---
title: "National Museums Liverpool Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Analyser for Analysis of Artefacts and Artworks"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-f6057783-ee81-41fd-8547-c425deb7cd24"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-f6057783-ee81-41fd-8547-c425deb7cd24"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-f6057783-ee81-41fd-8547-c425deb7cd24.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-f6057783-ee81-41fd-8547-c425deb7cd24.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NATIONAL MUSEUMS LIVERPOOL"
published: "2021-02-02"
---

# National Museums Liverpool Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Analyser for Analysis of Artefacts and Artworks

Buyer: NATIONAL MUSEUMS LIVERPOOL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-f6057783-ee81-41fd-8547-c425deb7cd24

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## Summary

The procurement process involves the National Museums Liverpool, which is seeking bids for a handheld Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) analyser to analyse artefacts and artworks. The procurement falls under the "Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products" category and is classified as an open procedure, designed for goods. The tender period officially closed on 16 December 2020, with the contract period commencing on 4 January 2021 and expected to conclude by 11 March 2021. The geographical focus for delivery is the North West region of the United Kingdom.

This tender presents lucrative opportunities for businesses specialising in scientific instruments, particularly those that manufacture or supply analytical equipment suitable for museum collections, geology, and environmental analysis. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) would find this tender particularly aligned with their capabilities, especially those with expertise in portable analytical equipment that offers robust data transfer capabilities and compatibility with modern operating systems.

## Notice

Bidders are asked to submit a formal tender for the handheld pXRF analyser for the analysis of artefacts and artworks from the museum collections. NML is looking to procure a handheld pXRF analyser that allows flexible elemental analysis of a wide range of museum collections, including 2D and 3D artworks, with minimal handling of the objects being examined. The pXRF analyser will also be required for the elemental analysis of geological samples, soil samples and for identification of harmful heavy metals and pesticides used historically to preserve biological collections. The handheld pXRF analyser should be able to provide the identification of low elements down to Mg (magnesium) in air and lower elements down to F (fluorine) with the use of a helium purge. The beam window should be of 1um Graphene for the maximum sensitivity to low elements. Due to the nature of historic and archaeological objects most have non-standard compositions and any pXRF should allow for the analysis of spectra on the handheld analyser and remotely. The use of calibration sets for modern alloy, plastics and bulk soil standards will also be required. The provision of and easily switchable use of 3mm and 8mm collimators is essential. The analyser should have the ability to transfer data to a PC via WiFi and/or Bluetooth, as well as by cable. As well as handheld use we also require the pXRF analyser to be easily attached to a range of tripod or stand mounts to present up to flat artworks, such as paintings and paper, and also three-dimensional artworks such as sculpture or objects that are larger still from our collections. In such environments and at such scales, the ability to see the target area for analysis (from the analysers in-built camera(s)), triggering of the pXRF analyser and readout of the resultant spectra and data should be achievable remotely. The pXRF should also be able to be used in vertical and horizontal orientations, with appropriate considerations for safety. The provision of accessories such as work stands with interlocked sample chambers as well as soil feet, carry cases and straps etc. would be desirable. The inclusion of GPS/GLONASS location recording is also of interest although not essential. The control and analysis software for use with the analyser should be compatible with Microsoft Windows 10. Software should be provided for the identification of elemental spectra including ability to carry out deconvolution where results of analysis include overlapping spectra. The ability to be able to apply different calibrations retrospectively to spectra data is preferable. Software that allows for the creation of our own user-created calibration standards is essential. Delivery and installation are to be completed no later than 11th March 2021

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/fc5cb66a-4847-4370-b105-a6795afe09fd |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 2 Feb 2021 |
| Submission deadline | 16 Dec 2020 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 4 Jan 2021 |
| Contract period | 11 Jan 2021 - 31 Mar 2021 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £70,719 |
| 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 | NATIONAL MUSEUMS LIVERPOOL |
| Locality | LIVERPOOL |
| Post town | Liverpool |
| Postcode | L2 2JH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD7 Merseyside |
| ITL 3 | TLD72 Liverpool |
| Local authority | Liverpool |
| Electoral ward | City Centre North |
| Westminster constituency | Liverpool Riverside |
| Delivery location | TLD North West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | LAPQUIP |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products
- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 33000000 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products
- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

## Release History

- 2 Feb 2021 at 11:03 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/fc5cb66a-4847-4370-b105-a6795afe09fd
- 9 Dec 2020 at 15:43 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4b91c371-fe19-4493-b8d8-fff1bf109c5f
- 28 Nov 2020 at 17:50 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4b91c371-fe19-4493-b8d8-fff1bf109c5f
- 26 Nov 2020 at 20:04 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4b91c371-fe19-4493-b8d8-fff1bf109c5f

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/fc5cb66a-4847-4370-b105-a6795afe09fd
  2nd February 2021 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4b91c371-fe19-4493-b8d8-fff1bf109c5f
  9th December 2020 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/2b1b0e06-a5b3-4327-aec3-75388087f5e9
  Tender Specification - pXRF Analyser
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/930c2131-f045-4d3c-b068-540d91a00eef
  Appendix A Form of Tender
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/c5a16f98-f9c0-43a3-9994-88c81b998a62
  Appendix B - NML Procurement Protocol
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/976d4502-d264-4e1a-a72f-91c4b58e35b8
  Tender Specification pXRF analyser
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/98d5640c-de86-4caa-9b66-f505d4cf8ff2
  Q&As

## 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-f6057783-ee81-41fd-8547-c425deb7cd24. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-f6057783-ee81-41fd-8547-c425deb7cd24.json.