---
title: "Supply of a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06af6e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06af6e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06af6e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06af6e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY"
published: "2026-06-08"
---

# Supply of a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)

Buyer: ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06af6e

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## Summary

The Animal and Plant Health Agency, a central government authority, is in the planning stage of a procurement process for the supply, delivery, installation, and commissioning of a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). This procurement, with an estimated gross value of £720,000, falls under the category of laboratory, optical, and precision equipment, and is targeted for delivery in the United Kingdom by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This is a pre-market engagement phase where interested suppliers are invited to inform the procurement strategy by 19th June 2026, with site visits completed by 30th June 2026. The procurement is anticipated to proceed into further stages from September 2026.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in high-precision laboratory equipment, particularly those offering advanced TEM systems. It requires systems geared towards biological and pathological imaging applications in a multi-user laboratory environment. Companies that can deliver not only the TEM but also support services such as installation, commissioning, and training, along with ongoing support arrangements, are well-suited to compete. The involvement in this initial engagement process could position these businesses advantageously for future formal procurement phases, fostering business growth in the sector.

## Notice

APHA is seeking to engage with the market in advance of a planned procurement for the supply, delivery, installation, and commissioning of a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) to support biological and pathological imaging applications. The current requirement is anticipated to include: - A 120 kV class Transmission Electron Microscope (operating range approximately 80-120 kV); - Capability for routine biological imaging, including viruses, bacteria, and cellular structures; - Resolution appropriate for routine biological transmission electron microscopy, typically within the sub-nanometre range; - A system suitable for multi-user laboratory environments, with intuitive operation and appropriate levels of automation Integration with appropriate digital imaging, detectors, and control software; - Full installation, commissioning, training, and ongoing support arrangements. This notice relates to pre-market engagement only and is not a call for competition.

### Planning Information

The Authority is conducting this pre‑market engagement to inform its procurement approach and to understand the feasibility of installing a TEM within an existing laboratory environment. Suppliers are invited to provide high‑level, indicative information in relation to:
- Availability of systems capable of meeting the above requirement;
- Feasibility of installation within the following indicative site constraints:
Ceiling height: ~2.4 m
Room footprint: ~4 m × 4 m
- Indicative delivery and implementation lead times.
Suppliers should highlight any key spatial, clearance, or facility requirements, and identify any constraints or risks associated with installation.
To support this exercise, APHA intends to offer site visits to suppliers with potentially suitable equipment, to:
- View the proposed installation space;
-Undertake indicative measurement and assessment;
- Identify any potential constraints or considerations.
Site visits will be arranged on an open and equal basis.
Suppliers are invited to respond by 19th June 2026, by contacting: Melanie Swain – melanie.swain@defra.gov.uk
Site visits are expected to be completed by 30th June 2026.
This exercise is for information gathering only. No formal proposals are required, and no evaluation or selection of suppliers or equipment will be undertaken at this stage.
The Authority reserves the right to follow up with suppliers to further clarify responses, with any new material information shared appropriately.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053656-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Sep 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 30 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £600,000 |
| 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 | ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY |
| Additional buyers | DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 4DF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 8 Jun 2026 at 09:33 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053656-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053656-2026
  8th June 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- 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-06af6e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06af6e.json.