---
title: "Tender For The Supply And Installation of a High-throughput Droplet-based Microbial Single Cell Screening And Sorting Platform"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0407eb"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0407eb"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0407eb.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0407eb.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM"
published: "2024-01-23"
---

# Tender For The Supply And Installation of a High-throughput Droplet-based Microbial Single Cell Screening And Sorting Platform

Buyer: THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0407eb

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0407eb)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0407eb.json)

## Summary

The University of Birmingham has completed a procurement process for the supply and installation of a high-throughput droplet-based microbial single cell screening and sorting platform. This tender falls under the laboratory, optical and precision equipment category. The University, acting as the buyer, specified a versatile platform to support research projects and establish a facility for high-throughput cell sorting and screening. The procurement method was an open procedure, with a total contract value of 776,949.4 GBP. The procurement stage is now in the award phase, with Carl Stewart Limited being the active supplier who won the contract on 5th January 2024.

This procurement opportunity presents a chance for businesses in the laboratory equipment industry to engage with the University of Birmingham and cater to their research needs. Suppliers with expertise in developing high-throughput cell sorting and screening platforms would be well-suited to compete for this tender. The University's emphasis on compatibility with various microorganisms and high-purity cell sorting offers a niche market for businesses specialising in laboratory equipment. Business growth opportunities lie in providing innovative solutions that align with the University's requirements and support their ongoing and future research endeavours.

## Notice

The University of Birmingham invites tenders for supply of a versatile platform for encapsulation of millions of single microbial cells in micrometer-sized liquid or gel-based droplets for high-throughput droplet sorting and selection. This platform will be operated by the Institute of Microbiology and Infection (IMI) at the University of Birmingham (UoB). The platform will support existing and planned research projects, and will lead to the establishment of a facility to extend analytical capability for UoB and its collaborators, and will increase the capacity for high-throughput cell sorting and screening, across the UK. The platform should be able to rapidly produce large numbers of droplets, with the capability to adjust reagent input. For cell screening and sorting, the platform should be equipped with multiple lasers and fluorescence detection wavelengths, as well as forward-scattered light (FSC) and side-scattered light (SSC), due to the vast range of planned applications. The platform must be compatible with aseptic techniques for handling various microorganisms, of pathogenic and non-pathogenic varieties, and therefore be easy to clean. The platform should ensure damage-free sorting of cell droplets, even with fragile cell types. The platform must have the capability to dispense a single droplet into microwell plates, and be able to sort cells with high purity (i.e. >90%) in high-throughput fashion (approx. 1000 events per second). The instrument should be capable of using a variety of sheath fluid types, and should be compatible with custom made or easily accessible consumables, including Fluorinate-oil. This project may be funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) or; - European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) or; - Research Councils UK (RCUK), the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The University of Birmingham invites tenders for supply of a versatile platform for encapsulation of millions of single microbial cells in micrometer-sized liquid or gel-based droplets for high-throughput droplet sorting and selection. This platform will be operated by the Institute of Microbiology and Infection (IMI) at the University of Birmingham (UoB). The platform will support existing and planned research projects, and will lead to the establishment of a facility to extend analytical capability for UoB and its collaborators, and will increase the capacity for high-throughput cell sorting and screening, across the UK. The platform should be able to rapidly produce large numbers of droplets, with the capability to adjust reagent input. For cell screening and sorting, the platform should be equipped with multiple lasers and fluorescence detection wavelengths, as well as forward-scattered light (FSC) and side-scattered light (SSC), due to the vast range of planned applications. The platform must be compatible with aseptic techniques for handling various microorganisms, of pathogenic and non-pathogenic varieties, and therefore be easy to clean. The platform should ensure damage-free sorting of cell droplets, even with fragile cell types. The platform must have the capability to dispense a single droplet into microwell plates, and be able to sort cells with high purity (i.e. >90%) in high-throughput fashion (approx. 1000 events per second). The instrument should be capable of using a variety of sheath fluid types, and should be compatible with custom made or easily accessible consumables, including Fluorinate-oil. This project may be funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) or; - European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) or; - Research Councils UK (RCUK), the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002236-2024 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Jan 2024 |
| Submission deadline | 3 Nov 2023 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 5 Jan 2024 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,025,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £776,949 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM |
| Locality | BIRMINGHAM |
| Post town | Birmingham |
| Postcode | B15 2TT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham |
| Local authority | Birmingham |
| Electoral ward | Edgbaston |
| Westminster constituency | Birmingham Edgbaston |
| Delivery location | TLG31 Birmingham |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | CARL STEWART |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 23 Jan 2024 at 12:24 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002236-2024
- 4 Oct 2023 at 13:48 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029279-2023

## Notice URLs

- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofbirmingham/aspx/Home
- https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/index.aspx

## 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-0407eb. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0407eb.json.