This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

25 Sep 2026 at 01:00

Tender

27 Mar 2026 at 00:00

Summary of the contracting process

APUC Limited arranged a UK-wide framework for microscopes and imaging equipment, including supply, servicing, maintenance and repairs, together with related consumables and software. The equipment supports research, teaching and medical applications. Buyers include further and higher education institutions and other public bodies, including participating universities, NHS National Services Scotland, Scotland Excel, the National Galleries of Scotland, the National Records of Scotland and Police Scotland. Seven product areas cover lower-cost teaching microscopes; high-end research microscopes; high-throughput systems; laser-based imaging systems and components; super-resolution microscopes; detectors and cameras; and light sources. The framework is intended for consortium members and associated bodies across the UK. Equipment and services are delivered across the United Kingdom.

The procurement is complete and contracts are active. APUC used an open procedure to establish a framework with up to 50 participants, split into seven lots. The contracts were signed on 4 August 2026, with each lot running for 1,080 days and an option to extend by up to 12 months. Contract values are £10 million for teaching microscopes, £20 million for research microscopes, and £10 million each for high-throughput systems, laser imaging, super-resolution microscopes, detectors and cameras, and light sources. Multiple suppliers were appointed to every lot. Technical quality accounted for 80% of evaluation in six lots and 50% in the teaching microscopes lot; price accounted for the balance. The tender deadline was 6 May 2026. Suppliers had to meet financial standing and insurance requirements, including £5 million employer, public and product liability cover.

This framework demonstrates recurring demand from UK education institutions and public bodies for a broad range of microscopy and imaging products, alongside servicing, maintenance, repairs, consumables and software. Suppliers with specialist product ranges, the ability to support research and teaching applications, and service capacity across the UK are well placed to compete when similar requirements return to market. The seven distinct lots show that suppliers can compete in a defined equipment area rather than necessarily covering the full catalogue. Credible suppliers need robust supply-chain management and tracking, prompt subcontractor payment, and evidence that at least 95% of supply-chain invoices were paid on time in the previous financial year, or a director-signed improvement plan. The buyer also required audited accounts or equivalent evidence of financial standing, and substantial employer, public and product liability insurance. Technical quality was especially important in most lots.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Microscopy and Imaging Equipment

Notice Description

The Authority was seeking Contractor(s) for the provision of supply, servicing, maintenance and repairs of microscopes and imaging equipment plus related consumables and software used in research, teaching and medical applications across the further and higher education sector and other public bodies in the UK. This includes Full and Associate Members, and future members, and their associated and affiliated bodies of the UK higher and further education regional purchasing consortia: - APUC Ltd.(Advanced Procurement for Universities & Colleges): https://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/?#!/members - HEPCW (Higher Education Procurement Consortia Wales): https://www.hepcw.ac.uk/members/ - NEUPC (North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.neupc.ac.uk/join/members/who-are-our-members - NWUPC (North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.nwupc.ac.uk/members/ - LUPC (London Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.lupc.ac.uk/members/our-members/ - SUPC (Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.supc.ac.uk/our-members/ Other participating bodies include: - Scotland Excel and their associate members - NHS National (Scotland) Procurement - Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture - SASA - National Galleries of Scotland - National Records of Scotland - Scottish Police Authority / Police Scotland

Lot Information

Optical Microscopes - Low-End (Teaching)

A variety of low-end optical microscopes, with a price of 10,000 GBP (excl. VAT) and less, suitable for laboratory teaching including, but not be limited to: - Compound Microscopes - upright or inverted equipment featuring optional fluorescence and camera systems for use in teaching, tissue culture analysis and routine applications. - Stereo and/or Zoom Microscopes - equipment featuring optional fluorescence and camera systems, for routine and clinical dissection, sorting, and examination. - Gel Documentation Systems.. Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions requirements.

Laser-based Imaging Systems and Laser Components

Upright or inverted microscopes using laser technology such as Confocal, Spinning Disc, TIRF, Light Sheet and Multi-photon.. Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions' requirements.

Super Resolution and Enhanced Resolution Microscopes

- Deterministic super resolution and stochastic super resolution microscopy equipment such as simulated emission depletion (STED), ground state depletion (GSD), SPDMphymod. - FLIM/FRET systems. - Structured Illumination and other techniques (e.g. array detectors) for super resolution or other methods for achieving sub diffraction optical resolution.. Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions' requirements.

Detectors (including Cameras)

- Specialist camera and detector components for image acquisition in relation to life science applications and materials research. - Other detectors - Photo Multiplier Tubes (PMTs), FLIM.. Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions' requirements.

