---
title: "Procurement of Rack Washer for Constrained Laboratory Environment - Preliminary Market Engagement"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0553e2"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0553e2"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0553e2.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0553e2.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX(THE)"
published: "2025-06-26"
---

# Procurement of Rack Washer for Constrained Laboratory Environment - Preliminary Market Engagement

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX(THE)  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0553e2

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## Summary

The University of Sussex is in the planning stage of a procurement process to acquire a cage and rack washer for its Biomedical Research Facility in Falmer, Brighton. This initiative stems from the need to negotiate specific structural constraints, notably the 100mm maximum pit depth at the facility. The procurement, estimated at approximately £425,000 excl. VAT, entails the supply, installation, and commissioning of laboratory equipment under CPV codes 38434540 and 42920000. Suppliers are invited to engage in a preliminary market exploration, voluntarily submitting information on their capabilities before the response deadline of 10th July 2025. This process aims to inform the university's strategy and assess the viability of a competitive tender or potentially a direct award.

This procurement presents growth opportunities for suppliers specialising in biomedical equipment, industrial cleaning machinery, and similar environments facing spatial constraints. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are specifically identified as suitable to participate. Businesses with expertise in designing equipment for restricted lab spaces or those experienced in innovative modifications to adapt to unique structural challenges are well-positioned to respond. Given the complexity introduced by the architectural limitations, suppliers offering tailored solutions and those with previous experience in installations constrained by pit depth are particularly encouraged to explore this engagement.

## Notice

The University of Sussex is undertaking preliminary market engagement to better understand the availability of equipment solutions that can meet a specific set of technical and structural constraints within our Biomedical Research Facility. We are particularly interested in cage and rack washers capable of operating within a 100mm maximum pit depth, due to the presence of significant structural constraints that preclude deeper pit depths and structural alterations. This notice is issued to: * Seek information from suppliers about their capability to meet these requirements. * Understand any technical or commercial developments in the market that may affect the procurement approach. * Assess whether a competitive process remains viable or whether the technical constraints may lead to a compliant direct award.

### Planning Information

1. Contracting Authority Details
Name: University of Sussex
Address: Sussex House, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RH
Contact Point: Claire Hutchinson
________________________________________
2. Description of Intended Procurement
Title: Cage and rack washer for the Biomedical Research Facility (BRF).
Estimated Value: Approx. £423,502 (inclusive of VAT)
Procurement Type: Supply, installation, and commissioning of laboratory equipment
CPV Code(s): 38434540 - Biomedical Equipment Additional CPV Code 42920000 - Industrial Cleaning Machinery
________________________________________
3. Purpose of the Engagement
The University of Sussex is undertaking preliminary market engagement to better understand the availability of equipment solutions that can meet a specific set of technical and structural constraints within our Biomedical Research Facility.
We are particularly interested in cage and rack washers capable of operating within a 100mm maximum pit depth, due to the presence of significant structural constraints that preclude deeper pit depths and structural alterations.
This notice is issued to:
• Seek information from suppliers about their capability to meet these requirements.
• Understand any technical or commercial developments in the market that may affect the procurement approach.
• Assess whether a competitive process remains viable or whether the technical constraints may lead to a compliant direct award.
________________________________________
4. Market Engagement Format
Interested suppliers are invited to respond in writing to the questions set out in Section 6 below. Responses may be followed up with clarification calls or site visits if required.
This is not a call for competition. Participation in this engagement is voluntary and will not affect the supplier's ability to participate in any future procurement.
________________________________________
5. Background Information
The BRF is a live, regulated facility with significant architectural constraints. A structural engineering investigation has confirmed that modifying the pit depth (currently 100mm) would require substantial and disruptive structural interventions. We are therefore exploring whether compliant cage and rack washers exist that function fully within this constraint.
________________________________________
6. Information Requested from Suppliers
Please respond to the following:
1. Do you offer a cage and rack washer capable of operating within a maximum 100mm pit depth?
2. What are the design, manufacturing, installation, weight and maintenance requirements for your solution?
3. Have you supplied similar solutions in constrained laboratory or animal research environments?
4. Can your equipment design be modified to meet unique spatial constraints?
5. Are you aware of any comparable installations in the UK or EU where pit depth has been a limiting factor?
Please include relevant brochures, technical drawings, and references as appropriate.
________________________________________
7. Timeline for Responses
Responses should be submitted by: 10th July 
Send responses to: FinanceServiceDesk@sussex.ac.uk
________________________________________
8. Confidentiality and Further Engagement
All information shared during this process will be treated in confidence and used solely to inform the University's procurement strategy. A formal procurement notice will be issued in due course if a competitive procedure is pursued.
________________________________________
9. Disclaimer
This notice does not constitute a commitment to any future procurement process. The University reserves the right to revise its requirements and/or proceed via direct award where lawful grounds (e.g., Regulation 41 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2023) can be robustly demonstrated.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035280-2025 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 26 Jun 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 10 Jul 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 30 Sep 2025 - 30 Sep 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £425,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX(THE) |
| Locality | FALMER, BRIGHTON |
| Post town | Brighton |
| Postcode | BN1 9RH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex |
| ITL 3 | TLJ21 Brighton and Hove |
| Local authority | Brighton and Hove |
| Electoral ward | Coldean & Stanmer |
| Westminster constituency | Brighton Pavilion |
| Delivery location | TLJ South East (England) |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 38434540 - Biomedical equipment
- 42990000 - Miscellaneous special-purpose machinery

## Release History

- 26 Jun 2025 at 08:51 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035280-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035280-2025
  26th June 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-0553e2. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0553e2.json.