Award of contract for specialised high pressure freezer - University of Aberdeen

Authority: University of Aberdeen (Education)

GoodsAward procedure without prior publication of a call for competition

Sectors: Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products (39) Delivery: Scotland (UKM50)

Awarded value£550,000published contract · exc. VAT

Awarded 8 Oct 2026no call for competition

Awarded to Leica Microsystems (UK) Ltd

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Award of contract for a high-pressure freezer capable of vitrifying biological specimens under extreme pressure conditions to preserve ultrastructure for subsequent electron microscopy analysis.

CPV: Freezers

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Lot #1Awarded

Delivery: Scotland

39711120 Freezers

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached

Procedure method: Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Legal basis: CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category: Goods
Notice status: Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold: Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime: Standard
Commercial structure: Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type: Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered: Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement: Unspecified in notice
First published: 8 Oct 2026, 14:09 BST
Last source update: 8 Oct 2026, 14:09 BST
Authority reference: AU26/07
FTS notice number: 2026/S 000-095245
Classification (CPV): Freezers
Delivery area: Scotland (UKM50)
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0783d5 Find a Tender

Why no open competition: The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons
Published justification: The contract is being awarded without competition on the grounds that the required technical characteristics and compatibility requirements can only be met by Leica Microsystems. Alternative systems would necessitate significant changes to existing equipment configurations, operating procedures and laboratory infrastructure.

Publisher note: (SC Ref:845240)

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Awards 1

Awarded value £550,0001 contract exc. VAT

Bids received 1

Contracts signed 1latest 8 Oct 2026

Awarded to	Value	Date	Status
Leica Microsystems (UK) Ltd	£550,000 †	—	Awarded

Contracts

Contract 095245-2026-AU26/07-1 · Leica Microsystems (UK) Ltd
Signed
8 Oct 2026
Value
£550,000
Status
active

Bid statistics published by the authority

Bids	SME	VCSE	Valid bid range
1bids · 1 electronic · 1 from abroad	0	—	—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

University of Aberdeen

Contracting authorityEducationBody governed by public lawEducation University Office, King's College, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB24 3FXContact email

Dispute resolution & review bodies

Aberdeen Sheriff CourtReview body Aberdeen

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Leica Microsystems (UK) LtdAwarded supplier Larch House, Woodlands Business Park, Breckland, Linford Wood West, Milton Keynes, UK, MK14 6FG

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.