Light Sources

- Incendescent Lamps - Halogen Bulbs - Arc Lamps - LED Light Sources - Lasers.. Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions' requirements.

Optical Microscopes - High-End (Research)

A variety of high-end optical microscopes, with a price of over 10,000 GBP (excl. VAT), suitable for research including, but not be limited to: - Compound Microscopes - upright or inverted equipment featuring optional fluorescence and camera systems for use in teaching, tissue culture analysis and routine applications. - Stereo and/or Zoom Microscopes - equipment featuring optional fluorescence and camera systems, for routine and clinical dissection, sorting, and examination. - Label Free Holographic Microscopes - Automated Live Cell (extended time lapse) microscopes - Slide scanners.. Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions' requirements.

High-throughput Systems

A variety of high-end systems and associated products that can be used in high-content screening set up. The imaging systems can be laser-based or not. Associated products can be, but not limited to, software for data analysis, automatic sample handling etc.. Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions' requirements.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000823577
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP565327
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

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

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services


CPV Codes

33128000 - Medical laser other than for surgery

38510000 - Microscopes

38634000 - Optical microscopes

38651000 - Cameras

71900000 - Laboratory services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£80,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£30,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
6 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
February 2029

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
APUC 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
STIRLING
Postcode
FK8 2DZ
Postcode Area
Falkirk and Stirling
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM0 Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM02 Perth and Kinross, and Stirling
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Stirling
Electoral Ward
Stirling East
Westminster Constituency
Stirling and Strathallan

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
30
Supplier Names

Appleton Woods Ltd

Be Scientific Ltd

Carl Zeiss Ltd

Edmund Optics Ltd

Evident Europe GmbH - UK Branch

thermo fisher scientific

GT Vision Ltd

K-Tec Microscope Services Ltd

London Laboratory Equipment Ltd

Microscopy Supplies And Consultants Ltd

Nikon UK Limited

Scientific Laboratory Supplies Limited

SciQuip Ltd

Verulam Scientific Ltd

VWR International Ltd

Cairn Research Ltd

Leica Microsystems (UK) Ltd

MetPrep Ltd

Photon Lines Ltd

Best Scientific

Bruker UK Limited

Promega UK Ltd

Revvity (UK) Limited

Fluidigm UK Limited

Sysmex UK Ltd

HORIBA UK Limited

Intelligent Imaging Innovations Ltd

Oxford Nanoimaging Ltd

Photonic Solutions Ltd

TOPTICA Photonics AG

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR552625
    Microscopy and Imaging Equipment - The Authority is seeking Contractor(s) for the provision of supply, servicing, maintenance and repairs of microscopes and imaging equipment plus related consumables and software used in research, teaching and medical applications across the further and higher education sector and other public bodies in the UK. This includes Full and Associate Members, and future members, and their associated and affiliated bodies of the UK higher and further education regional purchasing consortia : - APUC Ltd.(Advanced Procurement for Universities & Colleges): https://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/?#!/members - HEPCW (Higher Education Procurement Consortia Wales): https://www.hepcw.ac.uk/members/ - NEUPC (North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.neupc.ac.uk/join/members/who-are-our-members - NWUPC (North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.nwupc.ac.uk/members/ - LUPC (London Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.lupc.ac.uk/members/our-members/ - SUPC (Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.supc.ac.uk/our-members/ Other participating bodies include: - Scotland Excel and their associate members - NHS National (Scotland) Procurement - Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture - SASA - National Galleries of Scotland - National Records of Scotland - Scottish Police Authority / Police Scotland
  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP565327
    Microscopy and Imaging Equipment - The Authority was seeking Contractor(s) for the provision of supply, servicing, maintenance and repairs of microscopes and imaging equipment plus related consumables and software used in research, teaching and medical applications across the further and higher education sector and other public bodies in the UK. This includes Full and Associate Members, and future members, and their associated and affiliated bodies of the UK higher and further education regional purchasing consortia: - APUC Ltd.(Advanced Procurement for Universities & Colleges): https://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/?#!/members - HEPCW (Higher Education Procurement Consortia Wales): https://www.hepcw.ac.uk/members/ - NEUPC (North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.neupc.ac.uk/join/members/who-are-our-members - NWUPC (North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.nwupc.ac.uk/members/ - LUPC (London Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.lupc.ac.uk/members/our-members/ - SUPC (Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.supc.ac.uk/our-members/ Other participating bodies include: - Scotland Excel and their associate members - NHS National (Scotland) Procurement - Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture - SASA - National Galleries of Scotland - National Records of Scotland - Scottish Police Authority / Police Scotland

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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