Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

NCA31153 Incucyte SX5 (for IRR South)

University Of Edinburgh

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

27 Jul 2026 at 15:01

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Edinburgh purchased an Incucyte SX5 HD/3CLR System for the Institute for Regeneration and Repair in Edinburgh. This is specialist laboratory, optical and precision equipment for research workflows involving in-incubator live-cell imaging. The required platform supports imaging of 384-well plates, a far-red fluorescence channel and expanded assay capability, particularly for functional and long-term live-cell studies. The procurement was for one complete system rather than a broad equipment supply arrangement. The requirement was defined around a single integrated instrument capable of combining these functions, making it relevant to suppliers of advanced cell-imaging platforms, laboratory instruments and associated scientific research equipment.

This procurement is complete and was run as a limited award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition. The University of Edinburgh relied on technical reasons, stating that the required combination of live-cell imaging, 384-well plate capacity, far-red fluorescence and assay capability was available from only one system. One bid was received, submitted electronically by an SME, and the award was made to Sartorius UK Limited. Quality carried 100% of the evaluation weighting and price 0%. The contract was signed on 7 July 2026 for £220,990.23. It is recorded as active. The single lot is marked cancelled in the procurement data, although the associated award and contract are active. An optional extended warranty for one, two or three additional years could be purchased within 12 months of installation.

This outcome indicates demand for high-specification live-cell analysis equipment within university biomedical research. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need to supply, install and support an integrated in-incubator imaging platform with 384-well plate live-cell imaging, far-red fluorescence and sufficient assay flexibility for functional and long-term studies. Technical differentiation is likely to matter more than lowest price, since quality was the sole evaluation basis in this procurement. Suppliers should therefore be able to demonstrate validated performance against demanding research workflows, provide evidence that their system delivers the required combination of capabilities in one instrument, and support specialist users in an academic laboratory environment. Equipment manufacturers, authorised UK distributors and organisations with strong scientific-instrument service capacity are the closest fit.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

NCA31153 Incucyte SX5 (for IRR South)

Notice Description

This procurement relates to the purchase of Incucyte SX5 HD/3CLR System for the Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR).

Lot Information

Lot 1

This procurement relates to the purchase of a Incucyte SX5 HD/3CLR System for the Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR).

Options: This Contract includes the option to purchase optional extended warranty which may be purchased within 12 months of install for 1, 2 or 3 additional years.

Procurement Information

The University considers competition to be absent for technical reasons because delivery of the intended research workflows requires a single, in-incubator live-cell imaging platform that provides a 384 well plate live cell imaging capability, a far red fluorescence channel, and expanded assay capability (particularly for functional and long-term live-cell studies). Based on our review of available systems, the Incucyte SxS is the only instrument that provides this required combination in a single system.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d46d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070857-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£220,990 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University Of Edinburgh
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH1 1HT
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Sartorius UK Limited

Further Information

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.

Loading OCDS record...