--- title: "Supply and Delivery of a Digital Microscope" ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000836957" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000836957" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000836957.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000836957.json" source: "Public Contracts Scotland" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL" published: "2026-07-08" --- # Supply and Delivery of a Digital Microscope Buyer: ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000836957 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000836957) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000836957.json) ## Summary The Orkney Islands Council has initiated a public procurement tender titled "Supply and Delivery of a Digital Microscope," aimed at acquiring a high-specification digital microscope for various analytical applications. As of the tender stage, this procurement opportunity falls under the general public services category and education in the region UKM65. All submissions must be made electronically, with the deadline set for 10th August 2026 at 12:00 Z. Following this, the award period commences immediately on the same day. The process is being conducted through an open procedure, and the estimated contract value is £100,000 GBP. Potential suppliers must adhere to the set submission guidelines outlined on the Public Contracts Scotland website. This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for companies specialising in advanced optical equipment and digital microscopy technology. It provides a platform for businesses to showcase innovative solutions that cater to detailed scientific analyses, particularly within archaeological and environmental science fields. Companies excelling in providing analytical tools for bone and shell diagenetic alterations, biometric analysis, and dental microwear analyses will find this tender especially advantageous. The project spearheaded by the University of the Highlands and Islands signifies a strategic initiative that encourages collaboration with research and conservation facilities, making it an attractive proposition for businesses aiming to expand their footprint in these cutting-edge scientific domains. ## Notice The Authority would like to purchase a high specification digital microscope as an alternative to high resolution 3D imaging. It will be used for a wide range of applications such as, animal bone butchery/cut-marks identification and analysis, diagenetic alterations to bone and shell, and biometric analysis of carbonised plant materials. ### Lot Information Lot 1 As an overview the Archaeology and the Environment Science Facility (AEONS) is a major new strategic partnership led by the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) Orkney. It is funded by a major Research Council UK (RCUK) grant from the AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council) Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) funding scheme. AEONS would like to purchase a high specification digital microscope as an alternative to high resolution 3D imaging. It will be used for a wide range of applications such as, animal bone butchery/cut-marks identification and analysis, diagenetic alterations to bone and shell, and biometric analysis of carbonised plant materials. In addition to this it will provide specialist services in dental microwear analysis which are currently under-resourced across the UK. Other applications may include the analysis of microwear on stone tools, manufacturing and use-wear marks on a wide variety of objects and artefacts. Objects analysed using this microscope will range from tiny, charred plant seeds and cereal grains to large cattle femurs, skulls or other bones, stone tools and pottery vessels. The handheld camera option will also allow for much larger specimens (e.g. large pieces of waterlogged wood, carved stone objects or elements of whale skeletons) to be analysed under magnification. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland | | Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL559763 | | Notice type | PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 8 Jul 2026 | | Submission deadline | 10 Aug 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £100,000 | | Lots value | £100,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL | | Locality | KIRKWALL | | Post town | Kirkwall | | Postcode | KW15 1NY | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM2 Highlands and Islands | | ITL 3 | TLM20 Highlands and Islands | | Local authority | Orkney Islands | | Electoral ward | Kirkwall East | | Westminster constituency | Orkney and Shetland | | Delivery location | TLM65 Orkney Islands | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) ### Codes - 38510000 - Microscopes ## Release History - 8 Jul 2026 at 00:00 - Tender - PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL559763 ## Documents - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL559763 Supply and Delivery of a Digital Microscope - The Authority would like to purchase a high specification digital microscope as an alternative to high resolution 3D imaging. It will be used for a wide range of applications such as, animal bone butchery/cut-marks identification and analysis, diagenetic alterations to bone and shell, and biometric analysis of carbonised plant materials. ## Notice URLs - http:// - http://www.orkney.gov.uk - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000836957 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=836957 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=836957 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx ## 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-r6ebe6-0000836957. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000836957.json.