Scope
Description
The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), led by Queen's University Belfast, is key to an exciting future for manufacturing in Northern Ireland, as an industry-led, open-access manufacturing and engineering innovation centre with state-of-the-art facilities and an expert engineering team, underpinned by academic excellence.
As part of this project Queen's University Belfast wish to procure two 250kN Mechanical Testing Frames. We require both a dynamic and static frame for the testing of metals and composites, with associated grips and environmental test chambers.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 12 January 2026 to 13 January 2031
- Possible extension to 14 January 2041
- 15 years, 3 days
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 38542000 - Servo-hydraulic test apparatus
Engagement
Engagement deadline
17 October 2025
Engagement process description
AMIC is expanding its core capabilities in Digital Factory, Smart Design, Sustainable Polymers and Composites, Nanotechnology and Photonics.
As part of this project, Queen's University Belfast is seeking expressions of interest from suppliers as we wish to procure two 250kN Mechanical Testing Frames. We require both a dynamic and static frame for the testing of metals and composites, with associated grips and environmental test chambers.
Queen's staff wish to engage with suppliers prior to procuring this equipment to:
1 - gain a better understanding of what the market can offer and if the market can respond to a tender meeting our requirements.
2 - identify potential suppliers able to provide the requirement.
3 - understand potential lead times.
4 - gain an understanding of the commercial profile for the requirement.
A pre-market engagement questionnaire has been published here: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/queensuniversitybelfast. Interested parties are asked to complete and return this questionnaire via the InTend platform within 30 days of this notice. Queen's may then contact suppliers for further discussion of the information received in the questionnaire. Queen's do not guarantee that they will speak to every supplier who submits a return.
Participation in the pre-market engagement exercise is not a pre-requisite to participation in any future tender exercise, however, the information provided may be used to inform decisions around the tender exercise. Queen's welcome all participation in this Pre Market engagement exercise.
This Pre Market Engagement exercise is not a call for competition and does not commit Queen's to proceed with a formal procurement. Queen's is not obligated to adopt supplier feedback into the process.
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
17 November 2025
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