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Published 27 Mar 2026, 08:45 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Microscopy and Imaging Equipment

Official notice

Authority: APUC Ltd (Public body)

Framework agreement7 lotsGoodsOpen procedureSME suitable
Sectors: Medical Devices & Pharma (33)Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) (38)Architecture & Engineering (71) Delivery: UK
Framework ceiling (notional)£80,000,000total for 7 lots · framework ceiling, not attributable revenue
Submissions closed 6 May 2026awarded 4 Aug 2026
Lots 7see the lot list below

What is being bought7 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The Authority was seeking Contractor(s) for the provision of supply, servicing, maintenance and repairs of microscopes and imaging equipment plus related consumables and software used in research, teaching and medical applications across the further and higher education sector and other public bodies in the UK. This includes Full and Associate Members, and future members, and their associated and affiliated bodies of the UK higher and further education regional purchasing consortia:

Other participating bodies include:

  • Scotland Excel and their associate members
  • NHS National (Scotland) Procurement
  • Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture – SASA
  • National Galleries of Scotland
  • National Records of Scotland
  • Scottish Police Authority / Police Scotland
  • Recurrence: February 2029

CPV: Cameras · Laboratory services · Medical laser other than for surgery · Microscopes · Optical microscopes

How this framework works

From the published notice
Places
up to 50 suppliers · 26 bids on the busiest of 7 lots (0.5 per place) · 30 appointed

Lots and requirements (7)Procurement structure

7 lots · no lot values published · evaluation weights differ by lot
Lot #1Optical Microscopes – Low-End (Teaching)AwardedRenewal

A variety of low-end optical microscopes, with a price of 10,000 GBP (excl. VAT) and less, suitable for laboratory teaching including, but

not be limited to:

  • Compound Microscopes – upright or inverted equipment featuring optional fluorescence and camera systems for use in teaching, tissue

culture analysis and routine applications.

  • Stereo and/or Zoom Microscopes - equipment featuring optional fluorescence and camera systems, for routine and clinical dissection,

sorting, and examination.

  • Gel Documentation Systems. Additional information: Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Delivery: Scotland · United Kingdom
Extensions: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions requirements.Variant bids: not allowed
38510000 Microscopes38634000 Optical microscopes
Lot #2Optical Microscopes – High-End (Research)AwardedRenewal

A variety of high-end optical microscopes, with a price of over 10,000 GBP (excl. VAT), suitable for research including, but not be limited

to:

  • Compound Microscopes - upright or inverted equipment featuring optional fluorescence and camera systems for use in teaching, tissue

culture analysis and routine applications.

  • Stereo and/or Zoom Microscopes - equipment featuring optional fluorescence and camera systems, for routine and clinical dissection,

sorting, and examination.

  • Label Free Holographic Microscopes
  • Automated Live Cell (extended time lapse) microscopes
  • Slide scanners. Additional information: Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Delivery: Scotland
Extensions: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions' requirements.Variant bids: not allowed
38510000 Microscopes38634000 Optical microscopes
Lot #3High-throughput SystemsAwardedRenewal

A variety of high-end systems and associated products that can be used in high-content screening set up. The imaging systems can be

laser-based or not. Associated products can be, but not limited to, software for data analysis, automatic sample handling etc. Additional information: Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Delivery: Scotland · United Kingdom
Extensions: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions' requirements.Variant bids: not allowed
38510000 Microscopes71900000 Laboratory services
Lot #4Laser-based Imaging Systems and Laser ComponentsAwardedRenewal

Upright or inverted microscopes using laser technology such as Confocal, Spinning Disc, TIRF, Light Sheet and Multi-photon. Additional information: Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Delivery: Scotland · United Kingdom
Extensions: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions' requirements.Variant bids: not allowed
33128000 Medical laser other than for surgery38510000 Microscopes
Lot #5Super Resolution and Enhanced Resolution MicroscopesAwardedRenewal
  • Deterministic super resolution and stochastic super resolution microscopy equipment such as simulated emission depletion (STED),

ground state depletion (GSD), SPDMphymod.

  • FLIM/FRET systems.
  • Structured Illumination and other techniques (e.g. array detectors) for super resolution or other methods for achieving sub diffraction

optical resolution. Additional information: Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Delivery: Scotland · United Kingdom
Extensions: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions' requirements.Variant bids: not allowed
38510000 Microscopes
Lot #6Detectors (including Cameras)AwardedRenewal
  • Specialist camera and detector components for image acquisition in relation to life science applications and materials research.
  • Other detectors – Photo Multiplier Tubes (PMTs), FLIM. Additional information: Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Delivery: Scotland · United Kingdom
Extensions: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions' requirements.Variant bids: not allowed
38510000 Microscopes38651000 Cameras
Lot #7Light SourcesAwardedRenewal
  • Incendescent Lamps
  • Halogen Bulbs
  • Arc Lamps
  • LED Light Sources
  • Lasers. Additional information: Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Delivery: Scotland · United Kingdom
Extensions: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions' requirements.Variant bids: not allowed
38510000 Microscopes

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 were scored

Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.

