VEAT for Sequencing Consumables and Servicing

University Of Edinburgh

Published: Apr 7, 2026

Updated: May 19, 2026

Source: uk_fts

This tender has been awarded

Awarded to Oxford Nanopore Technologies — £3,949,952

Browse open Health & Medical tenders in United Kingdom

About This Opportunity

Award by University Of Edinburgh (United Kingdom, healthcare): VEAT for Sequencing. Awarded to Oxford Nanopore Technologies (GBP 3.9M, Mar 2026).

This is a supplies contract in the health and medical services sector, with a focus on Medical Equipment. Located in United Kingdom, Europe, this opportunity is open to firms and consortiums.

Published through UK FTS - Find a Tender Service, a national government procurement portal. Public procurement tenders follow the country's national bidding regulations and may have specific eligibility and documentation requirements for the supply of goods in the health and medical services sector. Supply contracts typically require bidders to demonstrate product compliance with technical specifications, delivery capacity, and relevant certifications. This contract has already been awarded. The information is published for transparency and market intelligence purposes.

Description

The University of Edinburgh intends to award a contract to Oxford Nanopore Technologies due to competition being absent for technical reasons for the provision on sequencing consumables and servicing of equipment.

The University of Edinburgh intends to award a contract to Oxford Nanopore Technologies due to competition being absent for technical reasons.
The University has selected Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) as the supplier for a sequencing program of work as they are the only supplier who can meet the project target of sequencing long DNA sequences of varying lengths while detecting native modifications, allowing like-for-like variant and DNA methylation comparison against saliva DNA controls from equivalent European genetic ancestry, by extending a previous successful pilot study with processes leading to more rapid sample results such as terminating sequencing once desired coverage is achieved, and doing so with sufficiently high throughput that is required within the timescale of the project which is 1 year.
The contract is specifically for the purchase of consumables and the 12-month servicing of equipment and the specific justification is as follows:
Oxford Nanopore Technologies is the sole manufacturer and patent holder of the nanopore sequencing technology used in the PromethION platform.
Consumables: The PromethION flow cells and auxiliary reagents are uniquely engineered to interface with the PromethION hardware and integrated software. No third-party consumables are currently validated or chemically compatible with the proprietary sensor arrays within the device. Use of non-ONT consumables would result in immediate loss of data integrity and system failure.
Service & Maintenance: The PromethION system is a highly specialised piece of diagnostic/research equipment. Maintenance requires access to proprietary diagnostic software, firmware updates, and specialised components that are not made available to third-party service providers.
Oxford Nanopore Technologies does not authorise third-party distributors or service agents for these specific products and services. Consequently, ONT is the sole economic operator capable of fulfilling the requirement.

Data provenance

This notice is sourced from UK FTS - Find a Tender Service and was originally published on April 7, 2026. Last refreshed 1 day ago. Reference: 031424-2026. BidsFactory mirrors official procurement notices and links back to the source for full legal text.

About University Of Edinburgh

University Of Edinburgh has issued 378 procurement notices on BidsFactory, including 20 currently open and 275 awarded contracts. Activity concentrates in Research & Innovation, General Supplies & Services, and Health & Medical. All notices are published for United Kingdom. Notices are distributed via Public Contracts Scotland and UK FTS - Find a Tender Service. Most recent publication: May 18, 2026.

Frequently asked questions about this tender

Who is the contracting authority?

This notice was issued by University Of Edinburgh in United Kingdom. The authority is responsible for evaluating bids, awarding the contract, and managing performance.

What type of contract is this?

This is a Supplies contract in the Health & Medical sector. The classification helps bidders match the opportunity to their qualifications and registered scope of supply.

How much was the contract awarded for?

Oxford Nanopore Technologies was awarded the contract for £3,949,952. The figure reflects the value disclosed by the contracting authority in the award notice.

Where will the contract be performed?

The contract is for delivery in United Kingdom. Foreign bidders should review local registration, taxation, and any in-country presence requirements before submitting.

How can I submit a bid?

Visit UK FTS - Find a Tender Service to access the full notice, required documents, and submission instructions. Quote reference 031424-2026 when communicating with the contracting authority.

Is this tender still open?

No — the contract has already been awarded to Oxford Nanopore Technologies. The award notice is archived on BidsFactory for transparency and market intelligence.