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DLSITT1101 - K14 SWIFT Beamline Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) Mirrors System for Diamond Light Source

Diamond Light Source Ltd

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

27 Aug 2026 at 16:22

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

27 May 2026 at 13:10

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Diamond Light Source Limited is procuring a two-mirror Kirkpatrick–Baez (KB) focusing system for the K14 SWIFT beamline at its facility on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. The requirement covers the design, materials, manufacture, assembly, testing, delivery, installation and commissioning of horizontally and vertically focusing monochromatic beam mirrors, together with position-adjustment systems. It also includes temperature monitoring for interlocking, a vacuum vessel, support frame, interfaces to beamline services, training for Diamond personnel, and installation of the mirrors in their benders at the Diamond Light Source Optics Metrology Lab. This is a specialist goods requirement for scientific and synchrotron optics equipment, classified under CPV 38622000, with delivery and installation in Oxfordshire.

The procurement is complete following an above-threshold open procedure. One lot was awarded to XDS Oxford Limited, an SME, for £355,000 excluding VAT (£426,000 including VAT). The original estimated lot value was £250,000 excluding VAT (£300,000 including VAT). Three bids reached the final stage, including three from SMEs. The tender submission deadline was 26 June 2026 at 12:00, and the award decision period ended on 9 July 2026. The award was dated 27 August 2026, with the standstill period ending on 8 September 2026. The awarded contract period is 9 September 2026 to 9 January 2028. Evaluation weighted price at 40%, technical quality at 25%, experience and capacity at 25%, commercial considerations at 5%, and delivery at 5%.

This award shows demand from a national scientific research facility for highly specialised beamline optics, rather than general mirror supply. A credible future competitor would need to design and manufacture precision Kirkpatrick–Baez mirror systems and their mechanics, integrate vacuum vessels, support frames, temperature monitoring and beamline-service interfaces, and demonstrate reliable testing, delivery, installation and commissioning. Experience and capacity carried the same weighting as technical quality, so evidence of comparable engineering projects, production capability, quality control and sufficient skilled resources would be important. The scope also requires installation in an optics metrology laboratory and training for the buyer’s personnel, making practical commissioning and knowledge-transfer capability relevant. The participation of three SMEs indicates that suppliers of this scale can compete, provided they can meet the specialist technical and delivery requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

DLSITT1101 - K14 SWIFT Beamline Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) Mirrors System for Diamond Light Source

Notice Description

Located on the Harwell Science & Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire, Diamond Light Source (DLS) is a leading-edge facility for science, engineering and innovation. DLS allows researchers from academia and industry to investigate the structure and behaviour of the world around us at the atomic and molecular level. To continue delivering the world-changing science that Diamond enables, the facility is being upgraded to Diamond-II, a co-ordinated programme of development that combines a major machine upgrade with new instruments and complementary improvements to optics, detectors, sample environment and delivery capabilities, and computing, as well as integrated and correlative methods. This will be transformative in speed and spatial resolution and will offer users streamlined access to enhanced instruments for life and physical sciences. The scope of the contract is for the design, supply of material, manufacture, assembly, test, delivery, installation and commissioning of a two-mirror combined system (a pair of Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) mirrors) and its position adjustment systems. The mirrors will focus the beam onto a sample positioned in the K14 beamline second end-station. * The minimum scope of the contract should include: HFM - Horizontally Focusing Mirror Horizontally (outboard) reflecting, monochromatic beam mirror & mechanics. * VFM - Vertically Focusing Mirror- Vertically (upward) reflecting, monochromatic beam mirror & mechanics. * Temperature monitoring for interlocking. * Vacuum vessel. * Support frame. * Interface to beamline services. * Training for Diamond personnel in the operation of the mirrors * Installation of the mirrors in their benders at the DLS Optics Metrology Lab (OML).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a620
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081928-2026
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
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

38622000 - Mirrors

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£355,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
26 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
27 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
9 Sep 2026 - 9 Jan 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Diamond Light Source Ltd
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DIDCOT
Postcode
OX11 0DE
Postcode Area
Oxford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
Delivery Location
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
Local Authority
Vale of White Horse
Electoral Ward
Blewbury & Harwell
Westminster Constituency
Didcot and Wantage

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

XDS Oxford 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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