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Procurement of New Benchtop Genome Sequencer and all consumables and servicing for ten years

Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI)

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

24 Jul 2026 at 09:59

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

10 Jul 2026 at 09:50

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

23 Apr 2026 at 11:15

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) procured a new benchtop genome sequencing system for its veterinary microbiology work, together with the consumables, reagents, installation and servicing needed throughout the instrument’s useful life. The requirement supports microbial genome sequencing for disease surveillance, epidemiological investigations, pathogen characterisation and antimicrobial-resistance profiling. It is intended to replace existing instruments whose capacity could not meet demand. The system is expected to process approximately 5,650 microbial genomes each year, with an average genome size of about 5 megabase pairs. Consumables include sequencing chemistry, oligonucleotide indexes for multiplexing and DNA library preparation chemistry. AFBI is the buying organisation, with procurement managed by CPD – Supplies and Services Division in Belfast for the Northern Ireland public sector.

This completed above-threshold procurement used a single-lot open procedure. The tender closed on 19 May 2026, enquiries closed on 8 May, and the intended award period ended on 29 May. Three bids reached the final stage, including one from an SME. Illumina Cambridge Limited was awarded the contract on 9 July 2026 for £2,668,717 excluding VAT, or £3,202,460.40 including VAT. The award standstill ended on 22 July, the contract was signed on 24 July, and the contract period runs from 27 July 2026 to 26 July 2036. Evaluation gave 70% to quality and 30% to price, with minimum functional requirements assessed pass or fail. Quality covered supply, quality control and training, service management, and delivering zero carbon; price covered the overall contract price.

This requirement demonstrates sustained demand for high-throughput microbial genome sequencing within AFBI’s veterinary microbiology service, at a scale of several thousand genomes annually and over a ten-year service life. Suppliers well placed for a future requirement would need to provide a benchtop sequencing platform with sufficient sample capacity and data output, alongside a dependable supply chain for sequencing chemistry, multiplexing indexes and DNA library preparation reagents. Credible competitors would also need the technical capability to install, maintain and service specialist laboratory equipment over the full operating period, and to support quality control and user training. Experience in microbial genomics, disease surveillance, epidemiology or antimicrobial-resistance analysis would align closely with the scientific use case. The evaluation also shows that service management and measurable environmental performance matter alongside price.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Procurement of New Benchtop Genome Sequencer and all consumables and servicing for ten years

Notice Description

AFBI is committed to modernising its veterinary microbiology capabilities in order to improve services to our sponsoring Government Department, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). Expanding on use of microbial genomics has enhanced disease surveillance, epidemiological investigations and pathogen phenotypic characterisation including antimicrobial resistance profiling. Demand for microbial genome sequencing within AFBI VSD has expanded by six-fold over the last 5-year period - a demand that our existing instruments cannot sustain for important in house sequencing with defined timelines. AFBI therefore require, an instrument with increased sample capacity and data output to ensure demand can be met and continue to deliver high quality data and analyses. Approximately 5650 microbial genomes are expected to be processed per annum with an average size of approximately 5 megabase pairs (Mbps). Additionally, AFBI require consumables/reagents (e.g. Sequencing Chemistry, Oligonucleotide indexes to permit multiplexing of samples for sequencing and DNA Library Preparation Chemistry) for the work detailed above and servicing for this replacement instrument for the duration of its useful life of ten years

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068960
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070057-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

50 - Repair and maintenance services

51 - Installation services (except software)

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

33100000 - Medical equipments

33696500 - Laboratory reagents

38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

38434540 - Biomedical equipment

38500000 - Checking and testing apparatus

50000000 - Repair and maintenance services

50400000 - Repair and maintenance services of medical and precision equipment

50530000 - Repair and maintenance services of machinery

51000000 - Installation services (except software)

51540000 - Installation services of special-purpose machinery and equipment

85145000 - Services provided by medical laboratories

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£2,668,717 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£2,668,717 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
19 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
9 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
27 Jul 2026 - 26 Jul 2036 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT9 5PX
Postcode Area
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
Upper Malone
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Illumina Cambridge Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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