Planning

PME - 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

10 Dec 2025 at 12:48

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

10 Dec 2025 at 09:11

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Queen's University Belfast, situated in Belfast, United Kingdom, is leading a noteworthy procurement process under the planning stage. The initiative involves the supply, commissioning, installation, and maintenance of a Dynamic and a Static Mechanical Testing Frame, along with associated grips and environmental test chambers. This procurement is part of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre’s (AMIC) expansion, aiming to enhance its capabilities in Digital Factory, Smart Design, Sustainable Polymers and Composites, Nanotechnology, and Photonics. The pre-market engagement milestone is scheduled for completion by 19th January 2026, with potential future notice planned for 19th February 2026.

This procurement presents a valuable opportunity for businesses specialising in manufacturing and testing equipment, particularly those experienced with servo-hydraulic test apparatus. Suppliers participating in this pre-market engagement can position themselves strategically for the forthcoming tender, thereby gaining early insights and establishing relationships with the university’s procurement team. Companies that can offer innovative solutions and demonstrate an understanding of advanced manufacturing technology trends will be particularly well-suited to compete, especially given the project's significance within Northern Ireland's future manufacturing infrastructure supported by a £98M investment through the Belfast Region City Deal.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

PME - 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. AMIC is expanding its core capabilities in Digital Factory, Smart Design, Sustainable Polymers and Composites Nanotechnology and Photonics. With a growing team of engineers and technologists (currently 50 strong) and building upon a track-record of collaboration with manufacturers it will deliver industry 4.0 solutions for industry. Supported through a PS98M investment via Belfast Region City Deal, a 10,000m2 Factory of the Future facility will open at Global Point Newtownabbey in early 2026. The equipment being purchased is critical to the organisational strategy. As part of this project Queen's University Belfast wish to procure a Femtosecond Laser Workstation.

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 Femtosecond Laser Workstation. 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://intendhost. co.uk/queensuniversitybelfast. Interested parties are asked to complete and return this questionnaire via the InTend platform within 40 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. Please note that Queen's University is closed 23 December 2025 - 1 January 2026 inclusive. Any queries received during this time will be answered when the University re-opens.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f25f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081480-2025
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
10 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
19 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
19 Apr 2026 - 20 Apr 2028 2-3 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

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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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