---
title: "CAN - sSNOM for University of Manchester"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-037636"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-037636"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-037636.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-037636.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY"
published: "2022-12-20"
---

# CAN - sSNOM for University of Manchester

Buyer: NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-037636

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-037636)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-037636.json)

## Summary

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has completed a procurement process for a scattering-type near-field optical microscope (VIS-neaSCOPE) for the University of Manchester. The process was carried out under a limited procurement method, without prior publication of a call for competition. The contract was awarded to attocube systems AG. The procurement was for laboratory, optical, and precision equipment, specifically a unique microscope system with patented technologies for high precision imaging and spectroscopy. The contract has a total value of £395,278.96 and was signed on 29th November 2022.

This tender opportunity presents a niche market entry for businesses specializing in laboratory and precision equipment. The awarded contract provides attocube systems AG with an exclusive opportunity due to their unmatched expertise in manufacturing the required scattering-type near-field optical microscope. This contract indicates a specific demand for technical precision and innovation, making it suitable for companies with advanced optical and spectroscopic technologies. Businesses looking to expand into the laboratory equipment sector or enhance their technological capabilities in precision imaging and spectroscopy would find this tender conducive to business growth.

## Notice

NPL has a requirement for a scattering-type near-field optical microscope (VIS-neaSCOPE) that enables simultaneous background-free imaging and spectroscopy on nanometre length scales in the visible range.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

A scattering-type near-field optical microscope (VIS-neaSCOPE) that enables simultaneous background-free imaging and spectroscopy on nanometre length scales in the visible range. - Patented parabolic mirror design for focusing and collection of light - Patented dual-port design to allow two beams of light to be focused on the atomic force microscope (AFM) tip for nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy - Patented signal processing for optical background suppression - Patented pseudo-heterodyne detection (PsHEt) technology for background suppression - Patented interferometric design (nano-FTIR) for background-free optical detection technology and simultaneous detection of optical amplitude and phase and hyperspectral imaging - Patented high speed holography (HSH) for multispectral imaging - Patened phase shifting (PhS) detection to extract relative phase - Optimised scanning probe microscope system that can be combined with mechanical and electrical measurements - Built-in optical imaging and spectroscopy software modules, as well as data visualisation and analysis software - Position sensors for motorised parabolic mirror axes to enable alignment-free focusing of a laser beam to the AFM tip - Visible and NIR illumination units, which can be integrated and coupled into both the room-temperature and cryogenic temperature s-SNOM system.

### Procurement Information

Absence of competition for technical reasons. VEAT ref: 2022/S 000-029139 Attocube is the only company worldwide, who manufactures a scattering-type near-field optical microscope (VIS-neaSCOPE) that enables simultaneous background-free imaging and spectroscopy on nanometre length scales in the visible range. Their exclusive design works with the following patents: - Patented parabolic mirror design for focusing and collection of light - Patented dual-port design to allow two beams of light to be focused on the atomic force microscope (AFM) tip for nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy - Patented signal processing for optical background suppression - Patented pseudo-heterodyne detection (PsHEt) technology for background suppression - Patented interferometric design (nano-FTIR) for background-free optical detection technology and simultaneous detection of optical amplitude and phase and hyperspectral imaging - Patented high speed holography (HSH) for multispectral imaging - Patend phase shifting (PhS) detection to extract relative phase These patents and the exclusive design have enabled the VIS-neascope system to conduct amplitude and phase-resolved vector field, reflection and absorption mapping with nanoscale spatial resolution. It is currently the only system on the market that enables dual-port operation combined with a high NA parabolic mirror, which is essential for low SNR pump-probe measurements in the visible range. The VIS-neascope system is also the only system offering pseudoheterodyne background-free detection of the amplitude and phase of the near-field signal up to the 5th harmonic order, which is another essential requirement for s-SNOM in the visible range. In addition, the vis-neaSCOPE offers the following unique technical specifications: - Optimised scanning probe microscope system that can be combined with mechanical and electrical measurements - Built-in optical imaging and spectroscopy software modules, as well as data visualisation and analysis software - Position sensors for motorised parabolic mirror axes to enable alignment-free focusing of a laser beam to the AFM tip - Visible and NIR illumination units, which can be integrated and coupled into both the room-temperature and cryogenic temperature s-SNOM system. The system is also flexible and can be upgraded to operate in other wavelength ranges (out to THz range), perform electrical measurements, nano-PL, nano-Raman and photothermal expansion mapping in the future. In particular, neaspec is the only company who can upgrade the existing cryogenic s-SNOM system (cryo-neaSCOPE) based at University of Manchester and integrate a visible illumination unit to perform nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy at low temperature.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036071-2022 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 20 Dec 2022 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 16 Oct 2022 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £855,778 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY |
| Locality | TEDDINGTON |
| Post town | Twickenham |
| Postcode | TW11 0LW |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI7 Outer London - West and North West |
| ITL 3 | TLI75 Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames |
| Local authority | Richmond upon Thames |
| Electoral ward | Teddington |
| Westminster constituency | Twickenham |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 2 |
| Supplier names | ATTOCUBE SYSTEM; ATTOCUBE SYSTEMS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 20 Dec 2022 at 15:34 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036071-2022
- 17 Oct 2022 at 10:50 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029139-2022

## Notice URLs

- http://www.npl.co.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-037636. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-037636.json.