LotQualityPriceSplit
1 · Optical Microscopes – Low-End (Teaching)50%50%
2 · Optical Microscopes – High-End (Research)80%20%
3 · High-throughput Systems80%20%
4 · Laser-based Imaging Systems and Laser Components80%20%
5 · Super Resolution and Enhanced Resolution Microscopes80%20%
6 · Detectors (including Cameras)80%20%
7 · Light Sources80%20%
Conditions of participation1
  • Condition of participation
    no text published
    Minimum: Please refer to Question 4B.5 of the SPD and Economic and Financial Standing section of the Contract Notice. Tenderers must confirm that they can provide the following supporting evidence prior to award: Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = 5 Million GBP Public Liability…
What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 20–50 points depending on the lot; most lots put it at 20 points.
  • “Microscopy and Imaging Equipment” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 50 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 · publisher note attached
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
Yes · February 2029
First published
27 Mar 2026, 08:45 GMT
Last source update
25 Sept 2026, 14:48 BST
Award evaluation window
6 May 2026 – …
Authority reference
LAB1047 AP
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-091063
Classification (CPV)
CamerasLaboratory servicesMedical laser other than for surgeryMicroscopesOptical microscopes
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0675e2 Find a Tender
Contract terms
Electronic trading
e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
Performance terms

Submission of Management Information Following commencement of the Framework Agreement, the Contractor will provide a performance report to the Authority on a quarterly basis to include spend by Institution under the Framework Agreement for the reporting period. Contractors must provide the information on a quarterly basis, within 10 working days following the start of each quarter. Data must be uploaded to the website: ucsp.ac.uk ↗.

Publisher note: Economic operators may have been excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Suppliers were asked to confirm they will be in a position to complete (at point of award) the following: Appendix A Form of Tender Appendix B Freedom of Information Appendix D APUC Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct Appendix H Declaration of Non-involvement in Serious Organised Crime Appendix I Declaration of Non- Involvement in Human Trafficking and Labour Exploitation WHERE TENDERER’S TECHNICAL RESPONSE ACHIEVED LESS THAN 50% OF FULL MARKS AVAILABLE FOR THE TECHNICAL ENVELOPE/QUESTIONNAIRE, THEN THE AUTHORITY RESERVED THE RIGHT NOT TO AWARD A TENDERER A PLACE ON THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT. DETAILED EVALUATION CRITERIA AND THEIR WEIGHTINGS WITHIN THE TECHNICAL ENVELOPE, ARE INCLUDED IN THE SECTION 1 OF THE ITT (PAGES 11-12). (SC Ref:844025)

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Public Contracts Scotland · Who buys & how to bid on PCS
Supplier login requiredLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free single registration for Scotland; PCS-Tender (Jaggaer) for full bidding
Appointment period ends
6 May 2026, 14:00 BST
Submission channel
{"electronicSubmission"}
Accepted languages
en
Bid validity
180 days from the deadline
Bids opened
6 May 2026, 15:00 BST
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk ↗

Timeline

6 May 2026 → 25 Sept 2026 · 3 dates
  1. Admission / appointment period ends168 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown
    6 May 2026, 14:00 BST
  2. Bids opened168 days ago
    6 May 2026, 15:00 BST
  3. Notice published26 days ago
    25 Sept 2026, 14:48 BST

Notice history

1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender
  1. Status changed to complete
    25 Sept 2026, 14:48 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Suppliers appointed 30admitted to the panel · see the list ↓
Bids received 2621 from SMEs · busiest of 7 lots
Contracts signed 7latest 4 Aug 2026

7 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.

Contracts

All 6 of these contracts carry the same published figure, £10,000,000, the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each contract's own value. They are not eleven separate sums.

  • Optical Microscopes – Low-End (Teaching)

    Signed
    4 Aug 2026
    Value
    ceiling above
    Status
    active

  • Optical Microscopes – High-End (Research)

    Signed
    4 Aug 2026
    Value
    £20,000,000
    Status
    active

  • High-throughput Systems

    Signed
    4 Aug 2026
    Value
    ceiling above
    Status
    active

  • Laser-based Imaging Systems and Laser Components

    Signed
    4 Aug 2026
    Value
    ceiling above
    Status
    active

  • Super Resolution and Enhanced Resolution Microscopes

    Signed
    4 Aug 2026
    Value
    ceiling above
    Status
    active

  • Detectors (including Cameras)

    Signed
    4 Aug 2026
    Value
    ceiling above
    Status
    active

  • Light Sources

    Signed
    4 Aug 2026
    Value
    ceiling above
    Status
    active

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · Optical Microscopes – Low-End (Teaching)22bids · 22 electronic · 22 from abroad17——
2 · Optical Microscopes – High-End (Research)26bids · 26 electronic · 26 from abroad21——
3 · High-throughput Systems16bids · 16 electronic · 16 from abroad13——
4 · Laser-based Imaging Systems and Laser Components15bids · 15 electronic · 15 from abroad11——
5 · Super Resolution and Enhanced Resolution Microscopes13bids · 13 electronic · 13 from abroad11——
6 · Detectors (including Cameras)22bids · 22 electronic · 22 from abroad20——
7 · Light Sources20bids · 20 electronic · 20 from abroad17——

