---
title: "Confocal Microscopes Service Contract"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06ee39"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06ee39"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ee39.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ee39.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "University of Portsmouth"
published: "2026-08-28"
---

# Confocal Microscopes Service Contract

Buyer: University of Portsmouth  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06ee39

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## Summary

The University of Portsmouth Higher Education Corporation procured a specialist service contract for its two Zeiss confocal microscopes. The requirement covers regular preventative maintenance, calibration, software support and emergency breakdown cover, supporting the safe and reliable operation of equipment used for research and teaching. This is a laboratory equipment maintenance and technical support service, classified under CPV 73111000, research laboratory services. Work is delivered for the University in Portsmouth, United Kingdom. The equipment is specialised and manufacturer-specific, with the service requirement focused on maintaining two existing Zeiss confocal microscope systems rather than supplying new microscopes or broader laboratory services.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to CARL ZEISS LTD. The University used a direct award below the applicable threshold without competition. One lot was completed. The contract was signed on 3 August 2026 and runs from 3 August 2026 to 2 August 2027. Its value is £33,696 excluding VAT and £40,435.20 including VAT. The selected supplier is providing the full service requirement for both microscopes. The process therefore demonstrates a manufacturer-specific, single-supplier outcome based on a direct procurement route, rather than a competed tender evaluated through published price and quality criteria.

This procurement is relevant to suppliers with specialist capability in servicing Zeiss confocal microscopes and supporting advanced research imaging equipment. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need qualified engineers able to carry out preventative maintenance, calibration and emergency fault response, together with practical expertise in microscope software support. Evidence of safe, reliable servicing of comparable laboratory systems would be important, as would the operational capacity to support two critical assets used across research and teaching. Suppliers should also understand the service expectations associated with manufacturer-specific equipment, including rapid breakdown cover and maintaining calibration and performance continuity for a university laboratory environment.

## Notice

The University operates two Zeiss confocal microscopes that are critical pieces of specialist research and teaching equipment. These systems require regular preventative maintenance, calibration, software support and emergency breakdown cover to ensure continued safe and reliable operation.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082037-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 28 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 3 Aug 2026 - 2 Aug 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £33,696 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | University of Portsmouth |
| Locality | PORTSMOUTH |
| Postcode area | Portsmouth |
| Postcode | PO1 2UP |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| ITL 3 | TLJ31 Portsmouth |
| Local authority | Portsmouth |
| Electoral ward | St Thomas |
| Westminster constituency | Portsmouth South |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Carl Zeiss Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73111000 - Research laboratory services

## Release History

- 28 Aug 2026 at 09:38 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082037-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082037-2026
  28th August 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.port.ac.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.zeiss.co.uk/corporate/home.html

## 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-06ee39. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ee39.json.