Official UK procurement notice
Cryo-EM Talos Arctica Service Contract
Authority: NPL Management Limited (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionProvision of a 3-year original equipment manufacturer (OEM) service agreement for the Thermo Fisher Scientific (FEI UK Ltd.) Talos Arctica Cryogenic Electron Microscope (Serial Number 09950877, commissioned Sept/2020) and associated cryogenic electron microscopy equipment.
The agreement provides comprehensive manufacturer-backed support, including remote diagnostics and technical support as the first stage of fault assessment (same day within hours), followed where required by escalation to on-site physical inspection (48-hour response), troubleshooting, emergency repair support and corrective maintenance by manufacturer-certified service engineers.
The contract includes a targeted response time of 48 hours during normal business hours, emergency breakdown assistance, remote service capability, scheduled preventive maintenance, performance verification, software licences, software maintenance and updates, replacement parts and components (excluding consumables), and access to proprietary service tools, firmware, calibration procedures and technical documentation.
Service delivery is provided through the manufacturer's UK organisation and authorised UK-based service infrastructure, ensuring timely support and compliance with applicable UK operational requirements. The equipment and supporting systems comply with applicable UKCA and CE marking requirements. The agreement ensures continued reliability, performance, software compatibility and operational availability of a nationally significant research infrastructure asset.
Read the full description (1,158 more characters)
Thermo Fisher Scientific (FEI UK Ltd.) is the original equipment manufacturer of the Talos Arctica Cryogenic Electron Microscope (Serial Number 09950877, commissioned 09/2020) and associated integrated cryogenic electron microscopy equipment. The manufacturer is the only supplier with access to proprietary software, firmware, service documentation, diagnostic tools, calibration procedures, certified replacement parts, software licences and manufacturer-trained service engineers required to maintain the system to the original manufacturer's specification. Support is delivered through a combination of remote diagnostics and technical assessment, followed when necessary by on-site intervention by certified field service engineers.
No alternative supplier can provide the complete package of OEM-supported maintenance, software updates, performance verification, spare parts provision and manufacturer-backed service coverage. Competition is therefore absent for technical reasons, and the contract must be awarded directly to the OEM to ensure continued operation, reliability and performance of this nationally important research infrastructure asset.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Lot 1Awarded
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- 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
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 24 Sept 2026, 17:26 BST
- Last source update
- 24 Sept 2026, 17:26 BST
- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-077847
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
- Published justification
FEI UK Ltd. (Thermo Fisher Scientific) is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the Talos Arctica Cryogenic Electron Microscope (Serial Number 09950877) and associated cryogenic electron microscopy equipment installed at NPL (09/2020). The OEM is the only supplier with access to the proprietary software, firmware, service documentation, calibration procedures, diagnostic tools, certified replacement parts, more…
software licences and manufacturer-certified service engineers required to maintain the system in accordance with the original manufacturer's specifications. (See CSF-02) No alternative supplier can provide the full scope of OEM-authorised maintenance, software support, firmware updates, certified spare parts, performance verification and manufacturer-backed service coverage required for this highly specialised instrument. Competition is therefore absent for technical reasons. (See CSF-02 and EMEA Preferred service contract) Direct award is necessary to ensure continued reliability, operational availability, business continuity and compliance of this nationally significant research infrastructure asset. The service agreement provides manufacturer-supported remote diagnostics, escalation support, targeted 48-hour response, on-site intervention by certified field service engineers, preventative maintenance and emergency repair services through the manufacturer's UK service organisation.
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics — not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEI UK Limited7 Oct 2026 — 7 Oct 2029 | £567,203 | 23 Sept 2026 | Awarded |
Notice history
3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 23 Sept 2026- Contract signature expected7 Oct 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract award notice published24 Sept 2026, 17:26 BSTUK6
- Transparency notice published23 Sept 2026, 10:18 BSTUK5
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- FEI UK LIMITEDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Conflict of interest declarationNot published
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender