Find a TenderOpen for tender Tender notice
Published 23 Oct 2026, 17:22 BST

Official UK procurement notice

ID 6637252 - DfE - SRC - High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Authority: Southern Regional College (Central government)·On behalf of: CPD - Supplies and Services Division

GoodsOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Published estimate£201,667≈ £101k / year · £242,000 inc. VAT
Submission deadline 18 Nov 202615:00 GMT · 25d 7h left
Clarification cut-off 9 Nov 202615:00 GMT · questions to the authority
Contract term 2 yrsends 25 Feb 2029 · up to 25 Feb 2031 with extensions · starts 26 Feb 2027

What is being bought

Published requirement description

ID 6637252 DfE - SRC - High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) - Southern Regional College (SRC) requires the Supply, Delivery and Commissioning of two High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to Portadown and Newry Campuses and one HPLC with a Mass Detector and Nitrogen Generator Package to our Newry Campus. SRC also requires the supplier to remove older equipment for either safe and sustainable disposal or trade in value. Suppliers should refer to the Specification for full detail on the deliverables of this Contract.

  • Not divided into lots: The contract has not been divided into lots as the College requires consistency and conformity of equipment across all campuses. Procuring the requirement through a single contract will ensure standardisation of equipment and a consistent user experience for staff and students. Dividing the requirement into lots could result in different equipment being supplied across campuses, leading to increased operational complexity and reduced efficiencies.

CPV: Analysers · Analysis apparatus · Detection and analysis apparatus · Installation services of laboratory equipment · Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) · Machines and apparatus for testing and measuring · Measuring instruments · Metering instruments

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Renewal 2 yrsSMEPublished value£201,667
Contract period: 26 Feb 2027 – 25 Feb 2029 (2 yrs) · up to 25 Feb 2031 with extensionsValue: £201,667 exc. VAT · £242,000 inc. VAT
Eligibility: SME eligibleTurnover guideline: ~£201,391/yr≈ 2× annual value
Extensions: An additional standard HPLC with same specification may be purchased for Armagh SRC within a period of 12 months from the commissioning completion date of two (2) standard HPLCs. This is subject to budgetary approval and agreement between the Buyer and Supplier. The Supplier must hold their submitted tender price including additional warranty and servicing for the full 12 months period for the additional equipment. If funding and approvals do become available, the Buyer will contact the Supplier to arrange the additional purchase and to agree on removal of the equipment and potential trade in of existing equipment in Armagh SRC in line with section 4 of specification · Following the initial contract period, there are 2 potential extension periods of 2 months each. Optional extension periods will be subject to review and satisfactory performance assessment by the Contracting Authority.

Who is likely to bid for this lot ↓

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids are scored
  • AC1 - Compliance with the Specification Schedule: Pass/Fail Criterion
  • Ac2 - Provision of a Technical Brochure and / or Supporting Technical Documentation (For all equipment): Pass/Fail Criterion
  • AC3 - Supply and Quality Control: Weighting 10%
  • AC4 - Total contract price: Weighting 90%

No conditions of participation were published on the notice; check the tender documents.

What this means for your bid
  • Turnover usually expected at this size: about £201,391 (twice the annual value).

Turnover is an indicative market norm (≈2× annual value), not a published condition.

Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid

How Southern Regional College buys Detection and analysis apparatus (CPV 3843), and who usually turns up

Southern Regional College’s published record next to the market for the same work. Frameworks and DPS are left out: they draw different bid counts. Whole-market view: Detection and analysis apparatus (CPV 3843) →

1

How the contest usually goes

Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.

Question for the bid
This buyerSouthern Regional College · all categories
The marketDetection and analysis apparatus (CPV 3843) · Northern Ireland (authority’s region)
What to do with it
How often do SMEs win?
i

How often small and medium firms win.

Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.

The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.

Last 36 months.

Buyer: 4 of 13 known-size awards · market: CPV 3843 · Northern Ireland (authority’s region), n=12
31%33%

Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.

How often do local suppliers win?
i

How often local firms win similar work.

Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.

Local means the winner is registered in the region where that award was delivered. The market figure counts awards delivered in Northern Ireland (authority’s region).

A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.

Last 36 months.

Buyer: no winner locations published · market: CPV 3843 · Northern Ireland (authority’s region), n=8
—13%

No winner locations published for this authority. Local means a registered address in the region where that award was delivered.

How long to a decision?
i

How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.

Middle value in days from the bid deadline to the award date, on competitions that published both.

Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.

Last 36 months.

Buyer: no decision dates published · market: CPV 3843 · Northern Ireland (authority’s region), n=9
—11 days

Half of these awards have an award date within 11 days of the bid deadline.

How often single-bid or direct?
i

How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.

Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.

Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.

Last 36 months.

Buyer: exactly 0 of 4 procurements with awards had no recorded rival · market: CPV 3843 · Northern Ireland (authority’s region), n=14
0 of 436%

Missing bid counts may hide more single-bid awards. This share is a minimum.

How many bids did past lots attract?

i

How many bids past lots received.

Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.

Past bids do not predict this tender.

Last 36 months.

