--- title: "High Value Laboratory Equipment" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-077fcd" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077fcd" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077fcd.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077fcd.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium" published: "2026-10-02" --- # High Value Laboratory Equipment Buyer: North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-077fcd [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077fcd) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077fcd.json) ## Summary North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC) is planning a framework for high-value laboratory equipment and related services for universities. The proposed scope covers magnetic resonance systems; X-ray, imaging, elemental and micro-analysis equipment and microscopes; spectroscopy; mechanical, thermal and physical testing equipment; and lasers. Associated equipment, accessories, consumables, maintenance and servicing are included across the proposed categories. Deliveries are intended for locations across the United Kingdom. This is a broad range of specialist scientific instruments, spanning supply and ongoing equipment support, rather than a single product line. The proposed five-lot structure is still under development and may change before the tender is published. The process is at preliminary market engagement: NWUPC is gathering supplier input to shape its strategy and tender documents, not inviting bids. The buyer plans to retender its existing high-value laboratory equipment framework, which is due to expire on 31 July 2027. It expects to publish the future tender on 24 February 2027. The proposed framework is planned to run from 1 August 2027 to 31 July 2029, with possible extension to 31 July 2031. Its estimated value is £150 million excluding VAT (£180 million including VAT). The buyer proposes five lots covering the equipment groups described above, but has not finalised this structure. Suppliers were invited to respond to a market survey by 18 October 2026 and attend a Q&A session on 26 October 2026. The work is likely to suit manufacturers, distributors and specialist service providers in laboratory and scientific instrumentation. Suppliers may focus on magnetic resonance, X-ray and imaging, analytical equipment and microscopy, spectroscopy, physical testing, or lasers; the proposed lot structure could let firms concentrate on relevant product areas. Businesses able to supply associated equipment, accessories and consumables, and provide maintenance and servicing, are also within scope. The buyer has marked the procurement as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, so specialist suppliers of this scale may be relevant. At this planning stage, participation is through market engagement to help shape the forthcoming procurement, rather than a bid for the framework. No specific technical qualifications, accreditations or experience thresholds are set out in the published planning details. ## Notice NWUPC is undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform the development of the strategy and tender documentation for the retender of the High Value Laboratory Equipment framework which is due to expire on 31st July 2027. The forthcoming 2027 framework agreement includes the following proposed lot structure, though please note this is not yet finalised and is subject to change before tender publication: Lot 1 : Magnetic Resonance Equipment including Associated Equipment, Accessories, Consumables, Maintenance and Servicing of Equipment. Lot 2: X-Ray, Imaging, Elemental & Micro Analysis Equipment and Microscopy Instruments including Associated Equipment, Accessories, Consumables, Maintenance and Servicing of Equipment. Lot 3: Spectroscopy Equipment including Associated Equipment, Accessories, Consumables, Maintenance and Servicing of Equipment. Lot 4: Mechanical, Thermal and Physical Testing Equipment including Associated Equipment, Accessories, Consumables, Maintenance and Servicing of Equipment. Lot 5: Laser Equipment including Associated Equipment, Accessories, Consumables, Maintenance and Servicing of Equipment. NWUPC are seeking the input of the market through the use of an engagement survey which is available at the following link: https://fyczm.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2AI4cXKSlStie7hVZLz9Jow The survey will close on 18th October 2026 at 23:59pm. Prior to completing the survey, please read the supporting information on the current sector agreement for High Value Laboratory Equipment available at: https://www.nwupc.ac.uk/nwupc-updates/preliminary-market-engagement-opportunity-high-value-laboratory-equipment-tender/ Additionally, a market engagement Q&A Drop-In Session shall be held on 26th October 2026 at 10am via Microsoft Teams; joining information is below: Microsoft Teams meeting Join here: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3912949596682931?p=utoKfaKoRuvvYYr4PT Meeting ID: 391 294 959 668 293 1 / Passcode: r3yC38uJ ### Planning Information https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=109683&TID=100114723&B= NWUPC is undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform the development of the strategy and tender documentation for the retender of the High Value Laboratory Equipment framework which is due to expire on 31st July 2027. The forthcoming 2027 framework agreement includes the following proposed lot structure, though please note this is not yet finalised and is subject to change before tender publication: Lot 1 : Magnetic Resonance Equipment including Associated Equipment, Accessories, Consumables, Maintenance and Servicing of Equipment. Lot 2: X-Ray, Imaging, Elemental & Micro Analysis Equipment and Microscopy Instruments including Associated Equipment, Accessories, Consumables, Maintenance and Servicing of Equipment. Lot 3: Spectroscopy Equipment including Associated Equipment, Accessories, Consumables, Maintenance and Servicing of Equipment. Lot 4: Mechanical, Thermal and Physical Testing Equipment including Associated Equipment, Accessories, Consumables, Maintenance and Servicing of Equipment. Lot 5: Laser Equipment including Associated Equipment, Accessories, Consumables, Maintenance and Servicing of Equipment. NWUPC are seeking the input of the market through the use of an engagement survey which is available at the following link: https://fyczm.