---
title: "BD FACSDiscover S8 Spectral Cell Sorter with CellView Imaging Technology"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000842623"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000842623"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000842623.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000842623.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "University Of Edinburgh"
published: "2026-09-09"
---

# BD FACSDiscover S8 Spectral Cell Sorter with CellView Imaging Technology

Buyer: University Of Edinburgh  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000842623

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## Summary

The University of Edinburgh procured a BD FACSDiscover S8 spectral cell sorter with CellView imaging technology for research at its Institute for Genetics and Cancer in Edinburgh. This is a specialist scientific laboratory instrument, classified under CPV 38000000 for laboratory, optical and precision equipment. The requirement combines spectral flow cytometry and cell sorting with integrated, camera-free CellView imaging, which digitally renders two-dimensional images of individual cells. The imaging capability provides additional sorting parameters based on cell morphology, alongside standard fluorescence detection, and a quality-control function for verifying sorted cells. It supports genetic screens using protein localisation or cell morphology, purification of cells at different stages of mitosis, and measurement and purification of cells undergoing protein degradation in the nucleus or cytoplasm.

The procurement has been awarded and the contract is active. The University used a limited procedure without prior publication of a call for competition, relying on a technical-reasons justification that the required integrated image-based sorting capability had no reasonable alternative or substitute. The process covered one lot and was evaluated on the specific technical functionality needed for the proposed research applications. Becton Dickinson UK Limited was selected as supplier. The contract value is £535,000, inclusive of the stated currency as GBP, and the contract was signed on 9 September 2026. The award rationale records that the instrument was identified as the only option meeting the University’s technical requirements after comprehensive market engagement.

This procurement indicates demand for highly specialised cell-analysis equipment rather than general laboratory supplies. A credible future competitor would need to provide, support or integrate spectral flow cytometry, cell sorting and image-based analysis in one system, with imaging that can distinguish cell morphology and complement fluorescence detection. The requirement also shows the importance of research-grade performance for genetic screens, mitosis-stage cell purification, analysis of protein degradation by cellular location and post-sort quality control. Suppliers would therefore need strong technical evidence that their instrument can support these applications without losing the integrated imaging functionality. Relevant capability in instrument commissioning, specialist user support, software and applications expertise would strengthen a proposition for this buyer.

## Notice

BD FACSDiscover S8 Spectral Cell Sorter with CellView Imaging Technology

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The BD FACSDiscover S8 is currently the only spectral cell sorter identified by the University that combines spectral flow cytometry and cell sorting with CellView imaging technology. This camera free technology utilises laser waveforms to digitally render a 2D image of individual cells equivalent to between 10-20x magnification. The cellview imaging technology offers additional sorting parameters, based on cell morphology, that complement the standard fluorescence detection offered by spectral cell sorters The imaging capability is a specific technical requirement for the proposed research applications within the Institute for Genetics and Cancer. It will expand the possible applications of the cell sorter and also providing a previously unavailable quality control tool for verifying sorted cells. The image-based flow sorting capability of the BD FACSDiscover S8 is required to support the following research applications: 1. The ability to perform genetic screens which use subcellular protein localisation and/or cell morphology as a phenotypic read-out. 2. The ability to purify cells at different stages of mitosis 3. The ability to quantify and purify cells undergoing protein degradation in the nucleus versus cytoplasm. The CellView(tm) functionality is therefore an essential technical requirement for the intended research applications. Alternative spectral cell sorters considered by the University do not provide the same integrated image-based sorting capability. As a result, they would not provide the functionality required to undertake the above research applications in the proposed manner. On this basis, the BD FACSDiscover S8 has been identified as the only instrument currently available to the University that meets the specific technical requirements of the proposed research.

### 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=SEP564207 |
| 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 | 9 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £535,000 |

## 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 |
| Postcode area | 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 | Becton Dickinson U.K. Limited |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 9 Sep 2026 at 01:00 - Award - OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564207

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564207
  BD FACSDiscover S8 Spectral Cell Sorter with CellView Imaging Technology - BD FACSDiscover S8 Spectral Cell Sorter with CellView Imaging Technology

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.ed.ac.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000842623

## 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-r6ebe6-0000842623. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000842623.json.