Awarded contract

Lightsheet microscope system

Details

Value
£730,302.66
Topic
Microscopes
Published
9 February 2026

Tender 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. Lot 1: 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. Additional information: 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.

Timeline

  1. Completed: Award date3 October 2025
  2. Completed: Award published9 February 2026
    Current notice

About the buyer

University of Edinburgh buys as a higher education institution, through its own Procurement function. Larger tenders are advertised on Public Contract Scotland, via the PCS-T e-tendering platform. Suppliers must register separately on both systems before bidding. Much of this procurement flows through framework agreements with APUC, Scotland Excel and the Crown Commercial Service. Prior information notices invite market engagement from suppliers ahead of larger tenders. The Strategic Procurement team leads regulated sourcing, while Operational Procurement manages day-to-day purchase orders. A Procurement Support team handles reporting, data analysis and training across the function.

Education procurement reached £47.4bn in 2024/25, the fourth-largest public sector budget.

Over the past 5 years, most of University of Edinburgh's contract awards have been in laboratory and precision equipment, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals and software and information systems.

Relevant CPV codes

  • 38510000 · Microscopes

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