Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract details notice

Published 26 Jan 2026, 13:34 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

UKRI-5642 Service Contract for Polara Transmission Electron Microscopes

Authority: UK Research and Innovation (Central government)

Direct award

Sectors: Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) (38)Repair & Maintenance (50) Delivery: East of England (UKH12)

Awarded value£215,245published award · exc. VAT

Awarded 22 Jan 2026no call for competition

Awarded to ISS Group Services Ltd

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Medical Research Council (MRC) have appointed a supplier to provide a service contract for two Polara transmission electron microscopes, a Tecnai Spirit and a Tecnai F20 transmission electron microscope for a period of 3 years.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Lot #1Awarded

Delivery: East of England

38511200 Transmission electron microscope 50000000 Repair and maintenance services

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record

Procedure method: Direct award
Legal basis: UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
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: 26 Jan 2026, 13:34 GMT
Last source update: 17 Feb 2026, 11:27 GMT
Authority reference: UKRI-5642
FTS notice number: 2026/S 000-014208
Latest notice: Contract details notice (UK7)
Delivery area: East of England (UKH12)
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-060e94 Find a Tender

Why no open competition: Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification: The original manufacturer for the Polara’s has stopped providing service contracts for this equipment. ISS Group are now the only supplier with the technical capability and access to parts required to provide a service contract for this equipment.

How it was run

Official notice

Submission deadline: —

Timeline

4 Feb 2026 → 17 Feb 2026 · 2 dates

Standstill ends260 days ago
4 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
Notice published247 days ago
17 Feb 2026, 11:27 GMT

Notice history

4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 26 Jan 2026

Transparency notice published
26 Jan 2026, 13:34 GMT
UK5
Contract award notice published
26 Jan 2026, 15:31 GMT
UK6
Contract signature expected
6 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
scheduled
Contract details notice published
17 Feb 2026, 11:27 GMT
UK7

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Awards 1

Awarded value £215,2451 award exc. VAT

Contracts signed 1latest 6 Feb 2026

Awarded to	Value	Date	Status
ISS Group Services Ltd7 Feb 2026 – 31 Dec 2028	£215,245	22 Jan 2026	Awarded

Contracts

UKRI-5642 Service Contract for Polara Transmission Electron Microscopes · ISS Group Services Ltd
Signed
6 Feb 2026
Value
£215,245
Period
7 Feb 2026 – 31 Dec 2028
Status
active
No agreed KPIs: Not applicable

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PDQJ-7126-JDHG Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire, South West, SN2 1FLContact name, email, phone

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

ISS Group Services LtdAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PBQM-5421-TVXW Unit B2, Greenside Way, Greengate Ind. Estate, Middleton, Manchester, North West, M24 1SWContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender17 Feb 2026, 11:27 GMT
Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender26 Jan 2026, 15:31 GMT
Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender26 Jan 2026, 13:34 GMT