Official UK procurement notice
Laboratory Gases and Associated Equipment & Services
Authority: University of Reading (Education)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought12 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionSouthern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC) is seeking to establish framework
agreements for the purchase of a wide range of laboratory and workshop gases (including
refrigerants) and associated equipment and services.
This requirement automatically covers the members of the following higher education regional
purchasing consortia; Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC), North East
Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC), North West Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC), London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC), Higher Education Purchasing Consortium Wales (HEPCW), Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC), Crescent Purchasing Consortia (CPC), Marine Scotland, TUCO Purchasing Ltd and constituent bodies within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI www.ukri.org/about-us/ ↗) participate as Full Members of LUPC via UK SBS.
CPV: Argon · Butane gas · Carbon dioxide · Compressed air · Distribution pipes and accessories · Education and training services · Gas appliance maintenance services · Gas cylinders · Gas tanks · Gas-cylinder outlet valves · Gaseous inorganic oxygen compounds · Gases · +28 more
How this framework works
From the published notice- Places
- up to 12 suppliers · 3 bids on the busiest of 11 lots (0.3 per place) · 3 appointed
Lots and requirements (12)Procurement structure
12 lots · no lot values published · evaluation weights differ by lotLot #1Compressed Industrial GasesAwardedRenewal
A range of Compressed Industrial Gases to be supplied, in rented cylinders of various sizes and bar pressures covering the range ‘small cylinders’, ‘standard cylinders’ and manifold cylinder packs.
i. Industrial Oxygen (≥99.5%)
ii. Air
iii. Argon (≥99.998%)
iv. Carbon Dioxide (≥99.8%)
v. Nitrogen (Oxygen Free) (≥99.998%)
vi. Hydrogen (High Purity) (≥99.995%)
vii. Acetylene (Dissolved) (≥98.5%)
viii. Propane
Lot #2Compressed Medical GasesAwardedRenewal
A range of Compressed Medical Gases and gas mixtures, to be supplied in rented cylinders of various sizes to those Participating Institutions that are permitted to use medical gases.
Lot #3Compressed Research/Special Gases and Gas MixturesAwardedRenewal
A range of Compressed Research/Special Gases and Gas Mixtures (that are not already covered
under Lots 1 and 2), to be supplied in rented cylinders of various sizes.
Lot #4Solid Carbon Dioxide (CO2, ‘Dry Ice’)AwardedRenewal
Solid Carbon Dioxide to be supplied in the forms of pellets. A very small quantity in other solid
forms including blocks may also be ordered through the agreement.
Lot #5Liquid HeliumAwardedRenewal
Liquid Helium to be supplied in both rented cryogenic pressure vessels and in Participating
Institutions' own cryogenic pressure vessels of various sizes.
Lot #6Liquid Nitrogen and other Cryo Liquids in Small vesselsAwardedRenewal
Liquid Nitrogen and to a much lesser extent, liquid Argon, Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide is supplied
in both rented cryogenic pressure vessels and in Participating Institution's own cryogenic pressure
vessels of various sizes
Lot #7Liquid Nitrogen in BulkAwardedRenewal
Liquid Nitrogen to be supplied with a transfer pressure of 1 Bar to specific Participating Institutions
in both owned and rented bulk vessels of various sizes
Lot #8Gas Regulators and Handling EquipmentAwardedRenewal
A range of equipment for use with gas cylinders, cryogenic pressure vessels etc., to handle and
monitor gases (including the service, repair and calibration of these items of equipment where
appropriate). Prices are also requested for the inspection and certification of Gas Handling
Equipment and for Service, Repair and Calibration services for Gas Handing Equipment.
Lot #9Assorted Fixtures and Fittings including Inspection and MaintenanceAwardedRenewal
A range of assorted fixtures and fittings for use with gas cylinders, cryogenic pressure vessels
etc., to handle and distribute gases (including inspection and maintenance where appropriate).
Lot #10Dispensing Gases and Associated SystemsAwardedRenewal
To supply a range of bar dispensing gas including but not limited to high purity, food grade
Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide and various mixtures thereof. Gas storage and blending systems may
be required by Participating Institutions and shall be quoted for on request.
Lot #11Gas Safety Training CoursesAwardedRenewal
To provide a range of Safety Training Courses or Workshops, which cover issues around the safe
storage, handling and usage of Gases
Lot #12Tanks – including annual servicing maintenance (Liquid Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon)CancelledRenewal
To provide a range of tanks which hold Liquid Nitrogen, Oxygen or Argon, sizes if which vary from
25L to 500L.
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).
Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.
| Lot | Quality | Price | Environmental | Split |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Compressed Industrial Gases | 60% | 40% | — | |
| 10 · Dispensing Gases and Associated Systems | 44% | 40% | 16% | |
| 11 · Gas Safety Training Courses | 44% | 40% | 16% | |
| 12 · Tanks – including annual servicing maintenance (Liquid Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon) | 44% | 40% | 16% | |
| 2 · Compressed Medical Gases | 44% | 40% | 16% | |
| 3 · Compressed Research/Special Gases and Gas Mixtures | 44% | 40% | 16% | |
| 4 · Solid Carbon Dioxide (CO2, ‘Dry Ice’) | 44% | 40% | 16% | |
| 5 · Liquid Helium | 44% | 40% | 16% | |
| 6 · Liquid Nitrogen and other Cryo Liquids in Small vessels | 44% | 40% | 16% | |
| 7 · Liquid Nitrogen in Bulk | 44% | 40% | 16% | |
| 8 · Gas Regulators and Handling Equipment | 44% | 40% | 16% | |
| 9 · Assorted Fixtures and Fittings including Inspection and Maintenance | 44% | 40% | 16% |
- Price carries 40 points on every lot: a 10% discount moves about 4 points.
- “Laboratory Gases and Associated Equipment & Services” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 12 suppliers, not a single contract.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 21 Feb 2025, 14:46 GMT
- Last source update
- 7 Nov 2025, 16:19 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- 11 Apr 2025 – …
- Authority reference
LAB4060 SU- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-072177- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e6e3Find a Tender
- Review procedure
Southern Universities Management Services
Reading Enterprise Centre, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road
Reading
RG6 6BU
Email
Telephone
+44 1182284020
Country
United Kingdom
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 11 Apr 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission","written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bids opened
- 11 Apr 2025, 12:00 BST
Timeline
11 Apr 2025 → 7 Nov 2025 · 3 dates- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown11 Apr 2025, 12:00 BST
- Bids opened11 Apr 2025, 12:00 BST
- Notice published349 days ago7 Nov 2025, 16:19 GMT
Notice history
3 events · 7 releases on Find a Tender · since 20 Jun 2025- Buyer details updated20 Jun 2025, 14:02 BST
- Status changed to complete7 Nov 2025, 16:19 GMT
- Buyer details updated7 Nov 2025, 16:19 GMT
Published amendments (5)
Tender submission deadline extended to 2nd May 2025
Tender submission deadline extended to 6th June 2025
Tender submission deadline extended to 20th June 2025
Tender submission deadline extended to 4th July 2025
Modification issued to inform of company name change from Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium to Southern Universities Procurement Consortium.
Routine re-releases (7)
- 2025-06: 1 release · 3 Jun 2025
- 2025-05: 1 release · 16 May 2025
- 2025-04: 1 release · 7 Apr 2025
- 2025-02: 1 release · 21 Feb 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast11 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.
Contracts
All 2 of these contracts carry the same published figure, £1,000,000, the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each contract's own value. They are not eleven separate sums.
Compressed Industrial Gases
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £16,000,000
- Status
- active
Dispensing Gases and Associated Systems
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £500,000
- Status
- active
Gas Safety Training Courses
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £500,000
- Status
- active
Compressed Medical Gases
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £2,000,000
- Status
- active
Compressed Research/Special Gases and Gas Mixtures
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £24,000,000
- Status
- active
Solid Carbon Dioxide (CO2, ‘Dry Ice’)
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £11,000,000
- Status
- active
Liquid Helium
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £10,000,000
- Status
- active
Liquid Nitrogen and other Cryo Liquids in Small vessels
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £32,000,000
- Status
- active
Liquid Nitrogen in Bulk
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £22,000,000
- Status
- active
Gas Regulators and Handling Equipment
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Assorted Fixtures and Fittings including Inspection and Maintenance
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Compressed Industrial Gases | 2bids · 2 electronic · 2 from abroad | 1 | — | — |
| 2 · Compressed Medical Gases | 1bids · 1 electronic · 1 from abroad | 0 | — | — |
| 3 · Compressed Research/Special Gases and Gas Mixtures | 2bids · 2 electronic · 2 from abroad | 1 | — | — |
| 4 · Solid Carbon Dioxide (CO2, ‘Dry Ice’) | 2bids · 2 electronic · 2 from abroad | 1 | — | — |
| 5 · Liquid Helium | 2bids · 2 electronic · 2 from abroad | 1 | — | — |
| 6 · Liquid Nitrogen and other Cryo Liquids in Small vessels | 2bids · 2 electronic · 2 from abroad | 1 | — | — |
| 7 · Liquid Nitrogen in Bulk | 2bids · 2 electronic · 2 from abroad | 1 | — | — |
| 8 · Gas Regulators and Handling Equipment | 3bids · 3 electronic · 3 from abroad | 2 | — | — |
| 9 · Assorted Fixtures and Fittings including Inspection and Maintenance | 1bids · 1 electronic · 1 from abroad | 1 | — | — |
| 10 · Dispensing Gases and Associated Systems | 1bids · 1 electronic · 1 from abroad | 0 | — | — |
| 11 · Gas Safety Training Courses | 2bids · 2 electronic · 2 from abroad | 1 | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
3 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- Southern Universities Procurement Consortium (SUPC)Contracting authority
- European UnionFunder
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Southern Universities Procurement ConsortiumReview body
- Southern Universities Purchasing ConsortiumReview body
Framework contractors & participating bidders
5 commercial parties on the notice- BOC LimitedFramework contractor
- BOC LimitedFramework contractor
- BOC LtdFramework contractor
- Buse Gases LtdFramework contractor
- Medical and Industrial Gas Services LtdFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria