---
title: "Invitation to tender for the supply and maintenance of a microhardness tester"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-4cc76acb-eff3-49c8-995a-8c3540904f41"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-4cc76acb-eff3-49c8-995a-8c3540904f41"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-4cc76acb-eff3-49c8-995a-8c3540904f41.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-4cc76acb-eff3-49c8-995a-8c3540904f41.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY"
published: "2019-02-15"
---

# Invitation to tender for the supply and maintenance of a microhardness tester

Buyer: UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-4cc76acb-eff3-49c8-995a-8c3540904f41

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-4cc76acb-eff3-49c8-995a-8c3540904f41)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-4cc76acb-eff3-49c8-995a-8c3540904f41.json)

## Summary

The UK Atomic Energy Authority is seeking tenders for the supply and maintenance of a microhardness tester as part of its Materials Testing Laboratory project, aimed at advancing the testing of materials for fusion power and extreme environments. This direct procurement process is designated as a single tender action below the threshold, with the tender period closing on 1st March 2019. The total contract value is £40,000, and the goods will be delivered to the South East region of England, with the contract expected to commence on 29th March 2019 and conclude on 30th April 2019.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in laboratory equipment and testing apparatus, particularly those able to supply and maintain high-precision machinery suitable for a variety of materials, including metals and ceramics. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to participate, as the procurement specifically recognises the suitability of SMEs. Companies with expertise in microhardness testing and related technologies would be well-positioned to compete for this contract.

## Notice

UKAEA is constructing a new facility, the Materials Testing Laboratory, to test advanced materials for use in fusion power or other extreme environments. As part of this facility we require a microhardness tester for our research. The basic performance parameters of the microhardness tester are set out below: 1. Range of applied loads between at least 0.1 to 1kg. 2. Translatable table with excellent stage resolution and positioning accuracy. 3. Suitable for range of material hardnesses: Machine will be used a range of materials including copper and tungsten metal alloys as well as ceramic materials. Please see attached documents for further information.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/aee7f205-67d0-483d-ba81-4962737e6c44 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Single tender action (below threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 15 Feb 2019 |
| Submission deadline | 1 Mar 2019 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 29 Mar 2019 - 30 Apr 2019 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £40,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY |
| Locality | ABINGDON |
| Post town | Oxford |
| Postcode | OX14 3DB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC |
| Local authority | South Oxfordshire |
| Electoral ward | Sandford & the Wittenhams |
| Westminster constituency | Didcot and Wantage |
| Delivery location | TLJ South East (England) |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 38500000 - Checking and testing apparatus

## Release History

- 15 Feb 2019 at 15:07 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/aee7f205-67d0-483d-ba81-4962737e6c44

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/aee7f205-67d0-483d-ba81-4962737e6c44
  15th February 2019 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/b2f15cae-34cd-4a9d-9165-39f6c5e46476
  Microhardness tester tender pack

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-4cc76acb-eff3-49c8-995a-8c3540904f41. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-4cc76acb-eff3-49c8-995a-8c3540904f41.json.