This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

06 Jul 2026 at 09:16

Award

12 Jun 2026 at 09:36

Award

11 Jun 2026 at 15:35

Summary of the contracting process

Northumbria University has recently awarded a 5-year service and maintenance contract for a genomic sequencing platform located at their Faculty of Science and Environment in Newcastle upon Tyne. The contract covers extensive support for maintaining high-throughput genomic sequencing equipment critical to the university's research endeavours in molecular, environmental, and bioscience. The procurement process was completed through a direct award, justified due to intellectual property rights and technical requirements. Critical dates include the start of the contract period on 26th June 2026 and its conclusion on 22nd May 2031. The procedure aligns with the Procurement Act 2023, under Schedule 5, due to exclusive technical needs that only the original equipment manufacturer can meet. The total contract value is £326,250 GBP.

This contract highlights significant business opportunities for large-scale suppliers adept in servicing proprietary scientific equipment, particularly those that exclusively handle maintenance operations where proprietary technology is involved. Companies with expertise in providing high-precision engineering services, certified replacement parts, and remote diagnostics for complex instrumentation are well-suited to engage in such exclusive projects. This tender underscores the need for businesses to establish robust capabilities and authorizations to manage sophisticated, proprietary systems, thereby opening avenues for growth in the specialized sector of scientific equipment maintenance and support.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Service and Maintenance Contract for Genomic Sequencing Platform

Notice Description

Northumbria University has procured a 5-year service, support, and maintenance contract for an existing Revio high-throughput genomic sequencing platform to support advanced molecular, environmental, and bioscience research frameworks within the Faculty of Science and Environment. This specialized multi-year service agreement is critical for ensuring the continuous, high-availability, and high-precision operational performance of complex, long-read sequencing instrumentation running critical data workflows. The contract ensures the systematic provisioning of vital maintenance parameters--including preventative maintenance visits, emergency engineering labor, certified replacement parts, proprietary consumables required for mechanical repairs, and real-time remote performance monitoring--allowing researchers to maximize instrument uptime and maintain strict data fidelity across high-throughput genomic pipelines. The contract is awarded via a formal internal procurement exemption as the sequencing platform relies entirely on proprietary technology and closed-source software architectures. Consequently, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is the sole authorized provider capable of supplying certified replacement parts, executing specialized engineering calibrations, and providing remote diagnostic support. No alternative provider exists with the technical capacity or legal authorization to service the asset without compromising instrument validation, operational warranties, or downstream research data fidelity.

Procurement Information

The direct award is justified under Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 due to exclusive rights and technical reasons: Intellectual Property and Exclusive Rights: The genomic sequencing platform relies entirely on proprietary, patented technology and closed-source software architectures owned exclusively by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). No third-party providers hold the legal licenses or authorizations required to access, update, or modify the system's core operating infrastructure. Technical Reasons: The OEM is the sole authorized provider globally with the specialized technical capacity, certified engineering tooling, and remote diagnostic systems required to service this instrument. Utilizing an alternative provider would invalidate manufacturer operational warranties, breach mandatory instrument calibration protocols (such as laser alignment), and fatally compromise downstream research data fidelity and scientific validation.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b36e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/063106-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services


CPV Codes

50400000 - Repair and maintenance services of medical and precision equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£326,250 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£326,250 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Jul 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
9 Jun 20261 months ago
Contract Period
25 Jun 2026 - 22 May 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Postcode
NE1 8ST
Post Town
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Newcastle upon Tyne
Electoral Ward
Monument
Westminster Constituency
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PACIFIC BIOSCIENCES OF CALIFORNIA

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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