---
title: "Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of an Ultramicrotome for Histopathology"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0492a1"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0492a1"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0492a1.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0492a1.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST"
published: "2024-08-21"
---

# Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of an Ultramicrotome for Histopathology

Buyer: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0492a1

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## Summary

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has completed the procurement process for the supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, and post-warranty maintenance of an ultramicrotome for histopathology. This tender fell under the Laboratory, optical and precision equipment industry category and took place in Cambridge, specifically at the Trust's location. The procurement followed a limited method, negotiated without publication of a contract notice, citing technical reasons and the need for products manufactured for research purposes. Key dates include the contract signing on 21 August 2024.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for firms specialising in highly technical laboratory and precision equipment. The nature of the procurement, which requires sophisticated, specialised instruments, suggests that companies with expertise in histopathology equipment would be well-suited to compete. The awarded contract to Leica Microsystems (UK) Limited highlights the market availability for businesses capable of providing innovative, high-quality laboratory solutions. Moreover, the specific requirements underscore the importance of advanced technical capabilities and the potential for future, similar procurements within the healthcare sector.

## Notice

Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of an Ultramicrotome for Histopathology

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The Transmission Electron Microscope service processes approximately 900 cases per year and acts as a regional and supra-regional service for nephrology, in particular glomerulonephritis, and muscle diseases. CUH is currently in the process of tendering for a replacement of digital Transmission Electron Microscope and intends to replace the existing ultramicrotome to complement the new digital technology. The ultramicrotome must fulfil the following essential requirements: - The ultramicrotome must include a microscope with 0.8 x objective lens microscope and consist of a base unit with a motorised segment arc and knife block, camera, control and processing unit. In addition, a stereo microscope must be mounted onto the base unit. - The system should supply a dedicated 35deg Ultra 3.0mm Auto Knife. - The system shall be provided with instrument table, active damping plate and antistatic device. - There must be an appropriate control and processing unit with associated software to allow for ease of use and user specific settings in routine operation. - The control unit must consist of a capacitive touch panel with interactive and configurable screen and optional camera integration, an ergonomic design with intuitive push button control of key parameters for sectioning, a swipe function for task specific display configuration, an infrared mouse and USB connections. The system must also provide the following essential functionalities: - Auto alignment of the block face and knife which can reduce the loss of precious material and shorten user training time. The ultramicrotome should be able to provide high precision in aligning block face and knife via motorized controls of segment arc and knife block that ensures both knife and sample are safe. - Automated trimming mode which allows users to trim the entire sample block face in a single run. Sample with parallel edges can be trimmed in short time and the potential damage to the block face can be minimized. - Enable targeted trimming of fluorescent regions of interest by using a mirror. - Consist of a cutting speed of up to 100 mm/s. - Consist of a specimen arm advance of up to 2500 nm with the knife stage. - Include a touchscreen system control through a user-friendly graphical user interface. - Offer upgradable software packages that allow to adapt the ultramicrotome configuration to specific application needs.

### Procurement Information

The Trust believes that only the UC Enuity - Advanced Instrument M80 from Leica Microsystems contains and complies with all of the essential requirements and functionalities described at II.2.4 above.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026696-2024 |
| 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 | 21 Aug 2024 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 20 Aug 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 | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST |
| Locality | CAMBRIDGE |
| Post town | Cambridge |
| Postcode | CB2 0QQ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| ITL 3 | TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC |
| Local authority | Cambridge |
| Electoral ward | Queen Edith's |
| Westminster constituency | South Cambridgeshire |
| Delivery location | TLH12 Cambridgeshire CC |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (UK |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 21 Aug 2024 at 13:54 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026696-2024

## Notice URLs

- http://www.cuh.nhs.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-0492a1. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0492a1.json.