---
title: "UKRI-5642 Service Contract for Polara Transmission Electron Microscopes"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-060e94"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-060e94"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060e94.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060e94.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)"
published: "2026-02-17"
---

# UKRI-5642 Service Contract for Polara Transmission Electron Microscopes

Buyer: UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-060e94

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## Summary

The procurement process undertaken by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) involves a direct award contract for maintenance services related to Polara transmission electron microscopes. This contract, titled "UKRI-5642 Service Contract for Polara Transmission Electron Microscopes," falls under the category of repair and maintenance services in the scientific instruments industry. The buying organisation, which is a public authority within central government, is located in Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. The procurement has reached the award stage, with the contract active since 7th February 2026 and concluding on 31st December 2028, providing services primarily within the UKH12 region. The total contract value is GBP 215,245, and the procurement method utilised was a direct award due to ISS Group Services Ltd being the sole supplier capable of providing the necessary service, following the cessation of support by the original equipment manufacturer.

This tender provides business growth opportunities specifically for suppliers equipped to deliver high-quality maintenance for complex scientific equipment. ISS Group Services Ltd, a small to medium enterprise based in Manchester, has been recognised for its unique technical capabilities and access to required parts, making them particularly suited to this procurement. Businesses in the scientific repair and maintenance sector with similar expertise may find opportunities in similar tenders, especially those that involve specialised and high-value equipment, allowing them to leverage their technical prowess and expand their client base in public sector scientific research facilities.

## Notice

The Medical Research Council (MRC) have appointed a supplier to provide a service contract for two Polara transmission electron microscopes, a Tecnai Spirit and a Tecnai F20 transmission electron microscope for a period of 3 years.

### Procurement Information

The original manufacturer for the Polara's has stopped providing service contracts for this equipment. ISS Group are now the only supplier with the technical capability and access to parts required to provide a service contract for this equipment.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014208-2026 |
| 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 | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 17 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 22 Jan 2026 |
| Contract period | 7 Feb 2026 - 31 Dec 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £215,245 |
| Contracts value | £215,245 |

## 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 | ISS GROUP SERVICES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 38511200 - Transmission electron microscope
- 50000000 - Repair and maintenance services

## Release History

- 17 Feb 2026 at 11:27 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014208-2026
- 26 Jan 2026 at 15:31 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006764-2026
- 26 Jan 2026 at 13:34 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006670-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014208-2026
  17th February 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006764-2026
  26th January 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006670-2026
  26th 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-060e94. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060e94.json.