Provision of an Automated Microscope for Toxicity Assays

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is planning to purchase an automated microscope for use in its Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards Toxicology Department laboratories.

The microscope, software, and maintenance and support option must meet the following specifications: • The microscope must be an automated imaging system for cells with primary (objective) magnifications of 4x, 10x, 20x, 40x and higher magnification options. • The microscope must have a range of filters to enable the use of fluorescent dyes, at least in the range from DAPI to Alexa 647. • The microscope must be able to image and analyse unstained cells. • The microscope must have built-in environmental controls (CO2, temperature, and humidity) to maintain cell growth and viability for at least 72 hours. • The microscope must have the ability to control the oxygen levels of the incubation from 1% -15% plus ambient. • The microscope must have a Z-stacking option to allow for the imaging of 3D cultures such as spheroids. • The microscope must be able to image from microscope slides. • The microscope must be able to automatically image from 96 well plates. • The microscope must have hardware and image-based autofocus. • Software supplied with the microscope must have the ability to produce pseudo-confocal images. • Software supplied with the microscope must have analysis capacity on both normally acquired and confocal images. • Software supplied with the microscope must have graphical capability for the visualisation of results and the ability to export to commonly used spreadsheets. • Software supplied with the microscope must allow for the continuation of an experiment if the image source is removed from the machine, for example reintubation and then reintroduced at a later time point and perhaps after the imaging of other experiments. • Software supplied with the microscope must have user-assisted recognition of objects to define analysis parameters. • Software supplied with the microscope must have the ability to use unsupervised and supervised learning methods to enable characterization and quantitation of object populations. • The supplier must provide training for a minimum of two individuals after contract award. • The supplier must be able to provide fully comprehensive maintenance cover, including preventative maintenance for the duration of the contract (3 years). • Any equipment, software or maintenance provided must be compatible with existing Molecular Devices (UK) Limited automated imaging systems and software, and validated processes currently being used in the laboratories.

If you believe that you have a solution which can meet our requirements, please email scientific.procurement@ukhsa.gov.uk with more information about your proposed solution.

Please do not contact us if you cannot meet the above requirements.

The deadline for responses is 16th December at 12pm.