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Provision of a Confocal Microscope

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE ACTING AS PART OF THE CROWN THROUGH UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

29 Jun 2026 at 09:29

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), part of the Department of Health and Social Care, is in the planning stage for the procurement of a confocal microscope intended for its Vaccine Development Evaluation Centre in Porton. As a central government public authority based in London, UKHSA is conducting a Preliminary Market Engagement to assess market capability. This engagement process, set to conclude on 15th July 2026, seeks to gather insights on potential suppliers for this equipment, which falls under the category of laboratory, optical, and precision equipment. The procurement process is slated to progress to a formal stage by 1st September 2026, with an anticipated start date of 2nd November 2026 for the contract period lasting until 2029, subject to renewal.

This preliminary engagement provides an opportunity for businesses within the laboratory equipment sector to showcase their capabilities and potential interest. Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with experience in producing high-precision instruments, particularly those specialising in advanced microscopy technologies, may find this tender particularly suitable. Participating in this process can position businesses favourably for future procurement opportunities, allowing them to enter or expand within the public sector's health and research-related supply chains, fostering growth and innovation in these areas.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of a Confocal Microscope

Notice Description

The provision of a confocal microscope for use in UKHSA Vaccine Development Evaluation Centre Porton laboratory.

Planning Information

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for planning, preventing and responding to external health threats, and providing intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage. UKHSA ensures the nation can respond quickly and at greater scale to deal with pandemics and future threats. It does this through advocacy, partnerships, world-class science, knowledge and intelligence, and the delivery of specialist public health services. UKHSA is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the United Kingdom Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). UKHSA is seeking to gather information on the potential provision of a confocal microscope for use in its Vaccine Development Evaluation Centre Porton laboratory. UKHSA is conducting a Preliminary Market Engagement exercise, to assess the market and identify supplier(s) who can support the delivery of the equipment. The UKHSA is currently preparing a scope of requirements. Prior to initiating any procurement exercise, UKHSA wishes to engage the market to better understand both the level of capability to deliver the requirements and the level of interest to supply. Responses will then be used to inform the most appropriate potential route to market which has yet to be determined. This is not a call for competition but a preliminary market engagement exercise to gain insight into the market ahead of a possible Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the goods. UKHSA aims to ensure any subsequent ITT is best aligned with current market capabilities and capacity. The microscope must be able to meet the below requirements: • Must be capable of imaging thick biological samples to include Emulate chips and transwell membranes, with multi-layered cells on both sides of the membrane, using at least a 20x objective • Must have objectives which have long working distances (up to 1mm thick biological samples) and high-NA apochromatic lenses: 10×, 20×, 40× air, 60× water immersion objective • Must have a laser excitation module with minimum of 4 lines: 405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, and 640 nm, covering UV to far-red spectrum • Must have a confocal single point scanning design to provide maximum resolution and optimum rejection of out of focus light in thick specimens (spinning disc designs are out of scope for this tender) • Must have an advanced detector array: High sensitivity, simultaneous 4-colour imaging • Must have a fully motorized inverted microscope platform with precision stage control and automated component switching • Must have dual-mode confocal scanner unit featuring high-resolution and high-speed scanning capabilities for flexible acquisition • Must have a Hardware-based autofocus system with real-time axial correction for long-term imaging stability • Must have a Piezo-driven Z-stage enabling rapid and precise Z-stack acquisition • Must have a high-throughput imaging support via water immersion dispenser and 60× water immersion objective • Must have an integrated illumination unit for brightfield and widefield fluorescence viewing through eyepieces • Must have a widefield imaging camera for sample overview, ROI identification, and documentation • Must have an anti-vibration optical table for mechanical stability and noise reduction • Must have a high-performance PC with a large-format monitor for image processing and control • Must have advanced imaging software suite with modules for: confocal acquisition and deconvolution, automated imaging workflows, and 3D visualization and quantitative analysis. UKHSA invites potential suppliers to register their interest by completing the Microsoft Form, via the link included in this notice, by 17:00 hours (GMT) on 15th July 2026. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=mRRO7jVKLkutR188-d6GZtY9hWGXHGBCkXg7Rr40TExUQTdQSFNVNllTRjU2U1Y3WjMwSFJVMk5FNC4u This notice is for information only and the information contained herein, including information relating to the nature and scope of the requirement, the estimated value and contract dates is indicative only and is neither exhaustive nor binding and the Authority reserves the right, at its absolute discretion, to amend it at the time of issue of any further notices or at any other time. This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice does not constitute a formal procurement process and in no way obliges the Authority to commence any competitive tender process. Participation in this engagement will not give an advantage or disadvantage to any supplier in any subsequent procurement. The Authority is not and shall not be liable for any costs incurred by those expressing an interest in participating in this premarket engagement exercise. All information provided will be treated as commercially sensitive and used solely for the purposes of market research.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06bed3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060629-2026
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
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
£440,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Jun 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Sep 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 1 Nov 2027 6-12 months
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
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE ACTING AS PART OF THE CROWN THROUGH UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E14 4PU
Post Town
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI42 Tower Hamlets
Delivery Location
TLK1 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area, TLK15 Wiltshire
Local Authority
Tower Hamlets
Electoral Ward
Canary Wharf
Westminster Constituency
Poplar and Limehouse

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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