---
title: "240000"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02f169"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02f169"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02f169.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02f169.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE"
published: "2021-10-28"
---

# 240000

Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02f169

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## Summary

The Ministry of Defence is undertaking a procurement process for the supply and setup of a Cytek Aurora Cytometer, valued at £240,000. The procurement is classified under the goods category, specifically in the industry of scientific instruments. The current stage of the process is at the award level, with the contract signed on 28th October 2021, for delivery to Porton Down, Salisbury, in the UK. This procurement was executed through a limited negotiated procedure without prior publication, citing technical reasons related to redundancy and scientific rigour as the driving rationale.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in high-precision scientific equipment, particularly those that manufacture or supply cytometers and related technologies. Companies that can demonstrate the ability to provide an identical unit from the same manufacturer as the currently utilised system will find themselves well-positioned to compete. Given the tender's focus on maintaining operational continuity for critical scientific experiments, suppliers that offer reliable support and expertise in cytometer technology will be favoured.

## Notice

Supply of Cytek Aurora Cytometer

### Procurement Information

Redundancy DSTL currently utilises a CyTek Aurora, which is a high specialised piece of equipment that works well. However when experiments are designed for this equipment and it breaks/malfunctions DSTL has no other system as capable to run those samples until the system is fixed. If that takes longer than expected then DSTL's experimental samples may be ruined and not viable. Having a second system would mean DSTL can take those samples and run them on that system instead and therefore not lose the experimental data associated with that experiment. If DSTL were to purchase a different cytometer then it would not be possible to directly run the samples on this as 1. It may require a different setup 2. DSTL may not have the same technical specification to run those samples 3. DSTL may need to generate further controls for the experiment due to the different technical setups of the instruments (which may not be possible). Therefore having an identical machine from the same manufacturer is necessary for full redundancy of the capability. Scientific Rigour Machines from two different manufacturers are fundamentally not the same, they utilise different components and use different types of parts, detectors etc. This means that if DSTL starts an experiment on one system and it breaks then DSTL has a different system to run those samples on DSTL we cannot guarantee the data generated will be the same (assuming DSTL can run them on a different machine see redundancy comments). Having identical systems also means DSTL can run parallel studies with both machines and have data that will all be comparable as the system are the same spec work in the same way, utilise the same parts etc.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027132-2021 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Negotiated without publication of a contract notice |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 28 Oct 2021 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 27 Oct 2021 |
| 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 | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE |
| Locality | SALISBURY |
| Post town | Not specified |
| Postcode | N/A |
| Country | Not specified |
| ITL 1 | Not specified |
| ITL 2 | Not specified |
| ITL 3 | Not specified |
| Local authority | Not specified |
| Electoral ward | Not specified |
| Westminster constituency | Not specified |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | FLOWCEL CYTOMETRIC ENGINEERING |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 38434510 - Cytometers

## Release History

- 28 Oct 2021 at 21:45 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027132-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.centralenquiries@dstl.gov.uk

## 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-h6vhtk-02f169. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02f169.json.