Published date: 15 December 2017

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Closing: 10 January 2018

Contract summary

Industry

  • Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) - 38000000

Location of contract

EX4 2LU

Value of contract

£10,000 to £75,000

Procurement reference

20171215143024-53042

Published date

15 December 2017

Closing date

10 January 2018

Contract start date

11 January 2018

Contract end date

12 January 2018

Contract type

Supply contract

Procedure type

Open procedure

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

This microscope will serve as the workhorse system for performing live-cell imaging over a range of magnifications, in all cases with emphasis on achieving superior visualization of specimens using diverse light microscopy methods and contrast techniques including brightfield, phase contrast, polarisation, differential interference contrast and wide-field fluorescence.

Low-magnification will be used to track, identify and maintain populations of cells or larger moving specimens in the field of view for as long as possible, while high magnifications will be used to focus upon and resolve intracellular features, structures, and activity - with particular emphasis on the fast beating motion of cilia and flagella. It is anticipated that high-speed imaging will be necessary to document and analyse such activity.

Key research aims include developing and optimising the microscopy set-up to achieve high quality, high resolution images, optimising the optics for high speed bright field and fluorescence imaging, maximising the ability to control and perturb samples while imaging (e.g. by immobilizing cells or organisms on micropipettes or through the use of microfluidics), making long-duration recordings of single-organism as well as population-level behaviour, establishing new fluorescence imaging techniques for specialist dyes or reporters (calcium, pH, voltage etc) for use in species of interest.

Due to the complexity and range of experiments to be performed with the system, the desired microscope should be as versatile and as reconfigurable as possible, leaving open the possibility for future expansion. In addition to the light microscopy capabilities mentioned above, the system must be capable of wide-field fluorescence imaging. A fully motorised system with intelligently linked optical components is required to enable rapid switching between illumination methods, which is essential for imaging or highlighting different organelles or components within the same cell.

More information

Links

About the buyer

Contact name

Nicholas Taylor

Address

Northcote House
Exeter
EX4 4QH
ENG

Telephone

+44 1392725870

Email

n.taylor@exeter.ac.uk

Website

www.exeter.ac.uk