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5085.SH.JN - Advanced Nano-Mechanical Characterisation System with Integrated Fluorescence

UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

25 Sep 2026 at 16:36

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

07 Aug 2026 at 09:24

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

06 Aug 2026 at 20:24

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

06 Aug 2026 at 19:48

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Sheffield bought a high-throughput nanoindentation system for the Wolfson Light Microscopy Facility. It measures the mechanical properties of biological samples and biomaterials, including single cells, organoids, tissue sections, extracellular matrices and engineered tissues, supporting research across health, science and engineering and work with external academic and industrial collaborators. The required turnkey system combines high-resolution nanoindentation with optical microscopy and environmental controls for long-term measurement of live samples. It also supports multi-well plate formats for high-throughput mechanobiology research and drug screening. Supply includes the instrument, imaging and environmental modules, acquisition and analysis software, a workstation, installation, commissioning and user training. Delivery is in Sheffield.

The procurement is complete and awarded following an open procedure. One lot was evaluated on quality (80%) and price (20%); one bid reached the final stage. Optics11 Life B.V was selected, with an award value of £349,861.09 gross. The award date was 25 September 2026. The awarded contract period runs from 9 October 2026 to 31 December 2030. The tender estimated a gross value of £349,900. Bids were due by 9 September 2026, and the stated evaluation period ended on 18 September 2026. The lot was marked suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

For suppliers considering comparable future requirements from the University of Sheffield, this award demonstrates demand for specialist, integrated research instrumentation rather than a standalone measurement device. A credible competitor would need to supply and integrate high-resolution nanoindentation, optical imaging and environmental control, with reliable live-cell imaging and long-duration measurement capability. Compatibility with standard multi-well plates and high-throughput workflows is important for the facility’s mechanobiology research and drug-screening applications. Suppliers also need broad mechanical measurement capability, high sensitivity and capacity to deliver the full package: software, workstation, installation, commissioning and user training. The successful bid came from an SME, and the procurement assessed quality substantially more heavily than price, so technical performance and delivery capability were central to competing.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

5085.SH.JN - Advanced Nano-Mechanical Characterisation System with Integrated Fluorescence

Notice Description

The University of Sheffield, supported by the Wolfson Light Microscopy Facility (LMF), is seeking the supply, installation and commissioning of a high-throughput nanoindentation platform for the quantitative mechanical characterisation of biological samples and biomaterials. The instrument will provide a centrally managed research resource supporting investigators from across the Faculties of Health, Science and Engineering, together with external academic and industrial collaborators. The system will enable the measurement of mechanical properties across a broad range of biological specimens including single cells, organoids, tissue sections, extracellular matrices, biomaterials and engineered tissues. The University requires an integrated platform capable of combining high-resolution nanoindentation with optical microscopy and environmental control to permit long-term measurements of live biological samples under physiologically relevant conditions. The instrument must also support high-throughput experimentation using standard multi-well plate formats to facilitate large-scale mechanobiology studies and drug screening. The system shall be supplied as a complete turnkey solution including the nanoindentation platform, integrated optical imaging system, environmental control module, acquisition and analysis software, computer workstation, installation, commissioning and user training. Particular emphasis will be placed on systems that provide high measurement sensitivity, broad mechanical measurement capability, compatibility with live-cell imaging workflows and the flexibility to support future research developments.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06de79
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091172-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

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
£349,900 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£349,900 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£349,861 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
9 Sep 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
25 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
9 Oct 2026 - 31 Dec 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

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

Buyer Location

Locality
SHEFFIELD
Postcode
S10 2TN
Postcode Area
Sheffield
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE3 South Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE32 Sheffield
Delivery Location
TLE32 Sheffield
Local Authority
Sheffield
Electoral Ward
Broomhill and Sharrow Vale
Westminster Constituency
Sheffield Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Optics11 Life B.V

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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