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UKRI-6257 Contract renewal Glacios & Vitrobot

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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24 Aug 2026 at 10:37

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) procured maintenance and repair services for precision scientific equipment, specifically its Glacios and Vitrobot systems. The requirement is a contract renewal covering these instruments and their continued servicing. This is specialist laboratory and research-equipment maintenance rather than general facilities management, engineering or IT support. The buying organisation is UKRI, a central government public authority, based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Delivery is across the United Kingdom. The requirement relates to keeping high-value electron microscopy and sample-preparation equipment operational, although the procurement does not provide a more detailed breakdown of the maintenance activities, service levels or parts involved. Suppliers active in servicing comparable precision research equipment would be the closest fit, particularly those able to support Glacios and Vitrobot installations in UKRI’s research environment.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. UKRI used a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition, for one lot. FEI UK Ltd was selected as supplier, and the contract was signed on 14 August 2026. The contract value is £104,904 excluding VAT, or £125,884.80 including VAT. Its stated period runs from 9 September 2026 to 1 September 2027. The contract is active. The award covers repair and maintenance services for precision equipment and is linked to the completed lot for the Glacios and Vitrobot renewal. No competitive evaluation or tender scoring was used because the procurement proceeded as a below-threshold direct award without competition. The commercial outcome therefore reflects a single-supplier appointment rather than competition between several bidders.

This procurement demonstrates UKRI demand for specialist support for Glacios and Vitrobot systems and shows that the requirement was fulfilled through a direct, below-threshold route. A credible supplier for a future requirement would need practical capability in maintaining and repairing precision scientific equipment, with relevant knowledge of these named platforms or closely comparable research instruments. It would also need sufficient technical capacity to support equipment used in a UK research environment and to deliver services across the United Kingdom. Experience working with electron microscopy and associated sample-preparation equipment would be commercially relevant, as would access to appropriately skilled engineers, diagnostic capability and suitable repair or replacement arrangements. Suppliers should also understand how to support continuity of operation for specialist laboratory assets rather than offer general equipment maintenance alone.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UKRI-6257 Contract renewal Glacios & Vitrobot

Notice Description

UKRI-6257 Contract renewal Glacios & Vitrobot 26/27

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ea3b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080207-2026
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
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50430000 - Repair and maintenance services of precision equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£104,904 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Aug 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
9 Sep 2026 - 1 Sep 2027 6-12 months
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 (UKRI)
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

FEI UK Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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