Official name: Aarhus Universitet
National registration number: 31119103
Postal address: Nordre Ringgade 1
Town: Aarhus C
NUTS code: DK Danmark
Postal code: 8000
Country: Denmark
Contact person: Jens August Aastrup Munch
E-mail: aumu@au.dk
Telephone: +45 93522562
Internet address(es):
Main address: https://www.au.dk/

Body governed by public law

Education

Konfocal microscope - 2023-0493152

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

Supplies

The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG) at Aarhus University wishes to purchase a high-end laser scanning confocal microscope that can be integrated into the departments imaging facility. The aim is to support the many different research groups at the department, who need to image very diverse samples including cells, plants, and zebrafish with sub-diffraction-limit resolution and with high sensitivity. For example, we require the highest possible resolution and sensitivity to study organization patterns of membrane proteins, local translation in neurons and receptor trafficking and signaling in plants.

This contract is divided into lots: no

Value excluding VAT: 3 870 362.56 DKK

NUTS code: DK042 Østjylland

With the purchased system, we wish to get a laser scanning confocal microscope which can support imaging of the very diverse samples of our facility users. The samples range from bacteria over live cells to whole plants and zebrafish. In particular, we wish to be able to image both fixed and live samples at sub-diffraction-limit resolution to study subcellular molecular organization with as much precision as possible and with a diverse range of fluorophores. In addition, the sensitivity (high SNR) of the system is important to allow detection of low abundant molecules in many different experimental systems.

The system should be set up for simultaneous imaging with multiple colors and also include the possibility for spectral imaging and linear unmixing. To allow for vertical imaging of live plant samples the system should be compatible with installation of a microscope inverter. The system is to be placed in a multiuser facility so ease of operation and the possibility to exchange objectives with microscopes already present in the imaging facility is also important.

The full list of requirements:

1: The system must include the following laser lines 405nm, 445 nm, 488nm, 514 nm, 543 nm, and 639 nm

2: The system must include 4xGaAsP detectors set up for spectral imaging in combination with at least two PMT and a TL-PMT detector. Systems with additional detectors with enhanced sensitivity compared to standard GaAsP detectors will be prioritized.

3: The system should include the following objectives x10, x20, x25 (water) x40(oil), x60 (oil) Plan-Apochromat or equal quality.

4: The system must include hardware and software enabling sub-diffraction-limited imaging with a resolution down to 90 nm.

5: The system should include a stage-top incubator equipped with temperature and CO2 control for live cell imaging.

6: The system should include hardware and software for FRET and FRAP experiments.

7: The system should include software for smart acquisition setup of time laps experiments

8: The system must include a 20 MP cMOS color camera.

9: A optical table should be included.

10: It should be possible to integrate a microscope inverter to allow vertical imaging of plant samples with the system.

Options: no

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

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

Explanation:

We have been in contact with several vendors and discussed their systems and tested some of them Several vendors can provide a laser scanning confocal microscope, which fulfill some of our requirements. Only Zeiss offers a hardware-based system that enable sub-diffraction-limit imaging based on an Airyscan detector. The Airyscan-2 detector in combination with deconvolution software enhance the resolution of the system down to 90 nm in x, y. In addition, to the enhanced resolution the Airyscan-2 detector also provide a 4-8x enhancement of the signal to noise ratio, supporting imaging of samples with even very dim signals. The resolution and sensitivity provided by the Airyscan detector is required to several of our research projects for example the study of membrane protein organization in different subcellular compartments of neurons, activity dependent translation in dendrites and to visualize receptor trafficking and signaling in plants.

The negotiated system is constructed on several patented principles. These include:

EP2825908 (This patent describes the unique detection hardware arrangement of the Airyscan detector) EP2317362 (This patent describes the unique way of analyzing/calculating a super-resolution image based on the emission signal acquired with the Airyscan detector. Benefit: Efficient and fast acquisition and display of super-resolved images.) EP3447559 (The patent describes the basic principle of the Airyscan single elements sub-diffraction-limit resolution detection method focusing on the usability in 3D. Benefit: Super-resolution imaging with Airyscan in 3D.)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: yes

16/02/2023

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: no

Official name: Zeiss
Town: Birkerød
NUTS code: DK Danmark
Country: Denmark

The contractor/concessionaire will be an SME: no

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: 3 870 362.56 DKK

Official name: Klagenævnet for udbud
Postal address: Toldboden 2
Town: Viborg
Postal code: 8800
Country: Denmark
E-mail: klfu@naevneneshus.dk
Telephone: +45 72405708
Internet address: https://erhvervsstyrelsen.dk/klagenaevnet-for-udbud

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:

Please contact Aarhus University, if you have a comment about this notice - udbud@au.dk

Following the notification, a standstill period of 10 calendar days will be held in accordance to paragraph 3 of Act No. 593 of 2 June 2016 on the Danish Act on the Complaints Board for public Procurement. This implies that the Contracting Authority cannot sign the Contract with the winning Tenderer before the standstill period has expired.

In case of complaints about tenders or decisions, e.g. award of contracts covered by Section II or III in the Danish Public Procurement Act must be submitted to the Complaints Board for Public Procurement (Klagenævnet for Udbud) within 45 calendar days from the day after the contractor published a notice in the Official Journal on the conclusion of a contract. At the latest concurrently with submission of an appeal to the Complaints Board for Public Procurement, the complainant must inform the Contracting Authority of the alleged infringement, and whether the appeal is to be referred to the board.

Official name: Konkurrence- og Forbrugerstyrelsen
Postal address: Carl Jacobsens Vej 35
Town: Valby
Postal code: 2500
Country: Denmark
E-mail: kfst@kfst.dk
Telephone: +45 41715000
Internet address: www.kfst.dk

20/02/2023