Award

Atmospheric gas analyser

  • University Of Edinburgh

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-010243

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-06478f

Published 5 February 2026, 8:56am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

University Of Edinburgh

Charles Stewart House, 9-16 Chambers Street

Edinburgh

EH1 1HT

Email

jpike2@ed.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 1316502759

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.ed.ac.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00107

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Atmospheric gas analyser

Reference number

NCA21386

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 38344000 - Pollution-monitoring devices

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

SUMMARY

The University of Edinburgh Field Spectroscopy Facility requires a sensor system/analyser with the capability to measure N2O (nitrous oxide), CO2 (carbon dioxide) and CH4 (methane) concentrations at altitude/height simultaneously and in real time, at a detection limit in the <1 ppb for methane, <0.5 ppb for N2O and < 200 ppb for CO2. The concentrations are required for flux measurements, and therefore the temporal frequency of measurements is important, measurement frequency needs to be no less than 1 Hz, ideally at 5 Hz.

PAYLOAD WEIGHT AND INTERFACE

To enable use of the facility’s existing UAV equipment the sensor must be able to interface with a DJI M400 drone, and the total sensor weight must be under 7kg.

MEASUREMENT APPROACH

Measurements of these gasses must be made simultaneously, to a synchronised timing and measurement frequency, and the measurement at a given timestamp should be taken from the same shared volume of air. This should produce a single combined data series.

To give an example of the intention;

At timestamp 1, a volume of air, V1, has been ‘ingested’, and will be tested by the analyser to give measurements of N2O(t=1), CO2 (t=1) and CH4(t=1).

At timestamp 2, (1 second in the future, if operating at 1 Hz), a new volume of air V2 is ingested and analysed to give measurements of N2O(t=2), CO2 (t=2) and CH4(t=2).

And so on, at the ‘Hz’ rating the device operates at.

Measurement must be conducted in-situ/in-flight at real time while the UAV operates; storing volumes of air for after-operation analysis would not be suitable.

CONCLUSION

After a market evaluation it is believed there is only one solution which can fulfil the combined requirements – the Aeris Sensors MIRA Strato. As such we intend to award via the Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Call for Competition, to their sole EU distributor, on the basis competition is absent for technical reasons.

Any suppliers who wish to query or challenge this notice should do so within 10 calendar days of its publication.

Value represents cost excluding VAT and import duties (if applicable).

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: 82,840 EUR

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

SUMMARY

The University of Edinburgh Field Spectroscopy Facility requires a sensor system/analyser with the capability to measure N2O (nitrous oxide), CO2 (carbon dioxide) and CH4 (methane) concentrations at altitude/height simultaneously and in real time, at a detection limit in the <1 ppb for methane, <0.5 ppb for N2O and < 200 ppb for CO2. The concentrations are required for flux measurements, and therefore the temporal frequency of measurements is important, measurement frequency needs to be no less than 1 Hz, ideally at 5 Hz.

PAYLOAD WEIGHT AND INTERFACE

To enable use of the facility’s existing UAV equipment the sensor must be able to interface with a DJI M400 drone, and the total sensor weight must be under 7kg.

MEASUREMENT APPROACH

Measurements of these gasses must be made simultaneously, to a synchronised timing and measurement frequency, and the measurement at a given timestamp should be taken from the same shared volume of air. This should produce a single combined data series.

To give an example of the intention;

At timestamp 1, a volume of air, V1, has been ‘ingested’, and will be tested by the analyser to give measurements of N2O(t=1), CO2 (t=1) and CH4(t=1).

At timestamp 2, (1 second in the future, if operating at 1 Hz), a new volume of air V2 is ingested and analysed to give measurements of N2O(t=2), CO2 (t=2) and CH4(t=2).

And so on, at the ‘Hz’ rating the device operates at.

Measurement must be conducted in-situ/in-flight at real time while the UAV operates; storing volumes of air for after-operation analysis would not be suitable.

CONCLUSION

After a market evaluation it is believed there is only one solution which can fulfil the combined requirements – the Aeris Sensors MIRA Strato. As such we intend to award via the Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Call for Competition, to their sole EU distributor, on the basis competition is absent for technical reasons.

Any suppliers who wish to query or challenge this notice should do so within 10 calendar days of its publication.

Value represents cost excluding VAT and import duties (if applicable).

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

We may source maintenance services, spare parts and upgrades for the analyser from the awarded supplier.

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Negotiated without a prior call for competition

  • The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
    • absence of competition for technical reasons

Explanation:

SUMMARY

The University of Edinburgh Field Spectroscopy Facility requires a sensor system/analyser with the capability to measure N2O (nitrous oxide), CO2 (carbon dioxide) and CH4 (methane) concentrations at altitude/height simultaneously and in real time, at a detection limit in the <1 ppb for methane, <0.5 ppb for N2O and < 200 ppb for CO2. The concentrations are required for flux measurements, and therefore the temporal frequency of measurements is important, measurement frequency needs to be no less than 1 Hz, ideally at 5 Hz.

PAYLOAD WEIGHT AND INTERFACE

To enable use of the facility’s existing UAV equipment the sensor must be able to interface with a DJI M400 drone, and the total sensor weight must be under 7kg.

MEASUREMENT APPROACH

Measurements of these gasses must be made simultaneously, to a synchronised timing and measurement frequency, and the measurement at a given timestamp should be taken from the same shared volume of air. This should produce a single combined data series.

To give an example of the intention;

At timestamp 1, a volume of air, V1, has been ‘ingested’, and will be tested by the analyser to give measurements of N2O(t=1), CO2 (t=1) and CH4(t=1).

At timestamp 2, (1 second in the future, if operating at 1 Hz), a new volume of air V2 is ingested and analysed to give measurements of N2O(t=2), CO2 (t=2) and CH4(t=2).

And so on, at the ‘Hz’ rating the device operates at.

Measurement must be conducted in-situ/in-flight at real time while the UAV operates; storing volumes of air for after-operation analysis would not be suitable.

CONCLUSION

After a market evaluation it is believed there is only one solution which can fulfil the combined requirements – the Aeris Sensors MIRA Strato. As such we intend to award via the Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Call for Competition, to their sole EU distributor, on the basis competition is absent for technical reasons.

Any suppliers who wish to query or challenge this notice should do so within 10 calendar days of its publication.

Value represents cost excluding VAT and import duties (if applicable).

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section five. Award of contract/concession

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

4 February 2026

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

GeoGas Analytica

Kneveloord 3

Balen

2490

Country

Belgium

NUTS code
  • BE213 - Arr. Turnhout
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: 82,840 EUR


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

This succeeds prior notice to provide further clarity about the requirement

(SC Ref:822790)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Edinburgh Sheriff Court

Edinburgh

Country

United Kingdom