---
title: "Purchase of Closed-Cycle Helium Cryogenic System"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000821492"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000821492"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000821492.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000821492.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY"
published: "2026-04-29"
---

# Purchase of Closed-Cycle Helium Cryogenic System

Buyer: HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000821492

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## Summary

Heriot-Watt University, located in Riccarton, Edinburgh, has awarded a contract valued at £165,173.62 for the supply, delivery, and installation of a closed-cycle helium cryogenic system for quantum-optics experiments. This procurement is classified under the industry category of education and falls within the procurement of goods using an open procedure. The award, signed on 27th April 2026, marks the conclusion of the procurement process following a tender initiated earlier in the year, with the procurement stage now completed. The cryogenic system will be installed at the university's Edinburgh campus, enhancing their research capabilities in quantum optics and technologies.

This tender provides significant business growth opportunities for suppliers operating within the scientific research and technological equipment sector. SMEs, like attocube systems AG, which successfully secured the contract, are particularly well-suited to provide innovative solutions tailored to precise scientific requirements. The open procurement method, along with technical and commercial evaluation criteria, encourages competitive bids from firms capable of supplying advanced cryogenic systems that facilitate pioneering quantum-optics research. Businesses with expertise in delivering high-quality, optomechanical equipment, capable of addressing semiconductor chips optically and electrically, are ideally positioned to compete in similar tenders in the future, fostering expansion and innovation within their operations.

## Notice

The University is seeking a contractor to supply, deliver and install a closed-cycle helium cryogenic system for quantum-optics experiments,

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The University is seeking a contractor to supply, deliver and install a closed-cycle helium cryogenic system for quantum-optics experiments capable of cooling small semiconductor chips to a temperature of 4K, which are mounted with on-chip optical and electrical connections. The chips should be optically addressable using a low working distance objective. The system will be used for a range of experiments in quantum optics and quantum technologies, with particular focus on characterising devices in silicon carbide where solid-state defect spins are coupled to optomechanical microcavities. The system will be situated in an optics lab at the University's Edinburgh campus

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR554796 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 29 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 23 Feb 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 27 Apr 2026 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £220,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £165,173 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY |
| Locality | RICCARTON, EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH14 4AP |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | Pentland Hills |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh South West |
| Delivery location | TLM75 City of Edinburgh |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ATTOCUBE SYSTEMS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting
- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 31000000 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting
- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

## Release History

- 29 Apr 2026 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR554796
- 23 Jan 2026 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JAN547880

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JAN547880
  Purchase of Closed-Cycle Helium Cryogenic System - The University is seeking a contractor to supply, deliver and install a closed-cycle helium cryogenic system for quantum-optics experiments,
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR554796
  Purchase of Closed-Cycle Helium Cryogenic System - The University is seeking a contractor to supply, deliver and install a closed-cycle helium cryogenic system for quantum-optics experiments,

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://hw.ac.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000821492
- https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.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-r6ebe6-0000821492. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000821492.json.