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2AI4cXKSlStie7hVZLz9Jow The survey will close on 18th October 2026 at 23:59pm. Prior to completing the survey, please read the supporting information on the current sector agreement for High Value Laboratory Equipment available at: https://www.nwupc.ac.uk/nwupc-updates/preliminary-market-engagement-opportunity-high-value-laboratory-equipment-tender/ Additionally, a market engagement Q&A Drop-In Session shall be held on 26th October 2026 at 10am via Microsoft Teams; joining information is below: Microsoft Teams meeting Join here: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3912949596682931?p=utoKfaKoRuvvYYr4PT Meeting ID: 391 294 959 668 293 1 / Passcode: r3yC38uJ ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093381-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 2 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 24 Feb 2027 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Aug 2027 - 31 Jul 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £150,000,000 | | 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 | North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium | | Locality | SALFORD | | Postcode area | Manchester | | Postcode | M6 6FP | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester | | ITL 3 | TLD34 Greater Manchester South West | | Local authority | Salford | | Electoral ward | Pendleton & Charlestown | | Westminster constituency | Salford | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 18 - Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories - 33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products - 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment - 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) ### Codes - 18142000 - Safety visors - 33111400 - X-ray fluoroscopy devices - 33113000 - Magnetic resonance imaging equipment - 33114000 - Spectroscopy devices - 33115000 - Tomography devices - 33128000 - Medical laser other than for surgery - 33735100 - Protective goggles - 35113400 - Protective and safety clothing - 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) - 38400000 - Instruments for checking physical characteristics - 38425000 - Fluid mechanics equipment - 38433000 - Spectrometers - 38434510 - Cytometers - 38500000 - Checking and testing apparatus - 38510000 - Microscopes - 38511000 - Electron microscopes - 38511100 - Scanning electron microscopes - 38511200 - Transmission electron microscope - 38514200 - Scanning probe microscopes - 38530000 - Diffraction apparatus - 38540000 - Machines and apparatus for testing and measuring - 38636100 - Lasers - 38636110 - Industrial lasers - 38900000 - Miscellaneous evaluation or testing instruments ## Release History - 2 Oct 2026 at 14:03 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093381-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093381-2026 2nd October 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://fyczm.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2AI4cXKSlStie7hVZLz9Jow - https://nwupc.ac.uk/ - https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3912949596682931?p=utoKfaKoRuvvYYr4PT - https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=109683&TID=100114723&B= - https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=109683&TID=100114723&B=NWUPCisundertakingpreliminarymarketengagementtoinformthedevelopmentofthestrategyandtenderdocumentationfortheretenderoftheHighValueLaboratoryEquipmentframeworkwhichisduetoexpireon31stJuly2027.Theforthcoming2027frameworkagreementincludesthefollowingproposedlotstructure,thoughpleasenotethisisnotyetfinalisedandissubjecttochangebeforetenderpublication:Lot1:MagneticResonanceEquipmentincludingAssociatedEquipment,Accessories,Consumables,MaintenanceandServicingofEquipment.Lot2:X-Ray,Imaging,Elemental&MicroAnalysisEquipmentandMicroscopyInstrumentsincludingAssociatedEquipment,Accessories,Consumables,MaintenanceandServicingofEquipment.Lot3:SpectroscopyEquipmentincludingAssociatedEquipment,Accessories,Consumables,MaintenanceandServicingofEquipment.Lot4:Mechanical,ThermalandPhysicalTestingEquipmentincludingAssociatedEquipment,Accessories,Consumables,MaintenanceandServicingofEquipment.Lot5:LaserEquipmentincludingAssociatedEquipment,Accessories,Consumables,MaintenanceandServicingofEquipment.NWUPCareseekingtheinputofthemarketthroughtheuseofanengagementsurveywhichisavailableatthefollowinglink:https://fyczm.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2AI4cXKSlStie7hVZLz9JowThesurveywillcloseon18thOctober2026at23:59pm.Priortocompletingthesurvey,pleasereadthesupportinginformationonthecurrentsectoragreementforHighValueLaboratoryEquipmentavailableat:https://www.nwupc.ac.uk/nwupc-updates/preliminary-market-engagement-opportunity-high-value-laboratory-equipment-tender/Additionally,amarketengagementQ&ADrop-InSessionshallbeheldon26thOctober2026at10amviaMicrosoftTeams;joininginformationisbelow:MicrosoftTeamsmeetingJoinhere:https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3912949596682931?p=utoKfaKoRuvvYYr4PTMeetingID:3912949596682931/Passcode:r3yC38uJ - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - https://www.nwupc.ac.uk/nwupc-updates/preliminary-market-engagement-opportunity-high-value-laboratory-equipment-tender/ ## 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-077fcd. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077fcd.json.