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Award of contract for specialised high pressure freezer - University of Aberdeen

University of Aberdeen

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

08 Oct 2026 at 01:00

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

The University of Aberdeen bought a specialised high-pressure freezer for preparing biological specimens for electron microscopy. The system vitrifies specimens under extreme pressure to preserve their ultrastructure for later analysis. The equipment is for the university’s laboratory in Aberdeen and must fit its existing electron microscopy workflow and sample-preparation equipment. This is a specialist laboratory equipment purchase, classified under CPV 39711120.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to Leica Microsystems (UK) Ltd. The contract value is £550,000, and it was signed on 8 October 2026. The purchase was handled as a limited procedure without a prior competition: the university stated that technical and compatibility requirements meant only Leica’s system could integrate with its existing equipment and workflows without substantial changes. There was one lot and one bid. Price was the stated award criterion. The contract is active.

This award shows demand for high-pressure freezing equipment that supports biological specimen preparation for electron microscopy. To be credible for a similar requirement from the University of Aberdeen, a supplier would need to demonstrate that its system can vitrify specimens under extreme pressure and preserve ultrastructure, while integrating with the university’s existing microscopy workflow and sample-preparation equipment. Compatibility is central: the buyer’s stated rationale was that alternative systems would require significant changes to equipment, procedures or laboratory infrastructure. Suppliers with evidence of fit to an established laboratory setup would therefore be better placed to compete when this specific requirement returns to market. The award also shows that the buyer used a procedure without prior competition on technical grounds. No particular accreditation or additional capacity requirement is identified.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Award of contract for specialised high pressure freezer - University of Aberdeen

Notice Description

Award of contract for a high-pressure freezer capable of vitrifying biological specimens under extreme pressure conditions to preserve ultrastructure for subsequent electron microscopy analysis.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Award of contract for a high-pressure freezer capable of vitrifying biological specimens under extreme pressure conditions to preserve ultrastructure for subsequent electron microscopy analysis.

Procurement Information

The contract is being awarded without competition on the grounds that the required technical characteristics and compatibility requirements can only be met by Leica Microsystems. Alternative systems would necessitate significant changes to existing equipment configurations, operating procedures and laboratory infrastructure. The Leica EM ICE high-pressure freezing system has been identified as the only solution capable of integrating with the University's existing electron microscopy workflow and associated sample preparation equipment without requiring substantial modification to laboratory facilities, workflows, or existing instrumentation.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000845240
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566285
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

39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products

CPV Codes

39711120 - Freezers

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£550,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Oct 20262 weeks 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 Aberdeen
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
ABERDEEN
Postcode
AB24 3FX
Postcode Area
Aberdeen
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM5 North Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Delivery Location
TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Local Authority
Aberdeen City
Electoral Ward
Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen
Westminster Constituency
Aberdeen North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Leica Microsystems (UK) Ltd

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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