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Cryo-EM Talos Arctica Service Contract

NPL Management Limited

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

24 Sep 2026 at 17:26

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

23 Sep 2026 at 10:18

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NPL Management Limited is buying a manufacturer-backed service agreement for its Thermo Fisher Scientific Talos Arctica cryogenic electron microscope and associated cryogenic electron microscopy equipment at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington. The service covers remote diagnostics and technical support, on-site inspection and repair, corrective and emergency maintenance, scheduled preventive maintenance, and performance verification. It also includes software licences, maintenance and updates, and replacement parts and components, excluding consumables. Support is delivered through the manufacturer’s UK organisation and authorised UK service infrastructure. The equipment is a specialised research asset, and the service is intended to maintain its reliability, performance, software compatibility and operational availability.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to FEI UK Limited, the microscope’s original equipment manufacturer. The award date was 23 September 2026. The contract period runs from 7 October 2026 to 7 October 2029. Its value is £567,203 excluding VAT (£680,643 including VAT). NPL used a direct award, citing technical reasons: the OEM alone has access to the proprietary tools, software, firmware, documentation, certified parts and trained engineers needed for the full service package. The procurement was not divided into substantive lots; the single lot is complete. The service targets a response within 48 hours during normal business hours, with remote assessment followed by on-site intervention when required.

This award demonstrates demand at NPL for specialist maintenance of high-value cryogenic electron microscopy equipment, including manufacturer-authorised repairs, preventive servicing, software support and performance checks. The selected supplier was the original equipment manufacturer, and NPL’s stated rationale was that only it could provide the proprietary software, firmware, service documentation, diagnostic and calibration tools, certified replacement parts, licences and manufacturer-trained engineers needed to maintain the instrument to specification. A credible competitor for comparable work would therefore need demonstrable access to the relevant proprietary systems and parts, appropriately certified engineers, and the ability to provide UK-based remote support, prompt on-site response, emergency repairs and scheduled maintenance. NPL’s stated technical requirements made competition absent for this particular procurement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Cryo-EM Talos Arctica Service Contract

Notice Description

Provision of a 3-year original equipment manufacturer (OEM) service agreement for the Thermo Fisher Scientific (FEI UK Ltd.) Talos Arctica Cryogenic Electron Microscope (Serial Number 09950877, commissioned Sept/2020) and associated cryogenic electron microscopy equipment. The agreement provides comprehensive manufacturer-backed support, including remote diagnostics and technical support as the first stage of fault assessment (same day within hours), followed where required by escalation to on-site physical inspection (48-hour response), troubleshooting, emergency repair support and corrective maintenance by manufacturer-certified service engineers. The contract includes a targeted response time of 48 hours during normal business hours, emergency breakdown assistance, remote service capability, scheduled preventive maintenance, performance verification, software licences, software maintenance and updates, replacement parts and components (excluding consumables), and access to proprietary service tools, firmware, calibration procedures and technical documentation. Service delivery is provided through the manufacturer's UK organisation and authorised UK-based service infrastructure, ensuring timely support and compliance with applicable UK operational requirements. The equipment and supporting systems comply with applicable UKCA and CE marking requirements. The agreement ensures continued reliability, performance, software compatibility and operational availability of a nationally significant research infrastructure asset. Thermo Fisher Scientific (FEI UK Ltd.) is the original equipment manufacturer of the Talos Arctica Cryogenic Electron Microscope (Serial Number 09950877, commissioned 09/2020) and associated integrated cryogenic electron microscopy equipment. The manufacturer is the only supplier with access to proprietary software, firmware, service documentation, diagnostic tools, calibration procedures, certified replacement parts, software licences and manufacturer-trained service engineers required to maintain the system to the original manufacturer's specification. Support is delivered through a combination of remote diagnostics and technical assessment, followed when necessary by on-site intervention by certified field service engineers. No alternative supplier can provide the complete package of OEM-supported maintenance, software updates, performance verification, spare parts provision and manufacturer-backed service coverage. Competition is therefore absent for technical reasons, and the contract must be awarded directly to the OEM to ensure continued operation, reliability and performance of this nationally important research infrastructure asset.

Procurement Information

FEI UK Ltd. (Thermo Fisher Scientific) is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the Talos Arctica Cryogenic Electron Microscope (Serial Number 09950877) and associated cryogenic electron microscopy equipment installed at NPL (09/2020). The OEM is the only supplier with access to the proprietary software, firmware, service documentation, calibration procedures, diagnostic tools, certified replacement parts, software licences and manufacturer-certified service engineers required to maintain the system in accordance with the original manufacturer's specifications. (See CSF-02) No alternative supplier can provide the full scope of OEM-authorised maintenance, software support, firmware updates, certified spare parts, performance verification and manufacturer-backed service coverage required for this highly specialised instrument. Competition is therefore absent for technical reasons. (See CSF-02 and EMEA Preferred service contract) Direct award is necessary to ensure continued reliability, operational availability, business continuity and compliance of this nationally significant research infrastructure asset. The service agreement provides manufacturer-supported remote diagnostics, escalation support, targeted 48-hour response, on-site intervention by certified field service engineers, preventative maintenance and emergency repair services through the manufacturer's UK service organisation.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077847
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090759-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50324200 - Preventive maintenance services

50421000 - Repair and maintenance services of medical equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£567,203 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
23 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
7 Oct 2026 - 7 Oct 2029 3-4 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
NPL Management Limited
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
TEDDINGTON
Postcode
TW11 0LW
Postcode Area
Twickenham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI7 Outer London - West and North West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI75 Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Richmond upon Thames
Electoral Ward
Teddington
Westminster Constituency
Twickenham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

FEI UK Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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