Award

UKRI-5382 ZnS:Ag/6LiF Neutron Scintillator Screens

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

23 Mar 2026 at 16:41

TenderUpdate

22 Jan 2026 at 14:08

Tender

23 Dec 2025 at 13:30

Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), headquartered in Swindon, Wiltshire, has completed the procurement process for supplying ZnS:Ag/6LiF neutron scintillator screens leveraging an open procedure. This contract focuses on laboratory, optical, and precision equipment, vital to the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source centre's detector development programme. The procurement, valued at £1,760,000, is set under a framework aimed at supporting new builds for the HRPD-X, SANDALS II, and WISH II instruments. The award stage concluded on 23 March 2026, following a competitive tender process, with the contract scheduled between 6 April 2026 and 5 April 2030. Businesses should note the location for delivery is the United Kingdom's UKJ14 region, facilitating extensive R&D efforts.

This procurement presents promising opportunities for businesses in the production and supply of specialised scientific equipment, particularly those proficient in neutron scintillator technologies. Scintacor Limited, an SME, emerged as the successful supplier, highlighting the suitability of small to medium enterprises with expertise in precision optical components to compete for future tenders. The comprehensive requirements for versatility in sizes and superior quality standards proposed by UKRI indicate a need for highly specialised manufacturing capabilities, offering growth potential for firms with innovation-driven agendas in the research equipment sector. This framework agreement opens avenues for ongoing collaborations within a long-term upgrade programme, reducing repetitive tendering and optimising supply logistics.

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Notice Title

UKRI-5382 ZnS:Ag/6LiF Neutron Scintillator Screens

Notice Description

The ISIS Neutron and Muon Source is a world-leading centre for research using neutrons and muons, supporting a broad scientific user community across disciplines such as materials science, physics, chemistry, and engineering. As part of its detector development programme, ISIS manufactures a range of in-house detectors, including wavelength-shifting fibre (WLSF) based scintillation detectors, which are critical for capturing and characterising neutron interactions with high spatial and temporal resolution. A key component of these detectors is the neutron scintillator screen which is composed of a zinc sulphide silver activated phosphor and an enriched lithium-6 fluoride neutron-sensitive converter material. Following neutron capture in the converter, light is emitted from the phosphor subsequently collected by wavelength-shifting fibres and guided to photodetectors for signal processing. The quality, consistency and performance of the scintillator screen directly impact detection efficiency and effective gamma-ray and background discrimination. To support new detector builds, particularly for the HRPD-X, SANDALS II and WISH II instruments, a framework contract is required to ensure a reliable supply of high-performance ZnS:Ag/6LiF screens that meets the stringent technical and operational demands of ISIS instruments. These screens must be provided in different shapes, sizes and thicknesses to match the range of instrument beamline geometries and neutron fluxes encountered at ISIS. Some of the screens will be operated in vacuum and must be capable of maintaining performance within a vacuum environment for the lifetime of the detector, typically 15 years. The purpose of this tender is to guarantee a steady supply of ZnS:Ag/6LiF neutron scintillator screens to cover the needs of the ISIS Endeavour Programme, a 10-year programme to upgrade the suite of ISIS instruments. It will ensure a consistent and reliable product is always being provided throughout the programme. It will help to reduce the need for generating repeat tendering and for storing large quantities of product on site until needed. This contract is being awarded following a competitive open tender process.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05fc90
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026469-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award 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
£1,760,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,760,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£1,760,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Mar 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
17 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Mar 20261 months ago
Contract Period
5 Apr 2026 - 5 Apr 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON, WILTSHIRE
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Post Town
Swindon
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC

Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SCINTACOR

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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