Award

Purchase of Femtosecond Laser System

HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process was conducted by Heriot-Watt University for the purchase of a Femtosecond Laser System, categorised under the Education industry. The contract, located in Riccarton, Edinburgh, is presently at the Award stage, having been completed. This procurement process took place under a limited method, with the award being finalised on 25th June 2025. The procurement method did not involve a prior publication of a call for competition due to the specialised nature of the equipment, which is critical for the University's research activities.

This tender, with a contract value of £130,002, presents significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in high-tech and educational equipment. Companies capable of providing cutting-edge research equipment, particularly those that can meet specific technical requirements and performance standards like those detailed for the laser system, would be well-suited to participate in similar procurements in the future. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a focus on bespoke manufacturing for research can position themselves competitively in this niche market. Photonic Solutions Ltd, as the supplier, highlights the importance of niche specialisation in securing such contracts.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

Purchase of Femtosecond Laser System

Notice Description

Purchase of Femtosecond Laser System

Lot Information

Lot 1

This is a specialist piece of laser equipment and there are no other suppliers available in the market to supply this type of equipment in the form factor required. The femtosecond laser system meets critical performance criteria necessary for our University laser microfabrication research, including specific pulse duration, repetition rate, and wavelength flexibility. Comparable systems from other vendors have been evaluated but were found not to meet the required performance standards or compatibility with our experimental design. The principal purpose of the contract is to acquire goods in connection with research undertaken by the University

Procurement Information

This is a specialist piece of laser equipment and there are no other suppliers available in the market to supply this type of equipment in the form factor required. The Femtosecond Laser System supplied by Photonic Solutions Limited consists of the following: 10 W model. Includes integrated pulse picker, integrated power supply and air-water or water-water chiller; Centre wavelength 1030+/-10 nm, Max. output power 10 W at 50 - 1000 kHz, Tunable pulse duration <290 fs - 10 ps, Max. pulse energy >0.2 mJ at 1 - 50 kHz, Pulse energy stability <0.5 % RMS deviation over 24 h; Includes upgrade to 1MHz maximum rep rate & user training The principal purpose of the contract award is to acquire goods in connection with research undertaken by the University

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000802659
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL534442
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website 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
SME

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
£130,002 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Jul 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
25 Jun 20258 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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Richard Kinghorn
Contact Email
r.g.kinghorn@hw.ac.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1314513704

Buyer Location

Locality
RICCARTON, EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH14 4AP
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
Pentland Hills
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh South West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PHOTONIC SOLUTIONS

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-r6ebe6-0000802659-2025-07-10T00:00:00Z",
    "date": "2025-07-10T00:00:00Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-r6ebe6-0000802659",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "org-102",
            "name": "Heriot-Watt University",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Heriot-Watt University"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Moyen House, Research Park North, Heriot-Watt University",
                "locality": "Riccarton, Edinburgh",
                "region": "UKM75",
                "postalCode": "EH14 4AP"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Richard Kinghorn",
                "email": "R.G.Kinghorn@hw.ac.uk",
                "telephone": "+44 1314513704",
                "url": "http://"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer",
                "centralPurchasingBody"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "Body governed by public law",
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "09",
                        "description": "Education",
                        "scheme": "COFOG"
                    }
                ],
                "url": "http://hw.ac.uk"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "org-384",
            "name": "Photonic Solutions Ltd",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Photonic Solutions Ltd"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Unit 2.2 Quantum Court, Heriot Watt University Research Park",
                "locality": "Edinburgh",
                "region": "UKM75",
                "postalCode": "EH14 4AP"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "telephone": "+44 01316648122"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "url": "http://"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "org-104",
            "name": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Edinburgh"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "url": "http://"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody",
                "mediationBody"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "name": "Heriot-Watt University",
        "id": "org-102"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "HWU-UK-2425-198-00",
        "title": "Purchase of Femtosecond Laser System",
        "description": "Purchase of Femtosecond Laser System",
        "status": "complete",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "deliveryLocation": {
                    "description": "Heriot-Watt University Riccarton Campus Edinburgh EH14 4AS"
                },
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKM75"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethod": "limited",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "This is a specialist piece of laser equipment and there are no other suppliers available in the market to supply this type of equipment in the form factor required. The Femtosecond Laser System supplied by Photonic Solutions Limited consists of the following: 10 W model. Includes integrated pulse picker, integrated power supply and air-water or water-water chiller; Centre wavelength 1030+/-10 nm, Max. output power 10 W at 50 - 1000 kHz, Tunable pulse duration <290 fs - 10 ps, Max. pulse energy >0.2 mJ at 1 - 50 kHz, Pulse energy stability <0.5 % RMS deviation over 24 h; Includes upgrade to 1MHz maximum rep rate & user training The principal purpose of the contract award is to acquire goods in connection with research undertaken by the University",
        "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "JUL534442",
                "documentType": "awardNotice",
                "title": "Purchase of Femtosecond Laser System",
                "description": "Purchase of Femtosecond Laser System",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL534442",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "This is a specialist piece of laser equipment and there are no other suppliers available in the market to supply this type of equipment in the form factor required. The femtosecond laser system meets critical performance criteria necessary for our University laser microfabrication research, including specific pulse duration, repetition rate, and wavelength flexibility. Comparable systems from other vendors have been evaluated but were found not to meet the required performance standards or compatibility with our experimental design. The principal purpose of the contract is to acquire goods in connection with research undertaken by the University",
                "status": "complete",
                "hasOptions": false
            }
        ],
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "D_MANUF_FOR_RESEARCH",
                "description": "The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development under the conditions stated in the directive",
                "scheme": "TED_PT_AWARD_CONTRACT_WITHOUT_CALL"
            }
        ],
        "classification": {
            "id": "38000000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
        }
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "HWU-UK-2425-198-00",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "org-384",
                    "name": "Photonic Solutions Ltd"
                }
            ],
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "HWU-UK-2425-198-00",
            "awardID": "HWU-UK-2425-198-00",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amount": 130002,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "dateSigned": "2025-06-25T00:00:00Z"
        }
    ],
    "language": "EN",
    "description": "(SC Ref:802659)",
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "1483",
                "measure": "bids",
                "value": 1,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "1484",
                "measure": "smeBids",
                "value": 1,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "1485",
                "measure": "foreignBidsFromEU",
                "value": 0,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "1486",
                "measure": "foreignBidsFromNonEU",
                "value": 1,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "1487",
                "measure": "electronicBids",
                "value": 1,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ]
    },
    "links": [
        {
            "rel": "canonical",
            "href": "https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000802659"
        }
    ],
    "noticetype": "PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice"
}