Official UK procurement notice
ITT for Hot Cell · UK public procurement notice
Authority: MEDICINES DISCOVERY CATAPULT LIMITED (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionMDC is seeking to procure a hot cell system, including design (where required), manufacture, supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, validation, and associated training and documentation. The solution may comprise an existing off-the-shelf product or a bespoke system, depending on the supplier's proposed technical solution and MDC's operational requirements. The contract will also include warranty, maintenance, and ongoing technical support. The hot cell must meet MDC's technical, operational, and regulatory requirements for the safe and effective handling of radioactive materials. Suppliers will be expected to provide a complete, fully operational solution ready for use.
- How the procedure runs: The procurement will be conducted using a Competitive Flexible Procedure. Suppliers will submit an initial tender, which will be evaluated against the published selection and award criteria. MDC may shortlist suppliers for clarification and negotiation to refine technical, commercial, and delivery aspects of their proposals. Where appropriate, refinements to the specification or award criteria will be communicated equally to all shortlisted suppliers. Suppliers will then be invited to submit a final tender, which will be evaluated against the published award criteria. The contract will be awarded to the supplier offering the Most Advantageous Tender. MDC reserves the right to award without negotiation.
- No preliminary market engagement: A (PMEN) was not published because the requirement related to a highly specialised hot cell system, for which the available supplier market was already well understood. The initial activity focused on determining the technical feasibility of the requirement, specifically whether a standard off-the-shelf solution could meet the operational and regulatory needs or whether a bespoke, custom-built system would be required. This was a technical assessment rather than a market testing exercise. Engagement was limited to obtaining technical information to inform the specification and procurement strategy. Publishing a PMEN was not considered to provide additional value, as the objective was to establish the most appropriate technical solution rather than to identify potential suppliers or stimulate market interest. Once the feasibility assessment was complete, the procurement approach was then developed based on availability of an existing commercial product or a bespoke design was required
CPV: Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£300,000
- Technical & professional ability
Technical Ability Conditions of Participation
Suppliers must demonstrate that they have the technical capability, relevant experience and resources to design (where required), manufacture, supply, install, commission and maintain a hot cell system of a similar scale and complexity. Suppliers should provide evidence of comparable projects completed within the last five years, appropriately qualified personnel, and robust quality management processes. Equivalent qualifications, certifications and standards will be accepted where they demonstrate an equivalent level of competence and compliance with the procurement requirements.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
All suppliers that satisfy the published Conditions of Participation will be invited to submit a tender. No further selection criteria will be applied beyond those Conditions of Participation
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).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Technical Solution and Delivery: 85%
- Whole Life Cost: 15%
Published award criteria (2)
- Whole Life Cost: Capital purchase price Installation and commissioning Maintenance Consumables Warranty Lifecycle support
- Technical Solution and Delivery: Compliance with the specification Technical design and functionality Installation and commissioning Project management and delivery programme Training and knowledge transfer Warranty and maintenance arrangements After-sales support Risk management
- Technical & professional ability
Technical Ability Conditions of Participation
Suppliers must demonstrate that they have the technical capability, relevant experience and resources to design (where required), manufacture, supply, install, commission and maintain a hot cell system of a similar scale and complexity. Suppliers should provide evidence of comparable projects completed within the last five years, appropriately qualified personnel, and robust quality management processes. Equivalent qualifications, certifications and standards will be accepted where they demonstrate an equivalent level of competence and compliance with the procurement requirements.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
All suppliers that satisfy the published Conditions of Participation will be invited to submit a tender. No further selection criteria will be applied beyond those Conditions of Participation
- Price carries 15 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 1.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 5 Aug 2026, 16:16 BST
- Last source update
- 5 Aug 2026, 16:16 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 14 Sept 2026
- Authority reference
0348-OPS- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-074354- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dccdFind a Tender
- How it runs
The procurement will be conducted using a Competitive Flexible Procedure. Suppliers will submit an initial tender, which will be evaluated against the published selection and award criteria. MDC may shortlist suppliers for clarification and negotiation to refine technical, commercial, and delivery aspects of their proposals. Where appropriate, refinements to the specification or award criteria will be communicated equally to all shortlisted suppliers. Suppliers will then be invited to submit a final tender, which will be evaluated against the published award criteria. The contract will be awarded to the supplier offering the Most Advantageous Tender. MDC reserves the right to award without negotiation.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 26 Aug 2026, 15:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 26 Aug 2026, 15:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 19 Aug 2026, 15:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Tenders must be submitted electronically via the MDC Proactis eTendering portal using the instructions provided in the procurement documents. Suppliers must register on the Proactis portal (if not already registered) to access the procurement documents and submit their tender. Submissions by email, post or any other method will not be accepted.
Timeline
5 Aug 2026 → 30 Sept 2026 · 5 dates- Tender notice published77 days ago5 Aug 2026, 16:16 BST
- Clarification questions by63 days ago19 Aug 2026, 15:00 BST
- Submission deadline56 days ago26 Aug 2026, 15:00 BST
- Award decision expected by37 days ago14 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts22 days ago30 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Tender notice published5 Aug 2026, 16:16 BSTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Technical specifications
- Bidding documents and specifications Procurement documents are available electronically via Proactis
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender