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Dry dilution refrigerator with anti-vibration system for mK scanning probe microscopy

NPL Management Limited

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

06 Oct 2026 at 09:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NPL Management Limited intends to buy and install a dry, pulse-tube-cooled dilution refrigerator with a vibration-isolated experimental platform for scanning probe microscopy on live superconducting quantum circuits at millikelvin temperatures. The system is for atomic-scale scanning tunnelling and atomic force microscopy; the microscopy unit itself will be supplied and integrated by NPL. The supply includes the refrigerator, low-vibration platform, experimental wiring, vibration-reduction measures, gas handling, pumps and operating electronics. It must support a light-tight, high-coherence environment and meet demanding cooling, vibration, wiring and experimental-space requirements. Delivery and installation are in the United Kingdom. This is laboratory and precision scientific equipment (CPV 38000000).

The procurement is at planning stage: NPL has set out an intention to procure, but there is no invitation to tender yet. NPL is undertaking preliminary market engagement to gauge supplier interest and inform its procurement strategy; responses will not constitute a contract or guarantee participation in the later competition, and respondents bear their own participation costs. The engagement is expected to conclude by 31 October 2026. The planned contract period runs from 1 December 2026 to 1 December 2027, and the system is required to be delivered and installed before March 2028. The procurement is above the applicable threshold. No procedure, award criteria or budgeted value has been set out at this stage. The procurement has one lot.

This is suited to suppliers with experience designing, manufacturing and installing specialist cryogenic systems for demanding laboratory research, particularly dry dilution refrigerators and millikelvin vibration isolation. The system must reach 20 mK or below at the isolated experimental platform, deliver at least 400 microwatts cooling power at 100 mK, and demonstrate stringent horizontal and vertical vibration limits during factory testing witnessed by NPL staff. Suppliers should be able to integrate vibration mitigation, microwave and DC wiring, a light-tight mixing chamber, automation, and any pumps, gas handling or electronics needed for operation. The refrigerator must accommodate custom experimental apparatus, fit within a single laboratory footprint and meet the stated weight limit. The requirements allow collaboration with other suppliers for vibration-isolation solutions, but those measures must be included in the complete system.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Dry dilution refrigerator with anti-vibration system for mK scanning probe microscopy

