Planning

Automated Library Synthesis System

UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

27 Nov 2025 at 14:32

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

26 Nov 2025 at 15:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

26 Nov 2025 at 15:19

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Portsmouth is currently in the planning stage of procuring an "Automated Library Synthesis System" specifically for its School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Science. This procurement falls under the industry category of laboratory, optical and precision equipment, focusing on goods above the threshold. The system is intended to support research areas such as vaccine development, gene therapy, and nanoparticle research. The location for this procurement is Portsmouth, UK, with a significant gross value of £260,000. The initial phase involves market engagement to gather information until 18th December 2025, without any commitment to a competitive process at this stage. The procurement is set under the legal framework specified by the UK Public Procurement Law 2023/54, with communication for future notices anticipated by 1st April 2026. Delivery and installation are expected to begin on 1st June 2026, with the contract running until 31st May 2031.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in the development and supply of automated microfluidic platforms. Companies that specialise in programmable pumping, robotic liquid handling, and microfluidic mixing devices are well-suited to compete for this tender. Additionally, businesses offering integrated software solutions for experimental design and data capture will find this particularly relevant. The University seeks a partner who can not only supply and install the required equipment but also provide a five-year service plan and training for key users. This opportunity encourages SME participation, presenting a chance to establish long-term relationships within the academic research sector through robust technical support and innovative solutions to support cutting-edge pharmaceutical research.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Automated Library Synthesis System

Notice Description

The University of Portsmouth is looking for an automated library synthesis system to support current and future research projects in the School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Science. The equipment will be used in research and teaching across the school in areas such as vaccine development, gene therapy, lipid nanoparticle research, drug formulation screening and process optimisation for manufacturing. We are looking to purchase an automated microfluidic platform designed for high-throughput screening and optimisation of nanoparticle formulations. It should enable users to run large numbers of experiments within a single workflow while tightly controlling formulation and process parameters, using minimal reagent volumes and incorporating automated cleaning to avoid cross-contamination. The system should combine programmable pumping, robotic liquid handling, interchangeable microfluidic mixing devices and integrated software for experimental design and data capture. It should offer an efficient and scalable approach to rapid formulation screening and the transfer of optimised conditions to downstream process development. The seller is expected to supply, deliver, install the equipment and provide training to key users. We are seeking a five-year service plan to be included in the purchase. The seller must meet the mandatory essential criteria outline in the specification.

Planning Information

The University is conducting early market engagement to understand the range of automated microfluidic nanoparticle generation systems currently available that may meet our emerging specification for use in pharmaceutical research. The device should allow for high throughput manufacturing of large libraries of lipid nanoparticles. This is required for formulation screening and optimization for encapsulation and cellular delivery of nucleic acids (gene therapies). The equipment should enable automated and high-speed manufacturing of lipid nanoparticles (maximum 10 m in per formulation) at a small scale (1- 2 mL per run), preferably in a 96 well plate format. It should also allow us to choose the suitable design of the microfluidic mixer which is fit for our purpose. The equipment will be instrumental in our ongoing and future research projects that involve optimization of LNPs for enhanced and targeted delivery of various therapeutic nucleic acids to different types of cells and/or specific subcellular organelles for development of new gene therapies and vaccines. We invite interested suppliers to provide information on their available systems, supporting documentation, technical specifications and provide any relevant product literature. This engagement is being undertaken through a document based information gathering exercise only; no meetings or presentations are planned at this stage. Suppliers wishing to participate should outline the capabilities of the proposed system, key technical parameters, optional modules or configurations, and any additional information that would help us understand how the system could meet our requirements. The deadline for providing this information is 18th December 2025. Following the review of the submissions, the University may undertake further engagement activities if required, or may use the documentation received to inform the future procurement approach. Participation in the process is voluntary, and suppliers will bear their own costs. This engagement does not form part of any procurement process and does not commit the University to undertake a competitive process at a later date. Please send responses to ruth.powell@port.ac.uk

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e97a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077728-2025
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
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
£260,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Nov 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Apr 20264 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2026 - 31 May 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
UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH
Contact Name
Ruth Powell
Contact Email
ruth.powell@port.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
PORTSMOUTH
Postcode
PO1 2EG
Post Town
Portsmouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ31 Portsmouth
Delivery Location
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Local Authority
Portsmouth
Electoral Ward
St Thomas
Westminster Constituency
Portsmouth South

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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