Lightsheet microscope system · UK public procurement notice

Official notice

Authority: University Of Edinburgh (Education)

GoodsAward procedure without prior publication of a call for competition

Sectors: Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) (38) Delivery: Scotland (UKM75)

Awarded value£730,303published contract · exc. VAT

Awarded 3 Oct 2025no call for competition

Awarded to Carl Zeiss Ltd

What is being bought

Published requirement description

IGC and CMVM research requires very high resolution imaging of large samples (organoids, model organisms etc) using very gentle illumination. We have already conducted several detailed studies into the imaging methodology required for our applications and have already ruled out: ‘Spinning disk / point scanning confocal’ type illumination as this is too photo-toxic, Gaussian type light sheet, as the abberations in the light sheet beam path are not compatible with our samples, Oblique Plane type imaging approaches as the field of view and resolution of these approaches are not appropriate for our science.

Since this equipment is mainly for use in Developmental and cancer biology we also need the system to be fully enclosed and provide a very stable environment for periods of days.

It has been determined that a lightsheet type microscope with laser beam forming would be required to fulfil this requirement.

CPV: Microscopes

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Lot #1Awarded

Delivery: Scotland

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached

Procedure method: Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Legal basis: CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category: Goods
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: Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement: Unspecified in notice
First published: 9 Feb 2026, 15:29 GMT
Last source update: 9 Feb 2026, 15:29 GMT
Authority reference: DA0408
FTS notice number: 2026/S 000-011478
Classification (CPV): Microscopes
Delivery area: Scotland (UKM75)
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-064b6d Find a Tender

Why no open competition: The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
Published justification: This was a call-off from APUC buying consortium framework LAB1028AP. Suppliers were engaged in order using the 'Ranked Direct Award' methodology set out in the framework, and Zeiss was the first supplier in the ranking to demonstrate they could fulfil the requirement.

Publisher note: (SC Ref:823166)

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Awards 1

Awarded value £730,3031 contract exc. VAT

Bids received 1

Contracts signed 1latest 3 Oct 2025

Awarded to	Value	Date	Status
Carl Zeiss Ltd	£730,303 †	—	Awarded

Contracts

Contract 011478-2026-DA0408-1 · Carl Zeiss Ltd
Signed
3 Oct 2025
Value
£730,303
Status
active

Bid statistics published by the authority

Bids	SME	VCSE	Valid bid range
1bids · 1 electronic · 1 from abroad	0	—	—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

University Of Edinburgh

Contracting authorityEducationBody governed by public lawEducation Charles Stewart House, 9-16 Chambers Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 1HTContact email, phone

Dispute resolution & review bodies

Edinburgh Sheriff CourtReview body Edinburgh

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Carl Zeiss LtdAwarded supplier ZEISS House, 1030 Cambourne Business , Cambourne, Cambridge, UK, CB23 6DWContact phone

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.