Award

Purchase of a Two-Photon Microscope

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

04 Jun 2025 at 00:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Edinburgh has completed the procurement process for the purchase of a Two-Photon Microscope, with the contract awarded to Bruker UK Ltd. Classified under the education category, this procurement falls under goods for the UK DRI UOE Centre's medical research in Edinburgh, Scotland (UKM75 region). The tender, identified by NCA31108, employs a limited procurement method, specifically an award procedure without prior publication due to technical reasons unique to Bruker's product. The contract was signed on 29th May 2025, valued at £305,520.72, marking the award stage of the procurement cycle.

This tender presents growth opportunities for businesses specialising in medical research equipment, particularly sophisticated imaging systems like multiphoton microscopes. The rationale for the procurement method suggests a niche market focusing on innovative technologies. Companies with expertise in cutting-edge optical and photonic solutions that can offer comparable features could potentially be well-suited to compete in similar future tenders. Larger enterprises with advanced technical capabilities are likely to benefit most from collaborations in this market segment, given the specialised nature of the equipment involved.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Purchase of a Two-Photon Microscope

Notice Description

Purchase of a Two-Photon Microscope

Procurement Information

Bruker's multiphoton microscope, Ultima 2Pplus, have features that are crucial to the UK DRI UOE Centre's medical research and that are unique to this system as compared to other commercially available two-photon microscopes: 1. It is critical to rapidly monitor the activity of neurons located at different cortical depth (layers). To this purpose, the Ultima 2p Plus includes a unique, patented electrically tunable lens (ETL) capable of fast imaging in multiple depths (450um travel with Nikon 16x objective with variable step sizes) without physically moving the microscope objective. As such, this technology is much faster than conventional piezos devices used in other commercial systems that mechanically move the objective up and down. Importantly, the ETL allows for the decoupling of the stimulation and imaging path, so that the photostimulated neurons and the imaged neurons can be a different depth. This utilizes Bruker Patent: US11243394B2, CN112997103B. 2. Collection efficiency of the system is key to optimised imaging depth and reducing the laser power needed at the sample. The Bruker 2P Plus system has 14 degree collection angles in all configurations and 2 inch collection optics to ensure diverging photons end up hitting the photo cathode of the detectors. The detectors translate in Z along with the objective, maintaining optimal distance from the back aperture of the objective, further increasing efficiency. This distance is not increased even with the objective is mounted off-axis. Bruker is unique in these all working in conjunction and without these, there is an increased risk of photodamage through using more laser power to compensate. 3. It's important that the system can be upgraded with a range of functionalities in the future, to avoid obsolescence and future higher investments in new systems. Uniquely, the Bruker 2P Plus system can be outfitted with a voltage imaging module and a Spatial Light Modulator, which would allow rapid closed loop works in the future.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000800656
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN531752
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

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
£305,520 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Jun 20258 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
29 May 20259 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
Contact Name
James Clarke
Contact Email
jclarke5@ed.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH1 1HT
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BRUKER

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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