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260027 Supply, delivery, commission, installation, consumables, & maintenance of a Femtosecond Laser Workstation for applications in metals

Queen's University Belfast

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

05 Oct 2026 at 14:38

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

02 Oct 2026 at 14:12

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Queen’s University Belfast intends to buy and install a femtosecond laser workstation for the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) in Belfast. The package covers supply, delivery, commissioning, installation, consumables and maintenance. The laser system will establish an ultrafast processing capability for precision micromachining and laser welding of metals and engineering materials. Intended uses include micro-drilling, micro-cutting, surface texturing and structuring, thin-film patterning, precision joining and advanced manufacturing processes. It is intended to support both research and industrial development, working with materials including stainless steel, aluminium, copper, titanium and nickel alloys, as well as precious metals, polymers, ceramics and multi-material assemblies. The purchase is classified as goods; the equipment is an industrial laser.

This procurement is at the planning stage: Queen’s has stated an intention to buy the equipment, but this is not an invitation to tender and does not commit the university to a formal procurement. The estimated value is £750,000 excluding VAT (£900,000 including VAT). The university expects the contract to run from 1 April 2027 to 3 April 2028, with a possible extension to 1 April 2033. A future procurement notice is expected on 4 January 2027. Queen’s is undertaking preliminary market engagement to understand available solutions, supplier capability, lead times and commercial considerations. Interested suppliers are invited to complete a questionnaire through the university’s InTend platform by 1 November 2026; the university may invite respondents to further discussions. Engagement is voluntary and is not required to take part in a later tender.

The requirement is likely to suit manufacturers and specialist suppliers of ultrafast laser processing equipment, particularly those able to deliver an integrated workstation and provide commissioning, installation, consumables and ongoing maintenance. Suppliers should be well placed to demonstrate that their systems can support precision micromachining and laser welding across a broad mix of metals, engineering materials and multi-material assemblies. The intended users span university research and industrial development, so suppliers whose equipment can serve both environments may be relevant. The planned market engagement gives suppliers a chance to explain what systems the market can provide, whether they can meet the anticipated requirement, likely lead times and the commercial profile. Queen’s may use feedback to shape its procurement decisions; taking part does not guarantee a later contract or require the buyer to adopt suggestions.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

260027 Supply, delivery, commission, installation, consumables, & maintenance of a Femtosecond Laser Workstation for applications in metals

Notice Description

AMIC is seeking to establish a state-of-the-art ultrafast laser processing capability focused on precision micromachining and laser welding of metals and engineering materials. The equipment will support research and industrial projects involving micro-drilling, micro-cutting, surface texturing, structuring, thin-film patterning, precision joining and next-generation manufacturing processes. The system will be used for both research and industrial development activities and should provide flexibility across a broad range of materials including stainless steel, aluminium, copper, titanium, nickel alloys, precious metals, polymers, ceramics and multi-material assemblies.

Planning Information

AMIC is expanding its core capabilities in Digital Factory, Smart Design, Sustainable Polymers and Composites, Nanotechnology and Photonics. As part of this project, Queen's University Belfast is seeking expressions of interest from suppliers as we wish to procure a Femtosecond Laser Workstation. Queen's staff wish to engage with suppliers prior to procuring this equipment to: 1 - gain a better understanding of what the market can offer and if the market can respond to a tender meeting our requirements. 2 - identify potential suppliers able to provide the requirement. 3 - understand potential lead times. 4 - gain an understanding of the commercial profile for the requirement. A pre-market engagement questionnaire has been published here: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/queensuniversitybelfast/aspx/Home. Interested parties are asked to complete and return this questionnaire via the InTend platform within 30 days of this notice. Queen's may then contact suppliers for further discussion of the information received in the questionnaire. Queen's do not guarantee that they will speak to every supplier who submits a return. Participation in the pre-market engagement exercise is not a pre-requisite to participation in any future tender exercise, however, the information provided may be used to inform decisions around the tender exercise. Queen's welcome all participation in this Pre Market Engagement exercise. This Pre Market Engagement exercise is not a call for competition and does not commit Queen's to proceed with a formal procurement. Queen's is not obligated to adopt supplier feedback into the process.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077fd3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093886-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

38636100 - Lasers

38636110 - Industrial lasers

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Oct 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
4 Jan 20273 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 3 Apr 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Queen's University Belfast
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT7 1NN
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

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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