Instruments for checking physical characteristics: UK Tenders, Buyers & Competition
CPV 38400000·Supplies · class·in Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
Codes and neighbouring classes
The 8-digit CPV codes notices in this class actually use, and the other classes of the same division
38400000 Instruments for checking physical characteristics92 notices · 100%- Detection and analysis apparatus 134 · 12m
- Machines and apparatus for testing and measuring 54 · 12m
- Photographic equipment 44 · 12m
- Instruments for measuring quantities 37 · 12m
- Meters 35 · 12m
- Instruments for measuring flow, level and pressure of liquids and gases 32 · 12m
- Checking and testing apparatus 29 · 12m
- Navigational instruments 28 · 12m
- Astronomical and optical instruments 27 · 12m
- Microscopes 26 · 12m
- All of Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) →
Who buys
All notices carrying this code · official UK_CA_TYPE where published (NHS bodies are central government authorities), else derived from the authority name
- Education & universities 49% (45 notices)
- Central government 10% (9 notices)
- Other public bodies 9% (8 notices)
- Local authorities 1% (1 notices)
- Not classified 32% (29 notices)
| Contracting authority | Type | Notices | Last 12 months | Open now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of St Andrews | Education & universities | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD | Education & universities | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority | not classified | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Agri-Food and BioSciences Institute | not classified | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| NI Water and its subsidiaries | not classified | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Queen's University Belfast | Education & universities | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| UK Research and Innovation | Central government | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine | Education & universities | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| University Of Edinburgh | Education & universities | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| University of Bath | Education & universities | 2 | 0 | 0 |
53 distinct authorities in total · the ten most active shown.
Where the work is delivered
Delivery regions (ITL1) published on 77 of 92 notices · a notice covering several regions counts in each · competition columns: contracts awarded in the last 36 months, lots delivered in the region
| Region | Notices | Bids / lot | SME wins | Local wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | — | — | — | |
| Scotland | — | — | — | |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | — | — | — | |
| South East England | — | — | — | |
| South West England | — | — | — | |
| East Midlands | — | — | — | |
| West Midlands | — | — | — | |
| Wales (Cymru) | — | — | — | |
| North East England | — | — | — | |
| East of England | — | — | — | |
| North West England | — | — | — | |
| Greater London | — | — | — |
Local wins = the winner’s registered region is the delivery region. Dashes: fewer than ten observations.
How it is bought
Commercial tool, procedure route and threshold as published on the notice, not a legal-regime claim
- Contract 90% (83 notices)
- Framework 9% (8 notices)
- Dynamic purchasing system 1% (1 notices)
- Open 71% (65 notices)
- Route not published 14% (13 notices)
- Limited / restricted 9% (8 notices)
- Selective 7% (6 notices)
- Above threshold 80% (8 notices)
- Below threshold 20% (2 notices)
Competition
Contracts published in the last 36 months (40) · bid counts per lot from award notices · values are net contract awards, framework and DPS ceilings excluded · SME and local status as declared
- 1 bid 23% (7)
- 2–3 43% (13)
- 4–6 13% (4)
- 7 or more 20% (6)
Who wins
Single-supplier active awards with a canonical supplier on notices carrying this code · 117 awards to 68 suppliers · the five most frequent winners hold 40% of contract awards in the last 36 months
| Supplier | Awards | Last 12 months | Buyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCIMED LTD | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| ANTON PAAR LTD | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES IRELAND LIMITED | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| WATERS LIMITED | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Fisher Scientific UK LTD | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| SHANDONG GELON LIB CO LTD | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| spinflex instruments ltd | 4 | 0 | 1 |
Where to submit
E-sourcing portals named in the submission address · 22 of 92 notices name one · each portal page explains registration
Method
What the numbers on this page are and are not
Which notices count?
Every Find a Tender notice that carries a CPV code starting 3840. A notice with several codes counts in each sector it names. Earliest notice 2021; latest 11 Sept 2026.
Competition figures
From the 36-month lot-grain contest statistics: a lot counts where its own CPV codes (or, for single-class notices, the procedure’s) start 3840. Bids per lot come from the award notice’s bid statistics; “competed” means an open or selective route with no direct-award transparency notice; contract values are net, on single-supplier awards, with framework and DPS ceilings excluded. Frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems are reported separately because their “bids” are admissions to a panel.
Why no total value or month-by-month chart?
Sums of notice estimates repeat framework ceilings and mix net with gross. Monthly volumes per sector are not shown yet: the catalogue’s CPV coverage per notice changed in May 2026 (compiled records carry every lot’s codes), so a curve would show the catalogue, not the market.