High Pressure Vitreous Freezer

DETAILED SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL:

• The ability to vitreously freeze small volumes (specimen carriers described later) of soft and liquid samples by using a combination of high pressures and liquid nitrogen
• Must achieve a minimum cooling rate of 2000K/s
• Must be able to exert pressures on the sample in the range of 1900 – 2200 bar during the freezing process to inhibit ice nucleation
• Use 3mm and 6mm diameter planchette specimen carriers to hold the sample during freezing
• Output freezing parameters after the freezing process
• Vitreously freeze non-biological and biological samples up to 200 µm thick
• Use mains electricity in the lab and conform to UK/CE electrical safety standards.
• Installation, commissioning and testing of the equipment.
• User Training provided.
• Access requirements for the lab: Fire exit width: 139cm. Lab door width: 130cm(W) * 210cm(H); Corridor: 159cm(min width); Weight: Passes through corridors with areas of possible max weight “not exceeding 580kg per square metre”.
• 1 year manufacturer’s parts and labour warranty
• Basic level of service contract(extended warranty) + Support helpline and troubleshooting for 3 years post initial warranty period.
• Device should be reliable and have a long supported life (ideally not less than 10 years)
• Product must fit within available lab space; floor plan max area 2m x 2m

OPTIONAL/DESIRABLE:

• The ability to also use other types of “standard” HPF specimen carriers, such as copper tubes (0.4-0.9 mm diameter), sapphire disks, other, etc.
• Able to fit into or Retrofittable into a Correlative Light-Electron Microscopy (CLEM) workflow and/or employ the “Waffle” method for a cryo on-grid thinning workflow. Live cell imaging is not needed (freezing sample seconds after an “event”) as part of the initial requirement. In the future we may want to freeze a sample and observe it with light and electron microscopy but freezing the sample at a specific time is likely not needed.
• Reliable stock of consumables/specimen carriers for purchase

AWARD

The University anticipates initially awarding for;

• Device manufactured, delivered into the lab, installed, commissioned and tested by supplier; to be in a fully operable state
• User training
• 1 year full parts and labour warranty
• Parts and labour extended service for 3 years post warranty

The University welcomes suppliers providing details of their enhanced service offerings for comparison.

INSTALLATION SURVEY:

• Initial measurements have been provided for entrance ways and available floor space above but these are approximations
• The University will take no liability if a supplier subsequently discovers they cannot deliver or install their solution without changes to the building fabric; in such circumstances the University may at its discretion cancel the award and award to the next-ranked supplier
• Giving reasonable notice (and subject to any submission deadline) suppliers may request the opportunity to conduct a single site survey prior to submitting their bid and/or finalising the contract post-award, providing the University and Supplier can agree a mutually convenient date and time. We encourage suppliers to take this opportunity.

MANUFACTURING DEADLINE

Unless otherwise agreed or offered by the University suppliers must meet a deadline to manufacture and deliver the winning machine, and install+ commission it, by no later than end June 2026.