HTX sublimator – QMRI

Type of document: Contract award
Country: United Kingdom

Section I: Contracting authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Official name: University Of Edinburgh
Postal address: Charles Stewart House, 9-16 Chambers Street
Town: Edinburgh
Postal code: EH1 1HT
Country: United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1316502508
Email: mritchi7@ed.ac.uk
Internet address(es):
Main address:
Address of the buyer profile:

The contract is awarded by central purchasing body
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title: HTX sublimator – QMRI

Reference number: NCA21243
II.1.2) Main CPV code: 33110000
II.1.3) Type of contract Supplies
II.1.4) Short Description:
The Mass Spectrometry Core (MS Core) is a specialist unit within the Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility (CRF) that provides advanced analytical technology support to researchers across the University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (CMVM) and beyond.
The MS Core has a well-developed workflow for analysing small molecules using liquid chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry. This technique is adept at analysing various liquid and homogenized samples, including blood, urine, and tissue extracts. However, the current workflow for sample preparation in MS Imaging has limitations, particularly for lipid analysis. Lipids dissolve in the solvent and lose their spatial location, hindering their detection and mapping.
Our Core Facility supports biomedical research from a wide perspective including measuring many molecular species and tissue types. The chosen system applies a chemical called a matrix to the tissue surface and we need to be able to choose from a catalogue of these matrices to optimise for a diverse range of compounds to support CMVM needs and beyond. Thus, we need a highly versatile system.

II.1.6) Information about lots:
The contract is divided into lots: no
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement(excluding VAT)
Value:86620
Currency:GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
Nuts code:
II.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Mass Spectrometry Core (MS Core) is a specialist unit within the Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility (CRF) that provides advanced analytical technology support to researchers across the University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (CMVM) and beyond.
The MS Core has a well-developed workflow for analysing small molecules using liquid chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry. This technique is adept at analysing various liquid and homogenized samples, including blood, urine, and tissue extracts. However, the current workflow for sample preparation in MS Imaging has limitations, particularly for lipid analysis. Lipids dissolve in the solvent and lose their spatial location, hindering their detection and mapping.
Our Core Facility supports biomedical research from a wide perspective including measuring many molecular species and tissue types. The chosen system applies a chemical called a matrix to the tissue surface and we need to be able to choose from a catalogue of these matrices to optimise for a diverse range of compounds to support CMVM needs and beyond. Thus, we need a highly versatile system.

II.2.5)Award criteria
Quality criterion – Name: Technical/Weighting:50
Price – Weighting:50
II.2.11) Information about options
Options no
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the Official Journal of the European Union in the cases listed below

1.Justification for the choice of the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a call for competition in accordance with Article
32 of Directive 2014/24/ted:EU
The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
absence of competition for technical reasons

3.Explanation
Please explain in a clear and comprehensive manner why the award of the contract without prior publication in the Official Journal of the European Union
is lawful, by stating the relevant facts and, as appropriate, the conclusions of law in accordance with the directive:
The Mass Spectrometry Core (MS Core) is a specialist unit within the Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility (CRF) that provides advanced analytical technology support to researchers across the University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (CMVM) and beyond.
The MS Core has a well-developed workflow for analysing small molecules using liquid chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry. This technique is adept at analysing various liquid and homogenized samples, including blood, urine, and tissue extracts. However, the current workflow for sample preparation in MS Imaging has limitations, particularly for lipid analysis. Lipids dissolve in the solvent and lose their spatial location, hindering their detection and mapping.
Our Core Facility supports biomedical research from a wide perspective including measuring many molecular species and tissue types. The chosen system applies a chemical called a matrix to the tissue surface and we need to be able to choose from a catalogue of these matrices to optimise for a diverse range of compounds to support CMVM needs and beyond. Thus, we need a highly versatile system.
Market research has been carried out by the End Users. HTX Imaging’s HTX Sublimator is the only system on the market to meet the specific technical requirements of the facility and its research. The end-user has discussed the technical capabilities and the systems requirements to achieve their research.
Coating Times – HTX Sublimator uses matrix coating times of 180 to 460 seconds. Allowing rapid sample preparation is vitally important to avoid tissue degradation. Certain molecules are more prone to degradation, so the amount of research would be greatly impacted by slower coating times. The HTX Sublimator will be able to support the wide and diverse projects in CMVM.
Compounds –The HTX Sublimator can use DHB, CHCA, SA, DAN, 9-AA and Norhamane matrices. Alternatives would severely limit the range and quality of work and research which means that the chosen system is more versatile for the facilities’ diverse needs. The end user needs to have the ability to choose from a wide range of matrices to optimise for a diverse range of compounds to support CMVM needs and beyond.
The above points are the end-user’s specific requirement and the HTX Sublimator being the only machine able to meet this requirement is the main justification of the NCA request.

IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement(GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: yes
IV.2) Administrative information
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: NCA21243
A contract/lot is awarded yes
V.2) Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract:2024-04-25
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received:1
Number of tenders received from SMEs:0
Number of tenders received from other EU Member States:1
Number of tenders received from non-EU Member States:0
Number of tenders received by electronic means:1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: no
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Official name: Verulam Scientific Ltd
Postal address: 4 Appley Court, Appley Wood Corner
Town: Bedford
Postal code: MK45 3QQ
Country: United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 7375324315
Nuts code:
The contractor is an SME no

V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot(excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:86620.00
Currency:GBP

Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information:
(SC Ref:764404)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Official name: Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Postal address: 27 Chambers Street
Town: Edinburgh
Postal code: EH1 1LB
Country: United Kingdom

VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Official name: Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Postal address: 27 Chambers Street
Town: Edinburgh
Postal code: EH1 1LB
Country: United Kingdom

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice:
2024-05-06