Live-Cell Imaging System Tender, £975k Value, May Submission Deadline

Tender

260101 - Contract for Supply, Delivery, Installation & Commissioning and Maintenance of a High Throughput Live-Cell Imaging System

• Queen's University Belfast UK4: Tender notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-035421

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0685cf (view related notices)

Published 19 April 2026, 3:06pm

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Contents

Scope Submission Award criteria Other information Procedure Documents Contracting authority

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Scope

Reference

260101

Description

The Future Medicines Institute (FMI) requires a high throughput live-cell imaging system

to enable FMI scientists and collaborators to monitor live cell imaging in real time under

optimal conditions of cell growth in a properly maintained carbon dioxide and humidity

environment to enable the efficient capture of cellular changes as they happen in the

incubator.

The objective of procuring a live cell imaging system is to enhance FMI’s capacity to

monitor cells in real time, in an optimally controlled environment, to support and

strengthen its drug discovery capabilities.

The proposed system must:

• Be capable of multiplate/vessel imaging, up to a capacity of 6 plates/vessels and

including capacity to image 6 384 well plates, to meet the volume of analysis that the

centre is undertaking and support high throughput drug screening projects.

• Enable high resolution fluorescence and bright field images to be captured and recorded

in real time over hours, days, or weeks.

• Offer flexibility to enable users to observe and quantify complex biological changes over

time in cells and 3d structures such as spheroids and organoid models.

• Include a fully integrated image acquisition system to capture real-time insight into

morphological and phenotypic changes and allow multiple users the opportunity to

perform complex cellular assays.

• Offer versatile assay configurations, supporting various experimental formats such as 2d

cell systems and 3d spheroid, and organoid models.

The procurement of this live cell imaging system directly supports FMI’s broader goals of:

• Accelerating drug discovery through rapid identification and characterisation of

therapeutic candidates

• Providing screening capabilities in high-throughput format

• Facilitating translational research by bridging fundamental cellular studies with

therapeutic applications.

The procurement of a live cell imaging system will provide direct benefit to research

scientists within FMI, and wider stakeholders such as partner organisations and the wider

academic community in Queens University Belfast (QUB) by:

• Significantly enhance its cellular screening capabilities.

• Enhancing live cell imaging capabilities and data acquisition throughput in optimised

cellular conditions.

• Reducing time in setting up multiple vessels for multiple time point experiments.

• Reducing plasticware consumables and expensive reagents currently used in setting up

multiple time point experiments.

If funding becomes available to address future expansion needs the University reserves

the right to purchase additional Live-Cell Imaging Systems during the life of the contract.

Subject to the availability of funding, the University may optionally purchase additional

Live Cell Imaging Systems during the term of the contract. Any such additional purchases

shall be non guaranteed, limited to the optional items and maximum quantities and/or

values set out in the Pricing Schedule, and shall have been included in the estimated

contract value for the purposes of this procurement.

Total value (estimated)

• £975,000 excluding VAT
• £975,000 including VAT Above the relevant threshold

Contract dates (estimated)

• 29 June 2026 to 28 June 2029
• Possible extension to 27 June 2036
• 9 years, 11 months, 29 days Description of possible extension:

option to extend maintenance/consumables, software updates or development, beyond this period for a

further period of up to 10 years or the end of useful life of the equipment

Main procurement category

Goods

CPV classifications

Detection and analysis apparatus

Microscopes

Imaging equipment for medical, dental and veterinary use

Contract locations

• UKN06 - Belfast

Submission

Enquiry deadline

13 May 2026, 4:00pm

Tender submission deadline

20 May 2026, 4:00pm

Submission address and any special instructions

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/queensuniversitybelfast/aspx/Home

Tenders may be submitted electronically

Yes

Languages that may be used for submission

English

Award decision date (estimated)

15 June 2026

Award criteria

Name	Description	Type	Weighting
Price	Price	Price	70%
Technical	Technical (Quality) - )

30% Comprising of:- •

Sustainability - 5% •

Ease of use - 10% •

Servicing &

maintenance - 10% •

Lead-times - 5%

Compliance with the

Mandatory Technical

Specification is...

Show full description | Quality | 30% |

Other information

Payment terms

30 days on receipt of a valid and undisputed invoice

Description of risks to contract performance

QUB recognises that certain risks associated with the procurement and operation of a

High Throughput Live-Cell Imaging Analysis System are not fully quantifiable at the time

of tender. These ‘known unknowns’ include, but are not limited to, additional

requirements, supplier failure and switching costs, technology evolution, integration

challenges, data security, regulatory changes, user training & turnover, warranty & service

coverage, supply chain disruptions, and software lifecycle changes, increased value or

scope due to demand requirements. Suppliers are expected to identify any foreseeable

risks, propose mitigation strategies, and demonstrate flexibility in addressing emerging

issues throughout the contract lifecycle.

Whilst it is not possible at this stage to fully anticipate the nature or extent of future

developments or integration requirements, nor to determine their potential impact on

contract performance, QUB recognises that such changes may arise over the course of

the contract. Accordingly, it is acknowledged that these circumstances may necessitate a

modification of the contract to appropriately address and accommodate any emerging

risks or requirements.

Applicable trade agreements

• Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
• Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)

Conflicts assessment prepared/revised

Yes

Procedure

Procedure type

Open procedure

Documents

Associated tender documents

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/queensuniversitybelfast/aspx/Home

Queen's Tendering Portal

Contracting authority

Queen's University Belfast

• Charity Commission for Northern Ireland: 101788 University Rd

Belfast

BT7 1NN

United Kingdom

Email: procurement@qub.ac.uk

Region: UKN06 - Belfast

Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government

Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland