---
title: "UKRI-5559 Maintenance contract for BIGFOOT 7 cell sorter"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0605a4"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0605a4"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0605a4.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0605a4.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)"
published: "2026-02-02"
---

# UKRI-5559 Maintenance contract for BIGFOOT 7 cell sorter

Buyer: UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0605a4

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## Summary

The public procurement process managed by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) involved the awarding of a maintenance contract for the BIGFOOT 7 cell sorter. This contract, valued at £201,200 and extending from 11 March 2026 to 10 March 2030, was directly awarded to Life Technologies Ltd. As per procurement details, this decision was dictated by the need for manufacturer-specific parts and software, with no compatible alternatives available. The procurement falls under the services category, specifically addressing repair and maintenance services within the laboratory equipment industry. The contract was executed in the Swindon, Wiltshire area under the legal framework of UKPGA 2023/54 and adheres to GPA coverage standards.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses operating within the laboratory equipment repair and maintenance sector, especially those capable of supplying niche, manufacturer-specific components. While the contract was awarded directly, similar opportunities could arise where the possession of unique technical capabilities becomes a decisive factor. Companies equipped with specialised product lines that ensure compatibility with proprietary systems, like Life Technologies Ltd, are particularly well-suited to pursue opportunities with organisations like UKRI, thereby expanding their market presence in specialised scientific and research equipment services.

## Notice

The Medical Research Council (MRC) have appointed a supplier to provide a fully comprehensive maintenance contract for a period of 4 years for a BIGFOOT 7 cell sorter including parts, labour and 3 business day on-site response for faults.

### Procurement Information

As the manufacturer of the BIGFOOT 7 cell sorter Life Technologies Ltd are the only supplier able to provide the required OEM parts and software support for this system. No other parts are compatible with this equipment.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008860-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 2 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 13 Jan 2026 |
| Contract period | 11 Mar 2026 - 10 Mar 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £201,200 |
| Contracts value | £201,200 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI) |
| Locality | SWINDON, WILTSHIRE |
| 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | LIFE TECHNOLOGIES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services

### Codes

- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 50000000 - Repair and maintenance services

## Release History

- 2 Feb 2026 at 11:26 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008860-2026
- 14 Jan 2026 at 13:16 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003096-2026
- 14 Jan 2026 at 12:42 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003080-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008860-2026
  2nd February 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003096-2026
  14th January 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003080-2026
  14th January 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

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

## 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-0605a4. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0605a4.json.