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High Throughput Single Cell Spatial Instrument

University Of Edinburgh

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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17 Jul 2026 at 01:00

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

The University of Edinburgh bought a high-throughput in situ spatial transcriptomics platform for its Institute for Regeneration and Repair Single-cell and Spatial Biology Facility. The system is intended for whole-transcriptome profiling directly on tissue sections at single-cell and subcellular resolution. Required functionality includes automated imaging, transcript decoding and on-board processing, supporting a shared university research core facility. The equipment is a goods purchase for delivery in Edinburgh. It is designed to support whole-transcriptome, targeted and bespoke assays on one platform, work with both FFPE and fresh frozen tissue, detect low-abundance transcripts reliably, and produce portable, analysis-ready data without requiring a vendor-hosted cloud workspace. The requirement builds on the facility’s existing spatial transcriptomics capability and research priorities.

This procurement has been completed and awarded as a limited negotiated procedure without prior publication of a competition notice. There was one bid, submitted electronically by a non-EU supplier. The single lot was evaluated equally on technical quality and price, with each weighted at 50%. 10X Genomics Inc. was selected as supplier. The contract is active and was signed on 16 July 2026 for £697,170.10. The award was made on the basis that only one supplier could meet the full combination of technical and operational requirements, including whole-transcriptome and targeted workflows, large imageable area, suitable throughput, integrated imaging and analysis, and portable data outputs. The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement.

This requirement indicates demand for specialist spatial biology instrumentation serving a university research core facility rather than a general laboratory equipment supplier. A credible future competitor would need proven high-throughput in situ spatial transcriptomics technology capable of whole-transcriptome profiling at single-cell and subcellular resolution, with large-area imaging and throughput suitable for multiple users. The platform would need to support whole-transcriptome, targeted and bespoke assays, reliable detection of low-abundance transcripts, and a common workflow for FFPE and fresh frozen tissue without extensive optimisation. Integrated imaging, transcript decoding and analysis, portable analysis-ready outputs, and independence from a mandatory vendor cloud environment are important differentiators. Experience supporting implementation, staff training, user support and data handling would strengthen a competing offer.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

High Throughput Single Cell Spatial Instrument

Notice Description

The Institute for Regeneration and Repair Single-cell and Spatial Biology Facility at the University of Edinburgh has received funding to purchase a is a high-throughput in situ spatial transcriptomics platform for whole-transcriptome profiling directly on tissue sections, with automated imaging, transcript decoding and on-board processing.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Institute for Regeneration and Repair Single-cell and Spatial Biology Facility at the University of Edinburgh has received funding to purchase a high-throughput in situ spatial transcriptomics platform for whole-transcriptome profiling directly on tissue sections, with automated imaging, transcript decoding and on-board processing.

Procurement Information

The Institute for Regeneration and Repair Single-cell and Spatial Biology Facility at the University of Edinburgh has received funding to purchase a high-throughput in situ spatial transcriptomics platform for whole-transcriptome profiling directly on tissue sections, with automated imaging, transcript decoding and on-board processing. To meet UoE research priorities and the requirements of a shared University research core facility, any system purchased must meet a defined set of technical and operational criteria, including whole-transcriptome profiling at single-cell and subcellular resolution, large imageable area and throughput suitable for the facility's user base, the ability to run whole-transcriptome, targeted and bespoke assays on a single platform, reliable low-abundance transcript detection, a unified workflow across FFPE and fresh frozen tissue without specific optimisation, fully integrated on-instrument imaging, decoding and analysis, and portable, analysis-ready data outputs that do not depend on a mandatory vendor-hosted cloud workspace. Only one supplier is able to meet this full combination of requirements, and no alternative system on the market meets all of the criteria in combination., As a result, the Negotiated Procedure without Prior Publication procedure has been used for this purchase. Purchasing the system also allows for added value; the facility can build on the existing expertise of the supplier's spatial transcriptomics workflows. The facility also has a system-in-situ spatial transcriptomics platform used for targeted spatial gene expression profiling. A platform built on related in situ technology and chemistry, which will support efficient implementation, staff training, user support and data handling. The proposed system will build on the foundational capabilities of the In-Situ platform while extending the workflow to large-scale whole-transcriptome spatial profiling.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000837737
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL560408
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

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

CPV Codes

33110000 - Imaging equipment for medical, dental and veterinary use

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£697,170 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
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

10X Genomics, Inc.

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL560408
    High Throughput Single Cell Spatial Instrument - The Institute for Regeneration and Repair Single-cell and Spatial Biology Facility at the University of Edinburgh has received funding to purchase a is a high-throughput in situ spatial transcriptomics platform for whole-transcriptome profiling directly on tissue sections, with automated imaging, transcript decoding and on-board processing.

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