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RBGKEW1573 phenoTest for SPEED project

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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02 Oct 2026 at 11:56

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew commissioned a custom-built phenoTest 3D X-ray computed tomography imaging platform for its ARIA-funded SPEED research project. The system is designed to measure seed and seedling traits at individual-seed level through non-destructive, longitudinal 3D imaging. The supply includes proprietary hardware, software, algorithms and data-processing workflows, together with software licences, delivery, installation, commissioning, maintenance, calibration, technical support and training. Kew will use the platform to generate research data and will have operational access and rights for the project; the supplier retains ownership of the equipment. Installation is planned at Wakehurst in West Sussex.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded directly to PhenoKey B.V. The stated award value is £600,000. The contract period runs from 9 November 2026 to 31 August 2028, and the award was published on 2 October 2026. Kew used a direct award, citing the supplier’s exclusive intellectual property and patented or licensed technology, as well as technical reasons and the absence of reasonable alternatives. The authority says the platform’s validated performance for the project’s required species, compatibility with earlier Kew research and ability to produce comparable results underpin the decision. There is one lot, marked suitable for SMEs. The award is recorded as pending.

This requirement demonstrates demand for specialist plant-phenotyping equipment that combines non-destructive 3D X-ray CT imaging with seed-level longitudinal measurement, proprietary software and research workflows. A credible supplier for comparable work would need to control, or have lawful access to, the relevant hardware, software, algorithms, licences and intellectual property, and provide installation, commissioning, calibration, maintenance, technical support and user training. The buyer’s rationale also makes validated performance for the relevant plant species, compatibility with existing research and comparable data outputs central to the requirement. Suppliers without those technical capabilities or rights are unlikely to meet this buyer’s stated need. The SME suitability designation indicates that smaller businesses may be capable of participating where they can meet the specialised technology, support and delivery requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

RBGKEW1573 phenoTest for SPEED project

Notice Description

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew intends to award a contract for the provision of a custom-built phenoTest 3D X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging platform to support the ARIA-funded SPEED project. The contract will include delivery, installation, commissioning, software licences, maintenance, calibration, technical support and training. The platform will be used to measure dynamic seed and seedling traits at individual-seed level using non-destructive longitudinal 3D X-ray CT imaging. The requirement includes access to the associated proprietary hardware, software, algorithms and processing workflows necessary to generate and analyse the required research data. The supplier will retain ownership of the equipment. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew will receive operational access to the platform and the associated rights required to use the system for project purposes. Delivery, installation and commissioning are required in sufficient time to support project milestones, with installation planned at Wakehurst, West Sussex, United Kingdom.

Procurement Information

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew intends to award this contract directly to PhenoKey B.V. under section 41(1)(a) of the Procurement Act 2023. The authority considers that the direct award justification relating to intellectual property and exclusive rights applies because the requirement depends upon patented and licensed technology that can only be supplied through PhenoKey B.V. Evidence obtained by the authority confirms that the required solution relies upon protected methods, proprietary software, algorithms and associated intellectual property rights that are necessary to deliver the required functionality. The authority has concluded that no other supplier can lawfully provide access to the required combination of technology, licences and associated services. The authority also considers that the direct award justification relating to technical reasons applies because only PhenoKey B.V. can provide the required phenoTest 3D X-ray computed tomography platform and there are no reasonable alternatives. The requirement includes non-destructive longitudinal phenotyping of individual seeds and seedlings, integration of proprietary hardware and software, and compatibility with previous Kew research. The platform has been validated for the species required by the project and is required to generate comparable research outputs within the project timescales. Alternative suppliers, products and methods would not provide the required combination of technical capability, validated performance, intellectual property access and research comparability. The authority considers that the exclusivity arises from third-party intellectual property rights and essential technical requirements rather than from any artificial narrowing of the specification. Supporting patent, licensing, technical and no-reasonable-alternatives evidence is retained on the procurement file.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077f8f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093272-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

48 - Software package and information systems

51 - Installation services (except software)

CPV Codes

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

48000000 - Software package and information systems

51000000 - Installation services (except software)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
9 Nov 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
KEW GREEN
Postcode
TW9 3AE
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
Kew
Westminster Constituency
Richmond Park

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PhenoKey B.V.

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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