Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
ASTON UNIVERSITY
10007759
Aston Triangle
Birmingham
B47ET
UK
E-mail: j.okhihan@aston.ac.uk
NUTS: UKG31
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.aston.ac.uk/
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
SEC-MALS and DSC
Reference number: 1316
II.1.2) Main CPV code
38000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
II.1.4) Short description
This procurement is for the purchase, delivery, installation, commissioning and initial user training of two items of capital research equipment for the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME): a TA Instruments Discovery DSC 2500 differential scanning calorimeter and an integrated Waters
SEC-MALS system comprising size-exclusion chromatography, multi-angle light-scattering and refractive-index detection. Both systems will be supplied with dedicated manufacturer PCs and the
required control and analysis software.
The DSC will support the thermal characterisation of polymers, biomaterials, pharmaceuticals and other advanced materials. The SEC-MALS system will enable the separation and absolute molecular-weight, size and distribution analysis of macromolecules, proteins, polymers and nanoparticles.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
270 718.61
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This procurement is for the purchase, delivery, installation, commissioning and initial user training of two items of capital research equipment for the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME): a TA Instruments Discovery DSC 2500 differential scanning calorimeter and an integrated Waters
SEC-MALS system comprising size-exclusion chromatography, multi-angle light-scattering and refractive-index detection. Both systems will be supplied with dedicated manufacturer PCs and the
required control and analysis software.
The DSC will support the thermal characterisation of polymers, biomaterials, pharmaceuticals and other advanced materials. The SEC-MALS system will enable the separation and absolute molecular-weight, size and distribution analysis of macromolecules, proteins, polymers and nanoparticles.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
2 years extension option for possible service warranty
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
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development under the condition stated in the Directive (for supplies only)
Explanation
This contract was awarded as a direct call-off under SUPC/APUC Framework Agreement (Lot LAB 1029 AP), established under PCR 2015 via Open Procedure (OJEU ref. 697480). Waters Limited is an awarded supplier on the framework-who is capable of meeting the full technical specification for the SEC-MALS and DSC 2500 instruments. The consolidated quotation (ref. 24559100) totals £270,718.61 excluding VAT, within the approved Eveson Trust grant budget (job code 61354). Supported by PSD & Award Report, project reference 1316.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18/09/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Waters Limited
02912366
Waters Limited Stamford Avenue, Altrincham Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, England
Cheshire
SK9 4AX
UK
NUTS: UKD6
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 270 718.61
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court of England and Wales
London
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
24/09/2026