---
title: "sSNOM Upgrade for University of Manchester"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-047d59"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-047d59"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-047d59.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-047d59.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY"
published: "2024-07-15"
---

# sSNOM Upgrade for University of Manchester

Buyer: NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-047d59

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## Summary

The National Physical Laboratory, based in the UK, has awarded a contract for an upgrade project titled "sSNOM Upgrade for University of Manchester" in the laboratory, optical, and precision equipment category. The procurement process was a limited award procedure without prior publication. The main objective of this contract is to upgrade the existing cryo-neaSCOPE system to enable nanoscale THz-TDS and pump-probe imaging and spectroscopy.

This tender provides a significant opportunity for businesses involved in laboratory equipment and precision technology. Companies specialising in laboratory equipment manufacturing, optical technologies, and precision instrument development would be well-suited to compete. The successful completion of this project can lead to potential growth opportunities for companies offering innovative solutions in the laboratory and optical equipment sector.

## Notice

Upgrade enabling time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy for cryogenic THz-TDS near-field measurements. The pump laser must be synchronized with the existing THz-TDS spectroscopy and cryogenic near-field systems. The upgrade includes a laser amplifier unit with free-space coupled optical output at 780nm, 100MHz rep rate, pulse energy >1.3nJ, >140mW output power, and customized fiber patch cord for temporal overlap of pump-probe pulses. Additionally, a transmission module enables static pump-probe measurements in transmission, where the sample is pumped via a diffraction-limited beam from the bottom and probed by amplitude- & phase-resolved near-field measurements (pseudo-heterodyne detection) from the top.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Upgrade for cryo-neaSCOPE+xs s-SNOM system can only be provided by the base system's manufacturer - attocube systems AG. Needs and requirements include: 1. Ultra-fast spectroscopy software module for THz-TDS * Enables pump-probe spectroscopy for THz-TDS in neaSCAN * Provides software control of all delays and components for ready-to-use results * Allows acquisition of time-resolved spectra with down to 40 fs temporal resolution 2. Synchronized Transmission-Mode Detection Module * Enables bottom-side sample illumination in transmission-mode with broadband parabolic mirror (NA=0.44) * Enables simultaneous detection of optical near-field amplitude & phase * Motorized parabolic mirror for beam-alignment * Stationary focal point with respect to AFM-tip * Variable illumination spot size (ca. 2mm - 100mm) * Suitable for plane-wave illumination * Exchangeable beam-splitter mount * Supports stationary focal point with respect to sample position (bottom-side illumination synchronized with sample scanner) * Support AFM scan-speed: up to 20 mm/s @ highest spatial resolution 3. Software Development Kit for neaSCAN 4. THz Pump-Probe operation * additional delay line & synchronized software control for pump probe * amplifier unit with free-space coupled optical output at 780nm with amplifier unit mounted on optical table next to neaSNOM microscope * 100MHz rep rate, pulse energy >1.3nJ, >140mW output power * Customized fiber patch cord for temporal overlap of pump-probe pulses

### Procurement Information

Attocube systems AG is the only company worldwide, who manufactures a scattering-type near-field optical microscope (our pre-upgrade system) that enables simultaneous background-free imaging and spectroscopy on nanometre length scales in the visible-IR-THz 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 for multispectral imaging * Patented phase shifting detection to extract relative phase These patents and the exclusive design have enabled the neaSCOPE system to conduct amplitude and phase-resolved vector field, reflection, and absorption mapping with nanoscale spatial resolution. It is currently the only solution provider on the market that enables dual-port s-SNOM operation combined with a high NA parabolic mirror, which is essential for low SNR THz TDS and pump-probe measurements. In particular, attocube systems AG is the only company who can upgrade the existing cryogenic s-SNOM system (cryo-neaSCOPE) based at University of Manchester to perform nanoscale THz-TDS and pump-probe imaging and spectroscopy at low temperature. Therefore, the same manufacture of the pre-upgraded s-SNOM system is required to ensure: * All upgrade subsystems must be compatible with the existing microscope controls (both in hardware and software), while still being amplitude- & phase-resolved and background-free. * Pump laser must be electronically synchronized with the existing cryogenic THz-TDS spectroscopy system * Excitation wavelength must be compatible with optical windows in the cold shroud of the existing cryo-neaSCOPE system

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021633-2024 |
| 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 | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 15 Jul 2024 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 14 Jul 2024 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £262,370 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| 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 | 1 |
| Supplier names | ATTOCUBE SYSTEM |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 15 Jul 2024 at 10:51 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021633-2024

## 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-047d59. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-047d59.json.