---
title: "Cytation 9 Imager and 406 FX Washer/Reagent Dispenser"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000834473"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000834473"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000834473.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000834473.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH"
published: "2026-06-11"
---

# Cytation 9 Imager and 406 FX Washer/Reagent Dispenser

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000834473

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## Summary

The University of Edinburgh has recently completed a procurement process for the acquisition of a Cytation 9 Imager and 406 FX Washer/Reagent Dispenser, with a contract being awarded to Agilent Technologies LDA UK Ltd. This procurement falls under the education industry category and is focused on the provision of specialised goods necessary for the university's operations at the Edinburgh Genome Foundry, located in Edinburgh, UKM75. The procurement followed a limited method without prior publication, due to the absence of competition for technical reasons. The contract was signed on 11th June 2026, marking the end of the procurement process.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in high-tech laboratory equipment and automation solutions. Companies with expertise in providing integrated systems for automated workflows, especially within the realms of cell-based assays, would be particularly well-suited to compete in similar future procurements. The collaboration across international biofoundries supported by this equipment underscores the importance of technological innovation and standardisation, creating avenues for businesses that can offer unique solutions facilitating streamlined, high-throughput operations in cutting-edge scientific environments.

## Notice

Cytation 9 Imager and 406 FX Washer/Reagent Dispenser

### Lot Information

Lot 1

We are awarding a contract to Agilent Technologies LDA UK Limited for the purchase of the Cytation 9 Imager and the 406 FX Washer/Reagent Dispenser based on their ability to meet specific technical and operational requirements. The Edinburgh Genome Foundry is undergoing major expansion to incorporate a fully automated platform for the handling and analysis of mammalian cells. For a piece of kit to be integrated in such an automated platform, it needs to be designed especially for this purpose. The Agilent Cytation 9 combines high-content imaging, multimode microplate reading, and both upright and inverted microscopy within a single instrument. The Agilent BioTek 406 FX also combines automated washing and reagent dispensing capabilities, together with built-in ultrasonic maintenance technology (key for fully automated operations) within a single integrated system. This is a unique combination of capabilities that would otherwise require multiple instruments. It is necessary for these instruments to perform multiple functions due to essential requirement to fit a robotic platform in a limited space and therefore it is not possible to have separate standalone instruments performing each function. The Agilent solutions provide the required functionality while maintaining the performance standards necessary for advanced cell-based assay workflows. Furthermore, the Cytation 9 and 406 FX are designed to operate as complementary components within automated cell-based assay workflows. This integrated workflow enables efficient end-to-end automation, reduces manual intervention, and supports the facility's requirement for high-throughput, reproducible operation. The facility also collaborates extensively with international Biofoundries and partner laboratories that utilise the same platform. Adoption of this equipment will facilitate collaboration, enable the exchange of validated protocols and data, and support standardisation of workflows across laboratories, which is a key requirement within Engineering Biology.

### Procurement Information

After comprehensive market engagement, competition is absent for technical reasons. No reasonable alternative or substitute exists and the absence of competition is not the result of an artificial narrowing down of the parameters of the procurement. This notice is the final piece of due diligence prior to the award of the contract. Should a supplier detail their ability to meet the requirements, then the award will be halted.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN557832 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 11 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 11 Jun 2026 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £194,999 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH1 1HT |
| 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 | City Centre |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh East and Musselburgh |
| Delivery location | TLM75 City of Edinburgh |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 11 Jun 2026 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN557832

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN557832
  Cytation 9 Imager and 406 FX Washer/Reagent Dispenser - Cytation 9 Imager and 406 FX Washer/Reagent Dispenser

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.ed.ac.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000834473

## 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-r6ebe6-0000834473. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000834473.json.