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

2 public bodies on the notice

APUC Limited

Contracting authorityPublic bodyBody governed by public lawEducation Unit 27, Stirling Business Centre, Wellgreen, Stirling, Scotland, FK8 2DZContact name, email Published organisation website ↗

Other public bodies

  • European UnionFunder

Framework contractors & participating bidders

30 commercial parties on the notice
  • Appleton Woods LtdFramework contractor New Lindon House, Castesby Park, Kings Norton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B38 8SEContact phone
  • BRUKER UK LIMITEDFramework contractor WELLAND HOUSE, WESTWOOD BUSINESS PARK, Coventry, UK, CV4 8HZContact phone
  • Be Scientific LtdFramework contractor Unit 5, Merrington Business Park, Merrington, Shrewsbury, UK, SY4 3QJContact phone
  • Best Scientific LtdFramework contractor Anchor Business Centre, Frankland Road, Blagrove, Swindon, UK, SN5 8YZContact phone
  • Cairn Research LtdFramework contractor Graveney Road, Faversham, UK, ME13 8UP
  • Carl Zeiss LtdFramework contractor ZEISS House, 1030 Cambourne Business , Cambourne, Cambridge, UK, CB23 6DWContact phone
  • Edmund Optics LtdFramework contractor 1 Opus Avenue, Nether Poppleton, York, UK, YO26 6BLContact phone
  • Evident Europe GmbH – UK BranchFramework contractor Endeavour House, Coopers End Road, Stansted Airport, Essex, East of England, CM24 1AL
  • Fisher Scientific UKFramework contractor Bishop Meadow Road, Loughborough, East Midlands, LE11 5RGContact phone
  • GT Vision LtdFramework contractor Clopton Hall Office, Giffords Lane, Wickhambrook, UK, CB8 8PQContact phone
Show 20 more suppliers
  • Horiba UK LimitedFramework contractor Kyoto Close, Moulton Park, Northampton, UK, NN3 6FL
  • Intelligent Imaging Innovations LtdFramework contractor 13 Westbourne Studios, 242 Acklam Road, London, UK, W10 5JJContact phone
  • K-Tec Microscope Services LtdFramework contractor Business & Technology centre , Bessemer Drive, Stevenage, East of England, SG1 2DXContact phone
  • Leica Microsystems (UK) LtdFramework contractor Larch House, Woodlands Business Park, Breckland, Linford Wood West, Milton Keynes, South East, MK14 6FGContact phone
  • London Laboratory Equipment LtdFramework contractor Unit 4, Ground floor,, Princess Court, Horace Road, KINGSTON UPON THAMES, UK, KT1 2SLContact phone
  • Metprep LimitedFramework contractor 1 Falkland Close, Charter Avenue Ind Estate, Coventry, West Midlands, CV4 8AU
  • Microscopy Supplies And Consultants LtdFramework contractor 6a Carneil Road, Carnock, Fife,, Carnock, UK, KY12 9JHContact phone
  • Nikon UKFramework contractor 1 The Crescent, Surbiton, London, KT6 4BNContact phone
  • Oxford Nanoimaging LimitedFramework contractor ONI, Linacre House, Jordan Hill Business Park, Banbury Road, Oxford, South East, OX2 8TAContact phone
  • Photon Lines LtdFramework contractor Magenta, 2 Brookhill Way, Banbury, UK, OX16 3ED
  • Photonic Solutions LtdFramework contractor Unit 2.2 Quantum Court, Heriot Watt University Research Park, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH14 4APContact phone
  • Promega UK LtdFramework contractor Delta House, Southampton Science Park, Southampton, UK, SO16 7NSContact phone
  • Revvity (UK) Ltd.Framework contractor Llantrisant Business Park, Llantrisant, Pontyclun, UK, CF72 8YWContact phone
  • SciQuip LtdFramework contractor Newtown, Wem, Shrewbury, UK, SY4 5NUContact phone
  • Scientific Laboratory SuppliesFramework contractor Campbell House, M8 Central Business Park, Newhouse, UK, ML1 5FLContact phone
  • Standard BioTools UK LimitedFramework contractor 12 New Fetter Lane, London, UK, EC4A 1JPContact phone
  • Sysmex UK LtdFramework contractor Sysmex House, Garamonde Drive, Wymbush, Milton Keynes, UK, MK8 8DFContact phone
  • TOPTICA Photonics AGFramework contractor Lochhamer Schlag 19, Graefelfing, Munich, DE212, 82166Contact phone
  • VWR International LtdFramework contractor Hunter Boulevard, Magna Park, Lutterworth, UK, LE17 4XNContact phone
  • Verulam ScientificFramework contractor 6 Appley Court, Appley Wood Corner,, Haynes,, UK, MK45 3QQContact phone

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.