--- title: "Soft Market Testing in Relation to the Procurement of a Time of Flight Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-8adc41b9-8b37-426a-9ddc-6ee7c9459cc0" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-8adc41b9-8b37-426a-9ddc-6ee7c9459cc0" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-8adc41b9-8b37-426a-9ddc-6ee7c9459cc0.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-8adc41b9-8b37-426a-9ddc-6ee7c9459cc0.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON" published: "2020-01-09" --- # Soft Market Testing in Relation to the Procurement of a Time of Flight Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-8adc41b9-8b37-426a-9ddc-6ee7c9459cc0 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-8adc41b9-8b37-426a-9ddc-6ee7c9459cc0) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-8adc41b9-8b37-426a-9ddc-6ee7c9459cc0.json) ## Summary The University of Southampton is currently in the planning stage for a public procurement process titled "Soft Market Testing in Relation to the Procurement of a Time of Flight Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer." This initiative falls under the laboratory, optical, and precision equipment industry, specifically coded as CPV 38000000. Engagement activities ended on 23rd January 2019, with the tender documentation published on 9th January 2020. The procurement method is tender, and the delivery location is in the South East region of the United Kingdom. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in supplying advanced laboratory equipment, particularly those specialising in mass spectrometry and related technologies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate. Firms that offer innovative solutions for geochemical analysis or have experience with high-precision scientific instruments would be particularly well-suited to compete for future procurement opportunities arising from this initiative. ## Notice This Soft Market Test is for the supply of a Time of Flight Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (TOF-ICP-MS) for the Geochemistry Group of the University of Southampton based at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton. NOCS is the integrated collaboration between the Southampton-based part of the National Oceanography Centre, and the University of Southampton's Ocean and Earth Science Department. The Centre hosts one of the world's largest groups of scientists and engineers devoted to research, teaching and technology development in ocean and earth science. The instrument we seek will complement our existing instrument capabilities (including Multi-collector ICP-MS, Sector Magnet ICP-MS and Quad ICP-MS).The requirements are for a TOF-ICP-MS instrument that will provide accurate and precise simultaneous quantitative analyses of trace and major elements in a wide range of sample matrices introduced via solution, laser ablation and other coupled devices. Sample types will include both natural materials (rocks and minerals, seawater, other natural waters, biological materials, etc.) and synthetic materials (nanoparticles, manufactured products, etc.). Additional information: The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool (In-Tend: https://intendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton) to manage this soft market testing exercise and to communicate with participating organisations. All documentation in relation to this tender can be downloaded from InTend. Participating organisations are advised that there will be no hard copy documents issued to organisations and all communications with the University including the submission of Soft market testing questionnaires will be conducted via In-Tend. Regular monitoring of In-Tend is the responsibility of the participating organisation. If you are not already registered as a supplier with the University of Southampton, you will need to register in In-Tend in order to access the soft market testing documentation. Once you have logged in: click on 'Tenders'; locate the relevant project; and click 'View details'. Once you are in the project screen, you will be able to register your company against the project and access all documentation by clicking 'Express interest'. Further instructions for the submission of soft market testing questionnaires are below. To submit your return, please follow the instructions below: 1. Log In 2. Click 'Tenders' 3. Locate the relevant project 4. View Details 5. Click on the tab relating to the relevant project stage (e.g. 'Soft Market Testing') 6. Click on the 'Attach documents' button and upload your return. 7. Check ALL your response documents are uploaded and displayed in the "My tender return" panel. The system will only permit your organisation to make one return. 8. Click the red "Submit return" button. Please note that, to preserve the integrity of the soft market testing exercise, all queries must made be via the correspondence function within In-Tend. The deadline for the return of completed Soft market testing questionnaires is 23rd January 2020 (12.00 noon). Please Note: This early engagement notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-procurement market engagement and does not constitute any commitment to undertake any procurement in the future. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to the soft market testing exercise and a response to this notice does not guarantee any invitation to participate in this exercise or any future procurement. This notice does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, supplies or works mentioned in this notice and the University will not accept any proposals offered in response to this notice. The University of Southampton is not liable for any costs, fees, or expenses incurred by any party in replying to this early engagement notice and/or providing a soft market testing exercise response. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/333fe037-6309-4169-a8b3-b0eb6bb131d2 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 9 Jan 2020 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 23 Jan 2019 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON | | Locality | SOUTHAMPTON | | Post town | Southampton | | Postcode | SO17 1BJ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight | | ITL 3 | TLJ32 Southampton | | Local authority | Southampton | | Electoral ward | Portswood | | Westminster constituency | Southampton Test | | Delivery location | TLJ South East (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) ### Codes - 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) ## Release History - 9 Jan 2020 at 13:41 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/333fe037-6309-4169-a8b3-b0eb6bb131d2 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/333fe037-6309-4169-a8b3-b0eb6bb131d2 9th January 2020 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - https://intendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton ## 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-b5fd17-8adc41b9-8b37-426a-9ddc-6ee7c9459cc0. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-8adc41b9-8b37-426a-9ddc-6ee7c9459cc0.json.