions in high-tech equipment and testing instruments.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Pre Market Engagement Exercise - 250123 Xenon Arc Chamber

Notice Description

Pre Market Engagement Exercise - 250123 Xenon Arc Chamber for AMIC

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 a xenon arc chamber. 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/aspx/Home . Interested parties are invited to complete and return the survey by at the link provided by 4pm 08/12/2025. Interested parties are asked to complete and return this questionnaire via the InTend platform. 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-05d7d2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077986-2025
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

38400000 - Instruments for checking physical characteristics

38500000 - Checking and testing apparatus

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Nov 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
12 Jan 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Mar 2026 - 2 Mar 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
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@qub.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

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. 

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