Scope
Description
The Radioanalytical team at Cefas Lowestoft has a requirement to replace some existing end-of-life equipment with a more efficient and reliable model. The Liquid Scintillation counter will be required to have an exceptionally low background count rate to enable necessary improvements to our already low Limits of Detection to support a range of programmes, including Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE), and to help Cefas develop systems approaches and tackle complex environmental challenges.
3. Scope of Requirements
The Supplier will provide an ultra-Low level Liquid Scintillation counter as follows:
3.1. with substantial passive shielding in addition to active methods of background count reduction (integral guard counter, electronic BGD reduction systems etc)
3.2. provide the lowest achievable background count rates for both alpha and beta determinations
3.3. be capable of alpha/beta discrimination and simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple radionuclides/ROI's (e.g. Plutonium alphas and Pu-241 beta emissions) at low environmental levels as well as the typical H-3, C-14, U-234/238, Ra-226, Rn-222, Y-90, Sr-89 etc
3.4. be capable of detecting beta's up to 2MeV and alpha's up to 10MeV
3.5. have beta efficiencies of at least 35% for samples with significant quench although much higher efficiencies would be anticipated for unquenched samples
3.6. have alpha efficiencies of at least 95% and Cerenkov efficiency of at least 60%
3.7. have in-built cooling to maintain appropriate, stable temperature
3.8. have internal, radioactive standard for quench correction curves
3.9. Power supply to be UK socket compatible.
It is essential that delivery is made to Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory no later than week commencing 23 March 2026.
Please refrain from bidding if you are unable to guarantee delivery by this date.
If the awarded Supplier is unable to meet the delivery date agreed in the final Contract, Cefas reserves the right to terminate the Contract as per the Conditions of Contract.
Total value (estimated)
- £196,000 excluding VAT
- £235,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 12 December 2025 to 31 March 2027
- 1 year, 3 months, 20 days
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
As per Bidder Pack
Technical ability conditions of participation
As per Bidder Pack
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
17 November 2025, 5:00pm
Tender submission deadline
24 November 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome
All bids to be submitted via the above eProcurement system.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
1 December 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | Quality | 70.00% |
| Price | Price | 20.00% |
| Social Value | Quality | 10.00% |
Other information
Payment terms
As per the Bidder Pack, available on eProcurement system
Description of risks to contract performance
Non-delivery of goods within the required timeframe.
Cefas requires delivery by no later than week commencing 23 March 2026 due to financial year spend requirements. Failure of the Supplier to meet this requirement will result in cancellation of the Contract and order.
Mitigation applied by informing Supplier's upfront of this requirement and stating that they should refrain from bidding if they cannot meet the timeframe.
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
The market is a very small, known market to Cefas, having purchased these goods (or similar previous iterations). Cefas has engaged with the market informally to request initial indications of costs and delivery lead times, to inform decision on Procurement route and process.
Contracting authority
CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PPGW-5299-JGTN
Pakefield Road
Lowestoft
NR33 0HT
United Kingdom
Email: procure@cefas.gov.uk
Region: UKH14 - Suffolk
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government