Tender

Tender for The Supply and Installation of An Aysmmetric Flow Field Fractionation (AF4) Platform

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

19 Nov 2025 at 09:23

Tender

17 Nov 2025 at 16:37

Summary of the contracting process

The University of Birmingham has initiated an open procurement process for the supply and installation of an Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4) Platform, classified under laboratory, optical, and precision equipment. The procurement relates to the university's chemistry department in Birmingham, and the process is intended to support research funded by the European Research Council grant HORDE. The tender is currently in the active stage, with the submission deadline set for 17 December 2025. This tender follows an open procedure under the legal framework of the UK 2023 legislation, aiming to procure advanced scientific equipment that will aid in the detailed characterisation of nanoemulsions.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in the production and supply of high-precision scientific equipment, particularly those equipped with capabilities in integrating complex analytical technologies like Multi-Angle Light Scattering and Dynamic Light Scattering. Companies with expertise in modular, user-friendly systems that facilitate advanced research applications will find this tender particularly suitable. The supplier's equipment would become a crucial component of the university's research infrastructure, potentially leading to sustained collaboration and future opportunities within the academic sector, thus fostering business growth and innovation in scientific instrumentation.

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Notice Title

Tender for The Supply and Installation of An Aysmmetric Flow Field Fractionation (AF4) Platform

Notice Description

The University of Birmingham invites tenders for the supply and installation of an Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4) system with integrated ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis), and differential refractive index (dRI) detectors, Multi-Angle Light Scattering (MALS) and online Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) capability, and a fraction collector. The AF4 system will form part of the research infrastructure funded by the European Research Council (ERC) grant HORDE awarded to Dr Stephen Fielden. It will provide critical support for experimental investigations into nanoemulsions undergoing processes such as Ostwald ripening. AF4 represents one of the few techniques capable of fractionating nanoemulsions according to droplet size, thereby enabling precise and detailed characterisation of complex, time-dependent behaviours in dispersed systems. The system will be employed to separate nanoemulsion droplets by size, allowing direct measurement of changes in droplet size distribution via integrated MALS and DLS detectors. This capability will provide transformational insight into the mechanisms governing nanoemulsion evolution, a central research theme within HORDE. Fractionation should be possible in a semi-preparative manner, allowing collected fractions to be further analysed using complementary techniques including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) to determine the chemical composition associated with distinct droplet populations. The system should therefore be robust, modular, and designed for straightforward integration within the materials characterisation facility within the School of Chemistry. The entire system should have a single PC-based controller capable of executing automated instrument control and data collection. The broad user base and diverse range of emulsion and nanoparticle materials to be characterised with the equipment means that the interface should be user friendly, simple to clean and reliable.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e2c8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075030-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Nov 20253 months ago
Submission Deadline
17 Dec 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Apr 2026 - 1 May 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@bham.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B15 2TT
Post Town
Birmingham
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Edgbaston
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Edgbaston

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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