---
title: "Supply, Installation, Validation, Verification and Post-Warranty Maintenance of Ultramicrotome"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-066082"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-066082"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066082.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066082.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST"
published: "2026-03-31"
---

# Supply, Installation, Validation, Verification and Post-Warranty Maintenance of Ultramicrotome

Buyer: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-066082

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## Summary

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST has awarded a contract for the "Supply, Installation, Validation, Verification and Post-Warranty Maintenance of Ultramicrotome" to Leica Microsystems (UK) Limited. The procurement process was conducted via a direct award, due to Leica's unique capabilities in electron microscopy equipment, which no other technical alternatives could meet. The contract was signed on 23 March 2026 and will commence on 1 April 2026, concluding on 31 March 2033, with a gross contract value of £190,581.60. The contract is for laboratory, optical, and precision equipment, delivery set in the United Kingdom, specifically in Cambridge.

This tender offers a significant opportunity for growth primarily for businesses specialising in high-precision laboratory equipment within the optical and precision industry category. The direct award signifies the absence of competitive alternatives, highlighting Leica Microsystems as the sole suppliers. With the ultramicrotome being a sole-supplier solution, businesses with innovative features in laboratory equipment, particularly in microscopy, could have future potential to partner on maintenance and upgrades. This specialised procurement emphasises potential for companies interested in niche technological advancements and development, ensuring long-term scalability and high integration in workflow processes within histopathology sectors.

## Notice

Supply, Installation, Validation, Verification and Post-Warranty Maintenance of Ultramicrotome for Histopathology in Cambridge University Hospitals

### Procurement Information

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust awarded a contract of a Leica UC Enuity Advanced Ultramicrotome to Leica Microsystems, as this system represents a genuine sole-supplier solution with no reasonable technical alternative capable of meeting the Trust's electron microscopy requirements. The UC Enuity provides uniquely integrated capabilities including motorised segment arc and knife block alignment, automated block-face and knife positioning to minimise specimen loss. These proprietary and fully integrated features are not available collectively from any other manufacturer, and procuring an alternative system would compromise precision, workflow integration, specimen protection, and long-term scalability; accordingly, a direct award to Leica Microsystems is justified on the basis that competition is absent for technical reasons and the equipment is available only from this supplier. The following unique features are extracted from the UC Enuity Sole Source Document and outline the distinguishing technical capabilities of the Leica UC Enuity Advanced Ultramicrotome. Core Configuration Features * Leica M80 microscope with 0.8x objective lens. * Motorized segment arc and motorized knife block. * Dedicated 35deg Ultra 3.0 mm Auto Knife. * Option for active or passive damping table. * Automated precision alignment of block face and knife to reduce specimen loss and protect both sample and knife. * Fully automated 2D trimming mode for complete blockface trimming in a single run. * Mesacut mirror enabling targeted trimming of fluorescent regions of interest. * Upgradeable software packages to adapt configuration to specific application needs. * Cutting speed range: 0.04-100 mm/s. * Specimen arm advance range: 0-2500 nm. * Remote care functionality to reduce downtime. * 12.1" touchscreen control unit with Windows-based operating system and intuitive graphical user interface. * Integrated live video via Flexacam camera with image and video storage capability. * Software-assisted warning system and built-in service codes for troubleshooting. Add-On and Advanced Modules * Diamond knives for room temperature and cryo sectioning. * Wide range of accessories and sample holders. * Single and double micromanipulator options attachable to the cryochamber for enhanced section collection and TEM grid positioning. * Integrated cryochamber compatible with all configurations and operated from the main touchscreen (no additional controllers required). * LN2 pump with software control and LN2 level and temperature sensors. * User protection features including vibration-free LN2 pump, gravity stroke operation, warmed handrests, and safety interlocks. * Compatibility with cryo transfer systems (e.g., VCT500, Cryo-CLEM shuttle, Cryo-TEM holder). * Wet sectioning capability (e.g., DMSO). * Standard and high gas flow operating modes. * Multiple lighting angles for enhanced visibility during section manipulation. * EM Crion ionizer (charge, discharge, or charge-discharge versions) operated via footswitch and controlled from main unit. * uCT-based Target Trimming module enabling 3D automated trimming to a region of interest. * Volume EM - SEM serial sectioning module supporting high-quality lossless serial sectioning, including AT4 knife, substrate holder, drain tray, and preparation of ~300 sections on 25x25 mm wafer. Introducing an alternative manufacturer would require compromise on functionality, increased manual intervention, higher training burden, and increased risk to specimen integrity, contrary to clinical governance, quality, and value-for-money principles. Although the procurement is non-competitive, value for money is demonstrated through: * Reduced specimen loss and rework * Shorter training times and reduced operator dependency * Improved uptime through remote diagnostics * Future-proofing via software and modular upgrades * Avoidance of additional capital expenditure on multiple EM accessories

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029577-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 31 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 3 Mar 2026 |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2033 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £158,818 |
| Contracts value | £158,818 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST |
| Locality | CAMBRIDGE |
| Post town | Cambridge |
| Postcode | CB2 0QQ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| ITL 3 | TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC |
| Local authority | Cambridge |
| Electoral ward | Queen Edith's |
| Westminster constituency | South Cambridgeshire |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (UK |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 31 Mar 2026 at 11:16 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029577-2026
- 11 Mar 2026 at 13:18 - AwardUpdate - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021767-2026
- 11 Mar 2026 at 12:32 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021727-2026
- 3 Mar 2026 at 10:09 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018784-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029577-2026
  31st March 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021767-2026
  11th March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021727-2026
  11th March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018784-2026
  3rd March 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/
- 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-066082. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066082.json.