---
title: "UKRI-4747 Cryogen-Free Bottom-Loading Dilution Refrigerator System"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04e6b9"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04e6b9"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e6b9.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e6b9.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION"
published: "2025-05-27"
---

# UKRI-4747 Cryogen-Free Bottom-Loading Dilution Refrigerator System

Buyer: UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04e6b9

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## Summary

The procurement process initiated by UK Research & Innovation involves the acquisition of a Cryogen-Free Bottom-Loading Dilution Refrigerator System, intended for the STFC PPD research programme. This tender, classified under laboratory, optical, and precision equipment, falls within the category of goods. The system will be delivered to Oxfordshire, a key location for ongoing experiments. The contracting process has reached the award stage, with ICE Oxford Ltd confirmed as the supplier following an open procedure. The contract was signed on 14th May 2025, with a tender process previously being active around February 2025, with a closing date for submissions on 31st March 2025.

This procurement provides significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in laboratory and scientific equipment, particularly those with expertise in cryogenic systems. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that specialise in precision equipment and have experience in research and experimental setups involving ultra-low temperatures are well-positioned to compete. The project's focus on supporting research for the QUEST-DMC dark matter experiment highlights an avenue for enterprises that innovate in the fields of physics and engineering, potentially allowing them to expand their influence within the realm of advanced scientific research.

## Notice

This procurement forms the basis for part of a research programme being undertaken at PPD and funded through a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, a prestigious funding opportunity designed to support exceptional researchers and innovators in the UK. Dedicated funds were awarded as part of this grant specifically for this procurement, since there is currently no such system within PPD for this research to take place. The system delivered through this procurement will be used for dedicated photosensor R&D at ultra-low temperatures (~20 mK) for the QUEST-DMC dark matter experiment, one of many experiments that STFC PPD is involved in. The system will be housed inside a larger, cryogenic laboratory ("cryolab") currently being established within PPD. The cryolab will provide a dedicated cryogenic facility within PPD for liquid noble R&D in the context of low background rare-event searches, and is applicable to several different experiments that PPD is presently involved with. The cryolab is in the process of being refurbished to specifically satisfy the requirements for this system, therefore there should be no service conditions or environmental factors that should impact the operation or performance of this system.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

This procurement forms the basis for part of a research programme being undertaken at PPD and funded through a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, a prestigious funding opportunity designed to support exceptional researchers and innovators in the UK. Dedicated funds were awarded as part of this grant specifically for this procurement, since there is currently no such system within PPD for this research to take place.The system delivered through this procurement will be used for dedicated photosensor R&D at ultra-low temperatures (~20 mK) for the QUEST-DMC dark matter experiment, one of many experiments that STFC PPD is involved in. The system will be housed inside a larger, cryogenic laboratory ("cryolab") currently being established within PPD. The cryolab will provide a dedicated cryogenic facility within PPD for liquid noble R&D in the context of low background rare-event searches, and is applicable to several different experiments that PPD is presently involved with. The cryolab is in the process of being refurbished to specifically satisfy the requirements for this system, therefore there should be no service conditions or environmental factors that should impact the operation or performance of this system.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027598-2025 |
| 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 | 27 May 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 31 Mar 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 13 May 2025 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £204,000 |
| Lots value | £204,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £203,990 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION |
| Locality | SWINDON |
| Post town | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN2 1FL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Rodbourne Cheney |
| Westminster constituency | Swindon North |
| Delivery location | TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ICE OXFORD |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 27 May 2025 at 09:05 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027598-2025
- 21 Feb 2025 at 14:05 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006794-2025

## Notice URLs

- http://www.iceoxford.com
- http://www.ukri.org
- https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=953363435
- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Swindon:-Laboratory%2C-optical-and-precision-equipments-%28excl.-glasses%29./MNJA5M4ZFX

## 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-04e6b9. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e6b9.json.