Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13bcf-d26e-72ff-b3cd-124ab49a6aaa/cefas25-115-contract-for-liquid-scintillation-counter-for-cefas-laboratory

awarded GB open procedure Suitable for SMEs

# CEFAS25-115 Contract for liquid scintillation counter for Cefas laboratory

[Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science](https://tendernation.io/buyers/centre-for-environment-fisheries-and-aquaculture-science)

Incumbent usually keeps it

Estimated value

£196,000

Published

6 Jan 2026

Deadline

Closed

24 Nov 2025

## Who can bid

- Buyer says suitable for SMEs

    The buyer ticked “suitable for SMEs” on the notice. Anyone can still bid.
- Buyer says suitable for VCSEs

    The buyer ticked “suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises” on the notice.
- Open procedure

    Anyone can submit a full tender; there is no shortlisting stage.

[More contracts for small businesses and VCSEs](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/for-small-businesses)

## About this tender

The Radioanalytical team at Cefas Lowestoft has a requirement to replace some existing end-of-life equipment with a more efficient and reliable model. The Liquid Scintillation counter will have an exceptionally low background count rate to enable necessary improvements to our already low Limits of Detection to support a range of programmes, including Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE), and to help Cefas develop systems approaches and tackle complex environmental challenges.

The Supplier will provide an ultra-Low level Liquid Scintillation counter as follows:

3.1. with substantial passive shielding in addition to active methods of background count reduction (integral guard counter, electronic BGD reduction systems etc)

3.2. provide the lowest achievable background count rates for both alpha and beta determinations

3.3. be capable of alpha/beta discrimination and simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple radionuclides/ROI’s (e.g. Plutonium alphas and Pu-241 beta emissions) at low environmental levels as well as the typical H-3, C-14, U-234/238, Ra-226, Rn-222, Y-90, Sr-89 etc

3.4. be capable of detecting beta’s up to 2MeV and alpha’s up to 10MeV

3.5. have beta efficiencies of at least 35% for samples with significant quench although much higher efficiencies would be anticipated for unquenched samples

3.6. have alpha efficiencies of at least 95% and Cerenkov efficiency of at least 60%

3.7. have in-built cooling to maintain appropriate, stable temperature

3.8. have internal, radioactive standard for quench correction curves

3.9. Power supply to be UK socket compatible.

Read full description

## CPV classification

Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Source

Find a Tender (UK) · Notice ocds-h6vhtk-05d585-2026-01-06T15:20:09Z

[View official notice](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/ocds-h6vhtk-05d585-2026-01-06T15:20:09Z)

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