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Supply and Delivery of a Digital Microscope

Orkney Islands Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

08 Jul 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Orkney Islands Council has initiated a public procurement tender titled "Supply and Delivery of a Digital Microscope," aimed at acquiring a high-specification digital microscope for various analytical applications. As of the tender stage, this procurement opportunity falls under the general public services category and education in the region UKM65. All submissions must be made electronically, with the deadline set for 10th August 2026 at 12:00 Z. Following this, the award period commences immediately on the same day. The process is being conducted through an open procedure, and the estimated contract value is £100,000 GBP. Potential suppliers must adhere to the set submission guidelines outlined on the Public Contracts Scotland website.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for companies specialising in advanced optical equipment and digital microscopy technology. It provides a platform for businesses to showcase innovative solutions that cater to detailed scientific analyses, particularly within archaeological and environmental science fields. Companies excelling in providing analytical tools for bone and shell diagenetic alterations, biometric analysis, and dental microwear analyses will find this tender especially advantageous. The project spearheaded by the University of the Highlands and Islands signifies a strategic initiative that encourages collaboration with research and conservation facilities, making it an attractive proposition for businesses aiming to expand their footprint in these cutting-edge scientific domains.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Supply and Delivery of a Digital Microscope

Notice Description

The Authority would like to purchase a high specification digital microscope as an alternative to high resolution 3D imaging. It will be used for a wide range of applications such as, animal bone butchery/cut-marks identification and analysis, diagenetic alterations to bone and shell, and biometric analysis of carbonised plant materials.

Lot Information

Lot 1

As an overview the Archaeology and the Environment Science Facility (AEONS) is a major new strategic partnership led by the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) Orkney. It is funded by a major Research Council UK (RCUK) grant from the AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council) Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) funding scheme. AEONS would like to purchase a high specification digital microscope as an alternative to high resolution 3D imaging. It will be used for a wide range of applications such as, animal bone butchery/cut-marks identification and analysis, diagenetic alterations to bone and shell, and biometric analysis of carbonised plant materials. In addition to this it will provide specialist services in dental microwear analysis which are currently under-resourced across the UK. Other applications may include the analysis of microwear on stone tools, manufacturing and use-wear marks on a wide variety of objects and artefacts. Objects analysed using this microscope will range from tiny, charred plant seeds and cereal grains to large cattle femurs, skulls or other bones, stone tools and pottery vessels. The handheld camera option will also allow for much larger specimens (e.g. large pieces of waterlogged wood, carved stone objects or elements of whale skeletons) to be analysed under magnification.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000836957
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL559763
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

38510000 - Microscopes

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£100,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£100,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
10 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Orkney Islands Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
KIRKWALL
Postcode
KW15 1NY
Postcode Area
Kirkwall
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM65 Orkney Islands
Local Authority
Orkney Islands
Electoral Ward
Kirkwall East
Westminster Constituency
Orkney and Shetland

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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