---
title: "Lightsheet microscope system"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-064b6d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-064b6d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064b6d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064b6d.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH"
published: "2026-02-09"
---

# Lightsheet microscope system

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-064b6d

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## Summary

The University of Edinburgh has completed a procurement process for a lightsheet microscope system, a specialised piece of equipment needed for high-resolution imaging in developmental and cancer biology research. The contract was awarded on 3rd October 2025 to Carl Zeiss Ltd, with a value of £730,302.66. The procurement falls under the category of 'goods' with the CPV classification for microscopes. The process utilised a 'limited' procurement method, specifically a call-off from the APUC buying consortium framework LAB1028AP, conducted without prior publication of a call for competition. The equipment will be delivered to the University's location in Edinburgh, region UKM75.

This tender provides opportunities for businesses involved in manufacturing and supplying high-quality scientific equipment, particularly those with expertise in creating light microscopy systems tailored for sensitive biological research applications. Businesses that can develop or supply advanced microscopy solutions with factors like gentle illumination, high resolution, and stability are well-suited to compete in such tenders. While the contract itself has been awarded, understanding the procurement needs of prominent academic institutions like the University of Edinburgh can guide future enhancements or offerings by suppliers in similar fields.

## Notice

IGC and CMVM research requires very high resolution imaging of large samples (organoids, model organisms etc) using very gentle illumination. We have already conducted several detailed studies into the imaging methodology required for our applications and have already ruled out: 'Spinning disk / point scanning confocal' type illumination as this is too photo-toxic, Gaussian type light sheet, as the abberations in the light sheet beam path are not compatible with our samples, Oblique Plane type imaging approaches as the field of view and resolution of these approaches are not appropriate for our science. Since this equipment is mainly for use in Developmental and cancer biology we also need the system to be fully enclosed and provide a very stable environment for periods of days. It has been determined that a lightsheet type microscope with laser beam forming would be required to fulfil this requirement.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

IGC and CMVM research requires very high resolution imaging of large samples (organoids, model organisms etc) using very gentle illumination. We have already conducted several detailed studies into the imaging methodology required for our applications and have already ruled out: 'Spinning disk / point scanning confocal' type illumination as this is too photo-toxic, Gaussian type light sheet, as the abberations in the light sheet beam path are not compatible with our samples, Oblique Plane type imaging approaches as the field of view and resolution of these approaches are not appropriate for our science. Since this equipment is mainly for use in Developmental and cancer biology we also need the system to be fully enclosed and provide a very stable environment for periods of days. It has been determined that a lightsheet type microscope with laser beam forming would be required to fulfil this requirement. Additional information: This was a call-off from APUC buying consortium framework LAB1028AP. Suppliers were engaged in order using the 'Ranked Direct Award' methodology set out in the framework, and Zeiss was the first supplier in the ranking to demonstrate they could fulfil the requirement.

### Procurement Information

This was a call-off from APUC buying consortium framework LAB1028AP. Suppliers were engaged in order using the 'Ranked Direct Award' methodology set out in the framework, and Zeiss was the first supplier in the ranking to demonstrate they could fulfil the requirement.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011478-2026 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 2 Oct 2025 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £730,302 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH1 1HT |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | City Centre |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh East and Musselburgh |
| Delivery location | TLM75 City of Edinburgh |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | CARL ZEISS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 38510000 - Microscopes

## Release History

- 9 Feb 2026 at 15:29 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011478-2026

## Notice URLs

- http://www.ed.ac.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000823166
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00107

## 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-064b6d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064b6d.json.