---
title: "UKRI-6277 Fast HDX System"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078738"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078738"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078738.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078738.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION"
published: "2026-10-14"
---

# UKRI-6277 Fast HDX System

Buyer: UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078738

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## Summary

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) is procuring a millisecond-time-resolved hydrogen–deuterium exchange (HDX) labelling system for the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology. The supply includes delivery and installation of the equipment. The system is intended to support multi-omics research across proteomics, lipidomics and metabolomics. Its analytical apparatus enables rapid mixing and controlled labelling at millisecond timepoints, with temperature-controlled quenching and transfer to liquid chromatography digestion columns. The equipment is to be delivered in the United Kingdom. This is a specialist laboratory equipment requirement rather than a general supply of analytical instruments: the stated research use depends on rapid, precise sample labelling and protection against back-exchange or sample loss.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded by direct award to Nicoya Lifesciences Inc. The award is recorded as pending. The award date was 28 September 2026, and the stated contract period runs from 28 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. The award value is £282,531 excluding VAT and £339,037.20 including VAT. The requirement was treated as one lot. UKRI justified the direct award on the basis that the FastHDX platform’s patented flow and delay-loop architecture, back-exchange mitigation and quench control meet the required technical specification, and that no other commercially available system does so. Evaluation therefore centred on the unique technical capability needed for MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology’s research objectives.

For suppliers considering this buyer’s future requirement, the award indicates demand for a complete, specialist HDX labelling platform, including delivery and installation, capable of supporting multi-omics research. A credible competitor would need to demonstrate millisecond-scale labelling, rapid and controlled mixing, software-controlled flow rates and flexible delay-loop operation. It would also need reliable temperature control during quenching, rapid sample transfer into LC digestion columns, and effective prevention of back-exchange and sample loss. UKRI’s stated justification focused on patented technical features and the absence of another commercially available system meeting its specification, so comparable performance claims alone may not be enough: suppliers would need to evidence how their technology meets the laboratory’s precise operational and research requirements. The procurement was a single-supplier direct award, showing the importance of distinctive, demonstrable capability for this equipment need.

## Notice

UKRI have selected a supplier to provide a millisecond-time-resolved HDX labelling system, including delivery and installation of the equipment.

### Procurement Information

To meet the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology's (LMB) multi-omics research objectives across proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolomics, the FastHDX platform incorporates several crucial, patented technologies: * Patented Flow & Delay-Loop Architecture: Rapid-mixing and multi-volume delay-loop switching system. Enables sub-second labelling down to millisecond timepoints while maintaining precise, software-controlled flow rates. * Back-Exchange Mitigation & Quench Control: Proprietary fluidic circuit with strict temperature control throughout the quench zone. Utilizes rapid online valve switching to transition sample directly into LC digestion columns without sample loss or back-exchange degradation. No other commercially available system meets the required technical specification to allow MRC LMB to meet their research objectives.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096870-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 14 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 28 Sep 2026 |
| Contract period | 28 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £282,531 |
| 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 | UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION |
| Locality | SWINDON, WILTSHIRE |
| 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 | Nicoya Lifesciences Inc |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 38432000 - Analysis apparatus

## Release History

- 14 Oct 2026 at 10:59 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096870-2026
- 14 Oct 2026 at 10:55 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096864-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096870-2026
  14th October 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096864-2026
  14th October 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.ukri.org/

## 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-078738. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078738.json.