Notice Description

NPL is seeking a solution for a new dry dilution refrigerator ("the system") in which scanning probe microscopy experiments will be carried out at mK temperatures on live superconducting quantum circuits. NPL wishes to use the system for atomic scale scanning tunnelling microscopy and atomic force microscopy. As such, the system must provide a low vibration and high coherence environment (light tight mixing chamber volume). Significant emphasis will be placed on the lowest possible vibration levels that can be achieved. It is anticipated that a solution provides both a mK vibration isolation system and various vibration mitigation measures at room temperature. The scope includes the dilution refrigerator having a low-vibration experimental platform at mK temperature, the experimental wiring tree to the mK experimental platform, and any room-temperature or low-temperature vibration reducing measures, any gas handling system, vacuum pumps or electronics required to operate the system. The system does not include the scanning probe microscopy unit itself, this will be provided and integrated by NPL. In the below we denote "the mixing chamber plate" as the standard plate of the dilution refrigerator that reaches the specified temperature and cryogenic performance. We further specify an "experimental plate" which may be the same as the "mixing chamber plate" in some implementations, but it may for some vibration isolating solutions be a separate plate on which the experimental scanning probe system and apparatus is mounted. It is in that case assumed that the experimental plate is thermally anchored to the mixing chamber plate and reaches the same base temperature, and sits within the enclosed mixing chamber shielded volume. Description * A "dry" pulse tube cooled dilution refrigerator that does not use liquid nitrogen or liquid helium to achieve cooling to 4 Kelvin. * The dilution refrigerator shall reach a base temperature of 20 mK or less at the vibration-isolated experimental platform, and the dilution refrigerator shall have a cooling power at 100 mK of 400 microWatts or more. * The experimental space below the experimental plate (if not the same as the mixing chamber plate, if e.g. a mK vibration isolation solution is used) shall be at least of diameter 360 mm, with a vertical height available for custom experiments of at least 300 mm. * The experimental plate shall be able to hold an experimental load of up to at least 1.5 kg, for custom experimental apparatus NPL wishes to install. Higher load will score higher. * Of particular importance is the achieved vibration levels at the experimental plate at 20mK or less, which shall have a demonstrated vibration level both horizontally and vertically during continuous operation of the dilution refrigerator as follows: o Any individual peaks in the vibration spectrum (horizontal and vertical) measured from 10 Hz up to at least 1000 Hz not exceeding a peak-to-peak displacement of 0.5 nm/rtHz. o An integrated noise power spectral density in the frequency range 1-10 Hz shall not exceed a root mean square amplitude of 10 nmrms. o The scoring in the evaluation of supplier bids will be heavily weighted against rewarding bids that significantly exceed the above minimum requirement specifications for vibrations. o NPL recognises that laboratory vibration levels may differ and as such will set the requirement that the above vibration levels shall be achieved in factory testing, with NPL staff present during final testing to witness compliance. o Any cold vibration isolation solution must remain well-thermalised and reach a base temperature of 50 mK or less and capable of conducting the active heat loads from piezoelectric nanopositioners. In order to achieve these specifications the supplier may chose to include a range of different solutions, and may work with other suppliers to provide external (room temperature) or internal (mK) vibration isolation solutions. No such solution shall be regarded as optional and must be part of the total quoted price of the base system and the above vibration specifications are to be measured and evidenced with all the solution(s) in place. Furthermore, all these vibration reducing measures must be achievable and demonstrated with all the subsequent requirements listed below in place. * There shall be at least 12 coaxial input lines (high attenuation) for microwave signals up to 18 GHz down to the experimental plate. * There shall be at least 2 coaxial output lines (low attenuation) for microwave signals up to 18 GHz down to the experimental plate. * The system should be upgradeable in the future to at least a total of 24 coaxial lines. * There shall be at least 6 different DC wiring twisted-pair looms down to the experimental plate, each of 24 twisted pair wires going from room temperature to the mixing chamber plate operational up to +-220V for use with piezo positioners, cryogenic slip stick positioner motion, nanopositioner capacitive position readouts and experimental current and voltage biasing of experiments. Each loom shall have an interruptable connection at the 4K stage where custom filters can be installed. * Have an entirely sealed mixing chamber volume with a mixing chamber plate shield that is anchored to the mixing chamber plate in a sealed manner. The mixing chamber plate and wiring through it shall also be entirely shielded such as to prevent light from passing through. * Operation of the dilution refrigerator, shall be fully automatable and the automated scripts user configurable. * The total space taken up by the entire system shall not exceed 4.0m (w) x 4.0m (l) x 3.5m (h), excluding compressors for the pulse tube cooler(s). It will be expected that the entire system can fit in a single laboratory with this dimension (but any PT compressors can be located elsewhere). * The total weight of the system shall not exceed 2000 kg. * The system shall be delivered and installed before March 2028. This is not an evaluation exercise and nothing in this activity will limit the opportunity to engage in any follow-on ITT

Planning Information

Prior to initiating the procurement, NPL wishes to establish the level of market interest in the forthcoming procurement process. Suitably qualified and experienced suppliers who may have an interest in this project are invited to register for this Preliminary Market Engagement. The purpose of the market engagement is to help assess the reaction of the market, to understand risks and future possibilities to ensure a future proofed procurement strategy and resulting contract. Any submission received in response to this exercise will not constitute any contractual agreement between the respondent and NPL. Nor does the receipt of a response automatically include the respondent in the procurement process. A Tender Notice will be issued to the market which will provide details of how the relating procurement documentation can be accessed and timescales for submission of the said tender response. Interested parties shall bear their own costs of participation in this Market Engagement of whatever nature. NPL shall not be liable for the costs, expenses or losses howsoever arising (including, without limitation, any loss of profit or other economic loss incurred), regardless of the outcome of the Market Engagement. The next stage in the process will be considered once this exercise has been completed.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078153
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094099-2026
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
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Oct 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2026 - 1 Dec 2027 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
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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