Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
APUC Limited
Unit 27, Stirling Business Centre, Wellgreen
Stirling
FK8 2DZ
UK
Contact person: Ola McIntyre
E-mail: omcintyre@apuc-scot.ac.uk
NUTS: UKM77
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10402
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Microscopy & Imaging Equipment
Reference number: LAB1035 AP
II.1.2) Main CPV code
38510000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
II.1.4) Short description
The Authority is 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 :
- APUC Ltd.(Advanced Procurement for Universities & Colleges): https://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/?#!/members
- HEPCW (Higher Education Procurement Consortia Wales): https://www.hepcw.ac.uk/members/
- NEUPC (North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.neupc.ac.uk/join/members/who-are-our-members
- NWUPC (North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.nwupc.ac.uk/members/
- LUPC (London Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.lupc.ac.uk/members/our-members/
- SUPC (Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium): https://www.supc.ac.uk/our-members/
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
- Forestry and Land Scotland
- Historical Environment Scotland
- Marine Directorate.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Optical Microscopes – Low-End (Teaching)
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
38510000
38634000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
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.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Optical Microscopes – High-End (Research)
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
38634000
38510000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
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.
- Medical Microscopes - Products designed for specialist medical and surgical applications, e.g. colposcopes, surgical loupes and microscopes with specific task fulfilment in neurology, ENT, dermatology, ophthalmology, dental or maxillofacial medicine.
- Label Free Holographic Microscopes
- Automated Live Cell (extended time lapse) microscopes
- Slide scanners.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2025/S 000-030090
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 1
Title: Optical Microscopes – Low-End (Teaching)
A contract/lot is awarded:
No
V.1 Information on non-award
The contract/lot is not awarded
Other reasons (discontinuation of procedure)
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 2
Title: Optical Microscopes – High-End (Research)
A contract/lot is awarded:
No
V.1 Information on non-award
The contract/lot is not awarded
Other reasons (discontinuation of procedure)
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
Economic operators may be 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 should 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
(SC Ref:821133)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Sheriff Court House
Viewfield Place
Stirling
FK8 1NH
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
20/01/2026