Official UK procurement notice
AFBI - SAFSD Supply and Delivery of Flux Towers and N2O Equipment
Authority: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (Central government)·On behalf of: CPD
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) require the provision of six Eddy Covariance (EC) flux towers equipped with CO2 and CH4 analysers to specifically address DAERA strategic objectives associated with the Green Growth Strategy and Net Zero Carbon initiative. In addition, AFBI require the provision of two compact single-laser trace gas analysers to facilitate the monitoring of N2O, an equally potent GHG, at two of the six towers.
This Contract agreement will comprise of 3 Lots, details of which are set out below;
Lot 1 - Supply and Delivery of Six (6) Eddy Covariance (EC) Flux Tower systems, with each EC Flux Tower system consisting of the full Biomet and greenhouse gases (GHGs) sensor infrastructure (hardware and software) required for the correct measurement and calculation of terrestrial fluxes of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) carbon dioxide (CO2), using the EC method.
Lot 2 - Supply and Delivery of Six (6) methane (CH4) analysers designed specifically for EC flux systems for terrestrial environments.
Lot 3 - Supply and Delivery of Two (2) Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) System trace gas analysers to monitor nitrous oxide (N2O).
Each Lot will be evaluated and awarded independently of each other. There are no restrictions on the number of lots a Supplier can bid for or be awarded. Suppliers must ensure that if they are bidding for multiple Lots that they have the capacity to deliver in the event that they are successful in more than one Lot. Delivery of all lots must be completed by 31st March 2026.
CPV: Analysers · Detection and analysis apparatus · Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting · Gas-analysis apparatus · Industrial machinery · Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) · Methane monitoring
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · all with a published value (£1,012,000 together) · same conditions of participation on every lotLot #1Six (6) Eddy Covariance (EC) Flux Tower systemsAwardedRenewalPublished value£700,000
Supply and Delivery of Six (6) Eddy Covariance (EC) Flux Tower systems, with each EC Flux Tower system consisting of the full Biomet and greenhouse gases (GHGs) sensor infrastructure (hardware and software) required for the correct measurement and calculation of terrestrial fluxes of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) carbon dioxide (CO2) using the EC method.
- Technical & professional ability
As per tender documentation.
Lot #2Six (6) - Open Path Atmospheric Methane (CH4) AnalysersAwardedRenewalPublished value£60,000
Supply and Delivery of Six (6) methane (CH4) analysers designed specifically for EC flux systems for terrestrial environments.
- Technical & professional ability
As per tender documentation.
Lot #3Two (2) Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) System Trace Gas Analysers, to monitor nitrous oxide (N2O)AwardedRenewalPublished value£252,000
Supply and Delivery of Two (2) Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) System trace gas analysers to monitor nitrous oxide (N2O).
- Technical & professional ability
As per tender documentation.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- Technical & professional ability
As per tender documentation.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 14 Jan 2026, 17:23 GMT
- Last source update
- 16 Mar 2026, 15:01 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 17 Feb 2026
- Authority reference
ID 6121070- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-003268- Accelerated
- State of urgency
- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06061bFind a Tender- Contract terms summary
For further details on invoicing procedures please see : www.finance-ni.gov.uk/articles/account-ni-… ↗
Contract Value
The estimated value figure indicated in the Scope Section represents an overall estimated contract value. This value reflects the potential scale of the contract and takes into account potential optional extension periods and the uptake of potential optional services as detailed in the tender documents. This figure does not however take into account the application of indexation or increases to charges due to increases in the Real Living Wage. Neither CPD nor the contracting Authority can provide any guarantee as to the level of business under this contract. The Contracting Authority does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender. Suppliers remain responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by them or by any third party acting under instructions from the Supplier in connection with taking part in this procurement process regardless of whether such costs arise as a consequence, directly or indirectly of any amendments made to the procurement documents by the Contracting Authority at any time. No legally binding contract shall arise (and a Supplier shall have no legitimate expectation that a contract will be entered into) until such time as entry into the Contract has been confirmed by the Contracting Authority.
- Risks
Exclusions
If at any time during the procurement, or post award, it comes to the attention of the Contracting Authority (CA) or CPD, by whatever means, that a Supplier has become ‘excluded’ or ‘excludable’ as per Sec 57 of the PA 2023, the CA, after compliance with its obligations under the PA 23, reserves the right to exclude said Supplier from the procurement procedure or terminate any contract they have been awarded.
Insert appropriate reservations of rights and disclaimers of liability here consider - e.g.
The Contracting Authority expressly reserves the rights:
(I). not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice;
(II). to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering Competition;
(III). to award (a) contract(s) in respect of any part(s) of the [services] covered by this notice; and
(IV). to award contract(s) in stages.
and in no circumstances will the Authority be liable for any costs incurred by candidates.
This project will be used to progress the Government’s wider social, economic and environmental objectives.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 9 Feb 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 30 Jan 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Tenders must be submitted electronically via the relevant Call for Tender (CfT) opportunity on eTendersNI, website details immediately below.
Paper submissions will not be accepted or considered and will be rejected by the Contracting Authority / Buyer.
The tender documents are available with unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: URL etendersni.gov.uk/epps ↗
For this requirement, Procurement Act 2023, Section 54 (3) is being utilised given the state of urgency that exists in relation to these goods that means that a 25 day participation period is impractical. In this instance the tendering period is being reduced to 21 days as an exception.
Timeline
14 Jan 2026 → 16 Mar 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published280 days ago14 Jan 2026, 17:23 GMT
- Clarification questions by264 days ago30 Jan 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Submission deadline254 days ago9 Feb 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Assessment summaries sent246 days ago17 Feb 2026
- Contract starts246 days ago17 Feb 2026
- Award decision expected by245 days ago17 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Standstill ends235 days ago27 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Latest notice published219 days ago16 Mar 2026, 15:01 GMT
Notice history
7 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 14 Jan 2026- Tender notice published14 Jan 2026, 17:23 GMTUK4
- Tender notice published3 Feb 2026, 13:11 GMTUK4
- Deadline moved to 9 Feb 2026, 15:00 GMT3 Feb 2026, 13:11 GMT+5 days · was 4 Feb 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Contract award notice published18 Feb 2026, 09:54 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete18 Feb 2026, 09:54 GMT
- Contract signature expected28 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published16 Mar 2026, 15:01 GMTUK7
Published amendments (1)
The deadline for the submission of tenders has been extended from Wednesday 4th February 2026 at 3pm to Monday 9th February 2026 at 3pm.
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2026-01: 1 release · 14 Jan 2026
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Six (6) Eddy Covariance (EC) Flux Tower systems1 award | |||
| Li-Cor Biosciences Uk Ltd2 Mar 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2031Extensions: There will be two optional extension periods of up to 12 months each (1+1) | £518,878 | 17 Feb 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Six (6) - Open Path Atmospheric Methane (CH4) Analysers1 award | |||
| Li-Cor Biosciences Uk Ltd2 Mar 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2031Extensions: There will be two optional extension periods of up to 12 months each (1+1) | £359,994 | 17 Feb 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 3 · Two (2) Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) System Trace Gas Analysers, to monitor nitrous oxide (N2O)1 award | |||
| supplier not published | — | 17 Feb 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
AFBI - SAFSD Supply and Delivery of Flux Towers and N2O Equipment · Li-Cor Biosciences Uk Ltd
- Signed
- 28 Feb 2026
- Value
- £518,878
- Period
- 2 Mar 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- There will be two optional extension periods of up to 12 months each (1+1)
No agreed KPIs: The value of this contract is below the relevant threshold of £5 million including VAT and as such the reporting and publication of KPIs is not mandated.
AFBI - SAFSD Supply and Delivery of Flux Towers and N2O Equipment · Li-Cor Biosciences Uk Ltd
- Signed
- 28 Feb 2026
- Value
- £359,994
- Period
- 2 Mar 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- There will be two optional extension periods of up to 12 months each (1+1)
No agreed KPIs: The value of this contract is below the relevant threshold of £5 million including VAT and as such the reporting and publication of KPIs is not mandated.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Six (6) Eddy Covariance (EC) Flux Tower systems | 2final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Six (6) - Open Path Atmospheric Methane (CH4) Analysers | 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
3 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- CPDBeneficiary authority
- CPD - Supplies & Services DivisionProcess contact pointProcuring entityConstruction and Procurement Delivery – Supplies and Services Division, is a Centre of Procurement Expertise and provides a central procurement function for central government in Northern Ireland
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- LI-COR Biosciences UK LtdAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (7)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender