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Purchase of Class II Biosafety Cabinet

University Of Edinburgh

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

10 Aug 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

25 Jun 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F14 - Corrigendum
Award

18 Jun 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Edinburgh procured a bespoke, sterile biosafety enclosure for the Edinburgh Genome Foundry, a research facility expanding its automated platform for handling mammalian cells. The requirement is for a Class II biosafety cabinet adapted to automated processing, with a fully configurable design that can support future expansion. It must fit within a height-restricted laboratory space of 2.5 metres, provide 100% fresh-air intake with no air recirculation, and prevent heat, humidity and gas build-up that could cause contamination. The design also avoids top-mounted air intakes, exhaust systems and costly building modifications such as external ducting. This is a goods procurement, classified under laboratory, scientific and technical equipment. Delivery and installation are for the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh.

The procurement has been awarded and the contract is active. Erlab was selected as the supplier for the single lot, following a limited procedure without prior publication of a call for competition. The University stated that Erlab was the only supplier identified as able to meet the specialist technical, operational and financial requirements. Evaluation was based entirely on technical quality, with price carrying no weighting. One bid was received, from an SME based outside the UK, and it was submitted electronically. The contract was signed on 18 June 2026 for £160,000. The requirement was covered by the Government Procurement Agreement and treated as outside the scope of the applicable directive. The procurement relates to an earlier planning process and the requirement was amended to clarify that a bespoke enclosure, rather than a standard cabinet, was required.

This procurement is relevant to specialist laboratory equipment manufacturers, biosafety cabinet suppliers and integrators of automated cell-processing systems. A credible competitor would need to design and configure bespoke sterile containment equipment around an existing automated platform, while allowing for later expansion. The requirement demonstrates the importance of fitting complex equipment into a laboratory with a ceiling height of 2.5 metres and avoiding building works, ducting and other costly infrastructure changes. Suppliers should be able to provide a 100% fresh-air intake system with no recirculation, filtered exhaust and effective control of heat, humidity and gas build-up to protect against contamination. Experience delivering technically compliant equipment for research laboratories, together with the capacity to manage specialist installation and adaptation, would be important.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Purchase of Class II Biosafety Cabinet

Notice Description

Procurement of a bespoke and sterile Biosafety cabinet. University of Edinburgh believes Erlab is the only supplier capable of meeting the University's specialist requirement

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Edinburgh Genome Foundry (EGF) is a unique facility specialising in the generation of large numbers of genetic constructs to equip cells with new or improved functionality. Currently, the facility is undergoing major expansion to incorporate a fully automated, fully-enclosed platform for the automated handling of mammalian cells. As part of this research the University is looking to procure a bespoke, adaptable and sterile biosafety cabinet which needs to fit into a height restricted space (2.5m maximum ceiling height). 100% fresh air intake solution with no re-circulation is required in the room to prevent heat, humidity and gas build-up inside the cabinet in order to prevent contamination. The University also has a limited budget and requires the cabinet to be installed without any costly building modifications such as ducting and the ability to be modified in the future in response to changing facility demand. The University intends to award the contract to Erlab who are able to fully meet the University's specification and budget.

Procurement Information

Following detailed technical engagement with the suppliers identified as potentially capable of meeting Edinburgh Genome Foundry's requirement, it was established that Erlab is the only supplier able to provide a compliant solution that satisfies all of the University's essential technical, operational and financial requirements. Erlab will provide a fully bespoke and highly configurable enclosure that can be adapted both to the current automated platform and to future expansion requirements. The proposed solution will fit into the limited space available, with an overall height of just under 2.5m, which it achieves by eliminating the need for top mounted air intakes or exhaust systems. This reduces the need for costly building modifications or ductwork installation. The system has 0% air recirculation, drawing air from surrounding environment and exhausts filtered air directly into the room, which reduces the need for external ducting. 100% fresh air intake solution with no re-circulation is required in the room to prevent heat, humidity and gas build-up inside the cabinet in order to prevent contamination. This is particularly important within the physical constraints of the EGF laboratory and contributes significantly to the overall affordability and feasibility of the project.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000835055
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG561981
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, 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
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
£160,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
18 Jun 20262 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
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH1 1HT
Postcode Area
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

Erlab

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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