---
title: "APHA CapEx: Supply of Spectral Flow Cytometer Analyser"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06e4fb"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e4fb"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e4fb.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e4fb.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY"
published: "2026-08-21"
---

# APHA CapEx: Supply of Spectral Flow Cytometer Analyser

Buyer: ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e4fb

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## Summary

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is buying a spectral flow cytometer analyser for its bovine immunology research programme and advanced multi-parameter assay development. The equipment is a BD FACSDiscover A8 Cell Analyser supplied by Becton, Dickinson U.K. Ltd. It combines five-laser spectral analysis, simultaneous imaging, advanced spectral unmixing and automated, high-throughput sample acquisition. This is specialist laboratory, optical and precision equipment, rather than a general laboratory supply. The equipment is to be delivered in the United Kingdom. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs managed the procurement and is responsible for drafting and awarding the contract on APHA’s behalf. The requirement covers one complete system and is classified under CPV 38000000.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through a direct award to Becton, Dickinson U.K. Ltd. The award was made on 20 August 2026. Its value is £443,568.80 excluding VAT, or £532,282.56 including VAT. The contract period is from 7 September 2026 to 4 October 2027, with an optional three-year extension allowing the maximum end date to reach 4 October 2030. Contract signature was scheduled for 3 September 2026, following a standstill period ending on 2 September 2026. There was one lot. APHA justified the direct award on technical grounds, stating that no reasonable alternative combined simultaneous imaging, spectral flow cytometry, advanced spectral unmixing and high-throughput automated sample acquisition in one platform.

This award indicates demand from APHA for high-end flow cytometry equipment supporting bovine immunology research and complex multi-parameter assay development. Suppliers seeking to compete for a future requirement of this type would need to provide, or partner to provide, a five-laser spectral analyser with simultaneous imaging, advanced spectral unmixing and automated high-throughput sample handling in one integrated platform. Credible competitors would need strong technical evidence that their system delivers the required combination without compromising data quality, research efficiency or confidence in scientific outputs. Relevant capability is therefore centred on specialist laboratory instrumentation, application support and reliable delivery of complex scientific equipment, rather than routine laboratory supplies. The incumbent is a large specialist manufacturer or distributor, so comparable technical depth and implementation capacity would be important.

## Notice

APHA requires the supply of a Spectral Flow Cytometer (BD FACSDiscover(tm) A8 Cell Analyser by Becton Dickinson UK Ltd) comprising a 5-laser spectral analyser with simultaneous imaging, advanced spectral unmixing, and automated sampling.

### Procurement Information

The proposed award is a Direct Award justified under Schedule 5, Condition 6(a) and (b) of the Procurement Act 2023: This equipment is the only identified system that combines simultaneous imaging and spectral flow cytometry, advanced spectral unmixing, and high-throughput automated sample acquisition in a single platform. These capabilities are essential to support APHA's bovine immunology research programme and the development of advanced multi-parameter assays. No reasonable alternative has been identified that provides this complete combination of capabilities required to meet APHA's scientific and operational needs. Procuring an alternative that does not offer this combination compromises data quality, research efficiency and confidence in scientific outputs

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079767-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award 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 | 21 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 14 Aug 2026 |
| Contract period | 7 Sep 2026 - 4 Oct 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £443,568 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Becton, Dickinson U.K. Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 21 Aug 2026 at 10:06 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079767-2026
- 14 Aug 2026 at 16:05 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077824-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079767-2026
  21st August 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077824-2026
  14th August 2026 - Transparency 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-06e4fb. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e4fb.json.