Scope
Reference
AWE01956
Description
AWE is seeking to procure a Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscope (FEG-SEM) to replace an existing instrument. The capability provides analyses of a wide range of material types, including metals, glasses, ceramics and polymers.
Total value (estimated)
- £800,000 excluding VAT
- £960,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 30 January 2026 to 30 January 2027
- Possible extension to 25 January 2031
- 4 years, 11 months, 27 days
Description of possible extension:
Option to extend if optional maintenance offer from appointed supplier is taken up
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Option for maintenance from appointed supplier is required
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 38510000 - Microscopes
Contract locations
- UKJ - South East (England)
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
26 August 2025, 12:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
15 September 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
No
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
13 January 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | Quality | 40% |
| Price | Price | 30% |
| Product Demonstration | Quality | 16% |
| Social Value | Quality | 10% |
| Quality | Quality | 2% |
| ESH | Quality | 2% |
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
This procurement will be run as a two-part (three staged) Competitive Flexible Procedure procurement, per Regulation 20 of the Procurement Act 2023.
Part one is the Invitation to Participate (ITP) Stage. The ITP is to enable Suppliers to complete and submit the ITP Response Questionnaire (ITP Submission). ITP Submissions will be used to determine Suppliers' suitability for this requirement in terms of legal and financial capacity and technical ability. Following assessment of Suppliers' ITP Submissions, AWE will invite the top 5 scoring Suppliers to proceed to the next stage.
Part two is the Invitation to Submit First and Only Tenders (ITSFOT), and is split into two stages. The ITSFOT is to enable Suppliers to submit a Tender and for AWE to evaluate and score the responses to identify its preferred supplier for this requirement.
Part two stage 1 consists of the ITSFOT written submissions from Suppliers. Technical, quality, social value, and commercial elements are assessed at this stage 1.
Part two stage 2 consists of the ITSFOT demonstration submissions from Suppliers. The purpose of the demonstrations is to provide Suppliers the opportunity to demonstrate their solution to a panel of technical evaluators, focusing on how the bidder proposes to deliver the service and specification of goods required by AWE.
Following assessment of Suppliers' ITSFOT stage 2 submissions, AWE will seek to award the contract to the Supplier whose overall ITSFOT submission has been assessed as having scored the highest.
It is anticipated the draft contract included in the ITSFOT document pack will be used unamended and in its entirety at contract award. However, within the rules of this procurement Suppliers are permitted to 'redline' certain stated areas of the contract that they state would require non-material amendments to enable a mutually beneficial contract award.
Documents
Documents to be provided after the tender notice
By email request to RDME.Procurement@awe.co.uk
Contracting authority
AWE Plc
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYCH-2579-LGTN
AWE Aldermaston
Reading
RG7 4PR
United Kingdom
Email: RDME.Procurement@awe.co.uk
Region: UKJ11 - Berkshire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government