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APHA CapEx: Supply of MALDI-ToF Mass Spectrometer & Servicing Plan

Animal and Plant Health Agency

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

14 Sep 2026 at 11:20

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

01 Sep 2026 at 16:27

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

01 Sep 2026 at 16:18

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) procured one MALDI-ToF Biotyper mass spectrometer, including delivery, installation, user training, a 12-month warranty and a servicing plan covering preventive and corrective maintenance. The equipment supports APHA’s diagnostic and research capability and must remain compatible with its existing MALDI Biotyper platform, accredited procedures and validated laboratory workflows. The requirement combines laboratory, optical and precision equipment with associated repair and maintenance services. Delivery is in the United Kingdom. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) group Commercial managed the procurement activity for APHA. The equipment is intended to maintain continuity of service and avoid the disruption, revalidation work and operational risks associated with replacing the existing platform with an alternative system.

This procurement has been awarded and the contract is active. It used a direct award under the Procurement Act 2023 because the authority concluded that only Bruker UK Limited could supply a technically compatible system and that no reasonable alternative or substitute was available. The award was made to Bruker UK Limited on 1 September 2026 for £750,000 excluding VAT (£900,000 including VAT). The contract was signed on 11 September 2026 and runs from 14 September 2026 to 30 November 2030. It is valued at £244,949 excluding VAT (£293,938.80 including VAT). APHA may extend the agreement by up to six years, from 1 December 2030 to 30 November 2036, subject to business need, budget and governance approval. An option allows an existing unit to be added for continued servicing and maintenance.

This requirement indicates demand from APHA for specialist mass-spectrometry equipment that integrates with an established MALDI Biotyper environment rather than a standalone replacement. A credible future competitor would need to supply, install and support the specified platform while preserving compatibility with APHA’s accredited procedures and validated laboratory workflows. Relevant capability includes laboratory instrumentation, technical integration, commissioning, user training, warranty administration and preventive and corrective maintenance. Service delivery would need to protect diagnostic and research continuity, with reliable equipment performance and prompt customer support. The contract’s performance expectations include early warning of delivery risks, responses to customer queries within one working day, resolution or an agreed resolution timescale within two working days, delivery to the agreed date and equipment performance to the manufacturer’s specifications. Suppliers with an established UK technical support and servicing operation would be well placed.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

APHA CapEx: Supply of MALDI-ToF Mass Spectrometer & Servicing Plan

Notice Description

This requirement is for the procurement of one (1) MALDI-ToF Biotyper(r) to include delivery, installation, training, a twelve (12) month warranty period and a three (3) year servicing plan for Preventive & Corrective Maintenance (the "Equipment").

Procurement Information

The direct award is justified under Section 41 and Schedule 5, paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023, on the basis that, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only Bruker UK Limited can supply the goods required and no reasonable alternative or substitute has been identified. This is because the requirement must remain compatible with APHA's existing MALDI Biotyper(r) platform, accredited procedures and validated laboratory workflows. The direct award is necessary to maintain continuity of diagnostic and research capability and to avoid the significant validation, implementation costs and operational risks associated with introducing an alternative system.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06efe2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086776-2026
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)

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

50000000 - Repair and maintenance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£750,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£244,949 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Sep 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
1 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
14 Sep 2026 - 30 Nov 2030 4-5 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
Animal and Plant Health 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
SW1P 4DF
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Bruker UK Limited

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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