Scope
Reference
250294
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.
AMIC is expanding its core capabilities in Digital Factory, Smart Design, Sustainable Polymers and Composites Nanotechnology and Photonics. With a growing team of engineers and technologists (currently 50 strong) and building upon a track-record of collaboration with manufacturers it will deliver industry 4.0 solutions for industry. Supported through a £98M investment via Belfast Region City Deal, a 10,000m2 Factory of the Future facility will open at Global Point Newtownabbey in early 2026. The equipment being purchased is critical to the organisational strategy.
As part of this project Queen's University Belfast wish to procure a Femtosecond Laser Workstation.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 20 April 2026 to 20 April 2028
- Possible extension to 20 April 2038
- 12 years, 1 day
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 38636100 - Lasers
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Engagement
Engagement deadline
19 January 2026
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 a Femtosecond Laser Workstation.
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/aspx/Home Interested parties are asked to complete and
return this questionnaire via the InTend platform within 40 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.
Please note that Queen's University is closed 23 December 2025 to 1 January 2026 inclusive.
Any queries received during this time will be answered when the University re-opens.
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
19 February 2026
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