---
title: "CEFAS22-53 Invitation to Tender for provision of a chemical imaging and spectral analysis system"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-8c803c44-4dab-4e60-8dc1-a21fe1c59306"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-8c803c44-4dab-4e60-8dc1-a21fe1c59306"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-8c803c44-4dab-4e60-8dc1-a21fe1c59306.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-8c803c44-4dab-4e60-8dc1-a21fe1c59306.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL"
published: "2022-12-02"
---

# CEFAS22-53 Invitation to Tender for provision of a chemical imaging and spectral analysis system

Buyer: DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-8c803c44-4dab-4e60-8dc1-a21fe1c59306

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## Summary

The Marine Litter Team at Cefas, under the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) Network eTendering Portal, has recently awarded a contract for the provision of a chemical imaging and spectral analysis system. The tender, titled "CEFAS22-53 Invitation to Tender," falls under the laboratory, optical, and precision equipment category (CPV code: 38000000). Located in the East of England, the contract has an awarded value of £167,467.65 and is in the active stage, with a contract period from December 2, 2022, to March 31, 2023. The procurement method used was an open procedure, and the tender period ended on November 11, 2022.

This tender presents an opportunity for businesses, particularly those providing highly automated Quantum Cascade Laser-based systems, to engage with Cefas in enhancing their capability for the rapid screening of microplastics in environmental samples. Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with experience in developing chemical imaging systems meeting the specified requirements, such as image analysis, polymer identification, and particle characterisation, are well-suited to compete. The emphasis on software ease of use, advanced features, and data export options also offers opportunities for businesses specialising in software development for scientific applications to contribute to Cefas' research goals effectively.

## Notice

The Marine Litter Team at Cefas require a chemical imaging and spectral analysis system to maintain and enhance Cefas' capability for the fast screening of microplastics in environmental samples down to at least 20 m. The proposed system will include an integrated particle characterisation process including size of the particles as well as polymer type by comparison to a built-in library database. Chemical Imaging and spectral analysis system requirements: - have a small footprint as laboratory space is limited. The unit should have a maximum footprint of (W x H x D) of 1000 x 500 x 650 (mm) - be based on Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) combined with scanning optics - be highly automated - not require cooling liquids such as liquid nitrogen, to reduce operating costs - able to image large samples (e.g., 25 mm filters) as well as focusing on specific zones/particles of interest - be able to operate in reflectance and attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mode and should be able to automatically switch between the two modes - support samples on filters applications (e.g., gold, silver or other types of filters) of at least 25 mm diameters - be able to analyse particles down to at least 20 m in size - be provided with a PC with Windows 10 as a minimum and operating software including a full polymer library - include all other related key components such as nitrogen or air compressors Software requirements: - offer software with a fast and easy method creation - include additional features including spectra post-processing options - include search libraries for reliable compound identification with the option of creating in-house libraries - allow for easy exports of data (e.g., MS Excel format) including analytical spectra and library matches

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/576ccb07-94e1-40d5-9c02-0ac409413789 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 2 Dec 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 11 Nov 2022 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 17 Nov 2022 |
| Contract period | 2 Dec 2022 - 31 Mar 2023 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £167,467 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £167,467 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL |
| Locality | LOWESTOFT |
| Post town | Norwich |
| Postcode | NR33 0HT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH6 Suffolk |
| ITL 3 | TLH63 East Suffolk |
| Local authority | East Suffolk |
| Electoral ward | Kirkley & Pakefield |
| Westminster constituency | Lowestoft |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

## Release History

- 2 Dec 2022 at 10:53 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/576ccb07-94e1-40d5-9c02-0ac409413789

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/576ccb07-94e1-40d5-9c02-0ac409413789
  2nd December 2022 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/ba79a6ac-16ba-4a06-9e74-cf1a737ddb5e
  n/a

## Provenance

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