This buyer15 lots with bid counts · all categories
0% had one bid
The market16 lots with bid counts · CPV 3843 · Northern Ireland (authority’s region)
38% had one bid
Buyer / market · select a colour for counts
1 bid0% / 38%
Buyer: 0 of 15 lots with published bid counts. Market: 6 of 16 lots with published bid counts.
2–353% / 56%
Buyer: 8 of 15 lots with published bid counts. Market: 9 of 16 lots with published bid counts.
4–60% / 0%
Buyer: 0 of 15 lots with published bid counts. Market: 0 of 16 lots with published bid counts.
7+47% / 6%
Buyer: 7 of 15 lots with published bid counts. Market: 1 of 16 lots with published bid counts.

How did awards compare with estimates?

i

Where winning prices landed against estimates.

Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.

Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.

Last 36 months.

This buyer12 lots with estimate and award · all categories
0% below estimate
The market10 lots with estimate and award · CPV 3843 · Northern Ireland (authority’s region)
70% below estimate
Buyer / market · select a colour for counts
Below estimate0% / 70%
Buyer: 0 of 12 lots with an estimate and award. Market: 7 of 10 lots with an estimate and award.
Within ±2%92% / 10%
Buyer: 11 of 12 lots with an estimate and award. Market: 1 of 10 lots with an estimate and award.
Above estimate8% / 20%
Buyer: 1 of 12 lots with an estimate and award. Market: 2 of 10 lots with an estimate and award.
2

Assess each lot
i

What past awards tell you about each lot.

See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.

No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.

Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list

Lot #1CPV 384324 monthsSME suitablePublished estimate£202k
Expected competition
i

How many bids this lot may attract.

The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.

Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.

A forecast, not a list of bidders.

2expected bids25% chance of a single bid
similar past contests in this category: 23
Forecast chances for this lot
1 bid25%
Chance this lot gets 1 bid: 25%. This is a forecast.
2–356%
Chance this lot gets 2–3: 56%. This is a forecast.
4–615%
Chance this lot gets 4–6: 15%. This is a forecast.
7+3%
Chance this lot gets 7+: 3%. This is a forecast.
Commercial price forecast
i

Where the award price may land.

The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.

Based on 14 comparable awards. Each lot reflects its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.

A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.

£192k5% below estimate
14 comparable awards
Forecast compared with the buyer’s estimate
Middle 50%£168k–£202k
Half of likely prices fall between £167,972 and £201,667.
Estimate£202k
The buyer published an estimate of £201,667 for this lot.
A 21% chance the award lands exactly on the estimate.

Who has supplied this buyer on similar work?
i

Who has done similar work for this buyer.

Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.

A past supplier may not bid again.

No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.

Who could compete for this lot?
i

Who could compete for this lot?

Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.

None is confirmed as a bidder.

SupplierWon in this categoryLive contractsAward vs estimate
3 panel places
£448m46 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago11 live · £48m
i

Public contracts this supplier still holds.

Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book.

Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity.

21% below n=5
3 panel places
£546m18 awards in 36m · last 3 months ago6 live · £122m
i

Public contracts this supplier still holds.

Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book.

Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity.

6% below n=1
4 panel places
£37m52 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago21 live · £29m
i

Public contracts this supplier still holds.

Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book.

Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity.

at estimate n=12
1 panel places
£6.6m22 awards in 36m · last this month11 live · £4.1m
i

Public contracts this supplier still holds.

Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book.

Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity.

6% below n=9
£3.5m40 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago17 live · £957k
i

Public contracts this supplier still holds.

Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book.

Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity.

at estimate n=4
About this data
  • Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
  • Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
  • Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
  • Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.

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
Open for tender
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
23 Oct 2026, 17:22 BST
Last source update
23 Oct 2026, 17:22 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 7 Dec 2026
Authority reference
ID 6637252
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-100749
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
AnalysersAnalysis apparatusDetection and analysis apparatusInstallation services of laboratory equipmentLaboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)Machines and apparatus for testing and measuringMeasuring instrumentsMetering instruments
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-078f99 Find a Tender

How to participate & submission route

Official notice Submit via eTendersNI
Submission portal named on this notice: eTendersNI · Who buys & how to bid on eTendersNI
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free Northern Ireland registration
Requests to participate (first stage)
—
Tender submission deadline
18 Nov 2026, 15:00 GMT
Clarification deadline
9 Nov 2026, 15:00 GMT
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

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 ↗

Published estimate £201,667 excludes VAT (£242,000 including VAT).

Timeline

23 Oct 2026 → 26 Feb 2027 · 5 dates
  1. Tender notice published1 day ago
    23 Oct 2026, 17:22 BST
  2. Today
    24 Oct 2026
  3. Clarification questions byin 16 days
    9 Nov 2026, 15:00 GMT
  4. Submission deadlinein 25 days
    18 Nov 2026, 15:00 GMT
  5. Award decision expected byin 45 days
    7 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
  6. Contract startsin 125 days
    26 Feb 2027

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender
  1. Tender notice published
    23 Oct 2026, 17:22 BST
    UK4

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Nothing awarded yet
Awards (0)
No award published
Contracts (0)
No contract published
Bid statistics
No aggregate bid statistics published

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

2 public bodies on the notice

Southern Regional College

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central governmentNorthern Irish devolved regulations apply GB-PPON: PBTJ-5492-VBGW Patrick Street, Newry, Northern Ireland, BT35 8DNContact email

Other public bodies

  • CPD - Supplies and 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 IrelandGB-PPON: PVWG-8426-YWXV Belfast, Northern IrelandContact email

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender