---
title: "Supply, Installation and Commissioning of a Thermal Vacuum Cycling Chamber"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06e4e6"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e4e6"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e4e6.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e4e6.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "University of Leicester"
published: "2026-08-14"
---

# Supply, Installation and Commissioning of a Thermal Vacuum Cycling Chamber

Buyer: University of Leicester  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e4e6

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## Summary

The University of Leicester is procuring a thermal vacuum (TVAC) cycling chamber for the School of Physics & Astronomy at Space Park Leicester. The requirement covers the supply, installation and commissioning of a system for environmental testing, qualification and thermal vacuum cycling of components and equipment developed by the university’s Space Projects and Instrumentation group, including work delivered through commercial agreements with third parties. The chamber will be installed in an ISO 14644 Class 6 cleanroom in Leicester. The equipment falls within laboratory, optical and precision equipment, testing and measuring apparatus, and research, testing and scientific simulation equipment. It must support high-vacuum testing, wide-range temperature cycling, precise thermal control, contamination control, structural reliability and power and data feedthroughs for equipment under test.

The procurement has reached tender: the University of Leicester invited offers through an open procedure. Bids were to be submitted electronically in English by 18 September 2026 at 12:00 BST, with enquiries accepted until 9 September 2026 at 23:59 BST. The contract period is from 6 November 2026 to 1 July 2027, with the award decision due by 26 October 2026 at 23:59 UTC. This is a single-lot goods procurement with an estimated gross value of £250,000. Evaluation gives 75% to quality, based on compliance with the technical specification and contract requirements, and 25% to price. The procurement is above the relevant threshold and covered by the GPA and CPTPP.

This opportunity suits manufacturers, specialist laboratory-equipment suppliers and systems integrators with demonstrable expertise in thermal vacuum technology and environmental test equipment. Bidders need the technical capability to provide a chamber achieving high vacuum, typically up to 1×10−5 hPa or better, and temperature cycling around -190°C to +150°C or higher, with precise thermal control. Relevant delivery capability includes liquid-nitrogen systems, thermal shrouds, heating platens, dry pumps or other contamination controls, pressure-resistant chamber construction, and reliable power and data feedthroughs for equipment under test. Suppliers should also be able to install and commission the system in an ISO 14644 Class 6 cleanroom, and provide equipment compliant with detailed technical and contractual requirements. Small and medium-sized enterprises are identified as suitable participants.

## Notice

The School of Physics & Astronomy (Space Park Leicester) has secured funding to procure a Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) System to support environmental testing, qualification, and thermal vacuum cycling of components and equipment developed under the projects run by its Space Projects and Instrumentation group and via commercial agreements with third parties (managed by Space Park Leicester). Thermal vacuum (TVAC) chambers require high-vacuum capability (typically

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077796-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 14 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 18 Sep 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 6 Nov 2026 - 1 Jul 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £250,000 |
| Lots value | £250,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | University of Leicester |
| Locality | LEICESTER |
| Postcode area | Leicester |
| Postcode | LE1 7RH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire |
| ITL 3 | TLF21 Leicester |
| Local authority | Leicester |
| Electoral ward | Castle |
| Westminster constituency | Leicester South |
| Delivery location | TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 38540000 - Machines and apparatus for testing and measuring
- 38970000 - Research, testing and scientific technical simulator

## Release History

- 14 Aug 2026 at 15:37 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077796-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077796-2026
  14th August 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://universityofleicester.delta-esourcing.com/
- https://universityofleicester.delta-esourcing.com/respond/C895QUS33V
- https://universityofleicester.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Leicester:-Laboratory%2C-optical-and-precision-equipments-%28excl.-glasses%29./C895QUS33V
- 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-06e4e6. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e4e6.json.