---
title: "CSP26830 - Paragraf Gold Graphene 300nm Cryo-EM Grids"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f79f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f79f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f79f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f79f.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION"
published: "2026-09-11"
---

# CSP26830 - Paragraf Gold Graphene 300nm Cryo-EM Grids

Buyer: UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f79f

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f79f.json)

## Summary

UK Research and Innovation bought Paragraf Gold + Graphene 300nm Cryo-EM Grids, a specialised laboratory and precision-equipment product used for cryogenic electron microscopy. The requirement covers one lot and is for the supply of the specified graphene grids rather than a broader laboratory equipment service. UK Shared Business Services Ltd managed the procurement on behalf of the buyer. Delivery is in the United Kingdom. The product’s specific construction and technical characteristics are central to the requirement, including the Paragraf Gold and graphene design and 300nm specification. This is a niche scientific supply opportunity for manufacturers, specialist distributors and suppliers able to provide technically defined cryo-EM consumables for UK research activity.

The procurement is complete and was awarded on 8 September 2026 to Paragraf Ltd. The contract was signed on the same date and runs from 8 September to 8 December 2026. Its value is £16,679 excluding VAT, or £20,014.80 including VAT. It was a below-threshold direct award without competition, using the absence of competition for technical reasons as the basis: the buyer considered that only a particular supplier could supply the goods. The procurement was evaluated through this technical exclusivity rationale rather than a competitive tender. The contract is active and concerns the single completed lot for the specified cryo-EM grids.

Although this contract has already been awarded, it demonstrates demand from UK Research and Innovation for highly specialised cryo-EM grid supplies at research-institution scale. A future competitor would need to offer the exact or technically compatible graphene grid specification, including the 300nm format and the required Paragraf Gold construction, while showing that its products meet the buyer’s scientific and microscopy requirements. Credibility would depend on specialist manufacturing or distribution capability, reliable supply of precision laboratory consumables and the ability to support delivery in the United Kingdom. The direct award rationale also indicates that technical distinctiveness, product compatibility and evidence of a genuinely differentiated supply capability are likely to matter more than general laboratory-equipment capacity.

## Notice

Procurement Description ***** THIS IS A CONTRACT DETAILS NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION ***** This procurement is being concluded without competition due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods. Brief Description of Requirement Paragraf Gold + Graphene 300nm Cryo-EM Grids

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086220-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| 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 | 11 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 8 Sep 2026 - 8 Dec 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £16,679 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION |
| Locality | SWINDON |
| Postcode area | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN2 1FL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Rodbourne Cheney |
| Westminster constituency | Swindon North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Paragraf Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 11 Sep 2026 at 09:36 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086220-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086220-2026
  11th September 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- 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-06f79f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f79f.json.