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UKRI-6269 MRC LMS Correlative Tweezers-Fluorescence System

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

18 Sep 2026 at 14:38

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

18 Aug 2026 at 16:37

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

18 Aug 2026 at 16:21

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), for the Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology (MRC LMS), procured a correlative tweezers-fluorescence system. The requirement is for laboratory, optical and precision equipment combining optical trapping with fluorescence-based analysis. The selected LUMICKS C-Trap platform provides four independently steerable optical traps, multi-colour line-scanning confocal fluorescence, synchronised force, distance and fluorescence acquisition, and five-channel laminar-flow microfluidics. It must be compatible with the MRC LMS’s existing microscopes, established assays and data-analysis workflows. The equipment is goods rather than a construction or service requirement, with delivery in the United Kingdom. This is a specialist scientific-instrument purchase for organisations able to supply integrated optical, microscopy, microfluidics and force-measurement technology.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through a direct award to Lunicks B.V. The stated basis was that the LUMICKS C-Trap was the only commercially available, pre-aligned system compatible with the MRC LMS’s existing equipment, assays and workflows, and the only platform combining the specified trapping, fluorescence acquisition and microfluidics capabilities. One lot was awarded. The award was made on 13 August 2026 for £650,000 including tax, with an award standstill ending on 28 August 2026. The contract was signed on 17 September 2026 and is active, running from 2 November 2026 to 1 November 2029, with a contract value of £650,000 including tax. The award supplier is Lunicks B.V.

This procurement indicates demand from UKRI and MRC LMS for highly integrated single-molecule or biophysical research instrumentation rather than standalone laboratory equipment. Suppliers competing for a comparable future requirement would need a mature platform combining independently steerable optical traps, multi-colour confocal fluorescence, synchronised force, distance and fluorescence measurements, and multi-channel laminar-flow microfluidics. Compatibility with existing microscopes, established laboratory assays and data-analysis workflows would be central to credibility, as would a pre-aligned system that can be deployed without extensive integration work. The requirement suits established specialist manufacturers or authorised suppliers with strong optical engineering, microscopy, microfluidics and precision-instrument capability, supported by the capacity to supply and maintain complex research equipment for a major public-sector laboratory.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UKRI-6269 MRC LMS Correlative Tweezers-Fluorescence System

Notice Description

The provision of Correlative Tweezers-Fluorescence System for MRC LMS

Procurement Information

LUMICKS C-Trap is the only system compatible with LMS existing microscopes, established assays, and data-analysis workflows and is the only commercially available, pre-aligned platform that integrates four independently steerable optical traps, multi-colour line-scanning confocal, fluorescence, Synchronised force, distance, and fluorescence acquisition, and Five-channel laminar-flow microfluidics within a single system.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e6e2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088743-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
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
£650,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£650,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Aug 20262 months ago
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 1 Nov 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON, WILTSHIRE
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Lunicks B.V

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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