Automated EM grid spray deposition and freezing instrument

Stockholm University intend to enter into contract with SPT Labtech for procurement of an automated EM grid spray deposition and freezing instrument.

Stockholm University intend to enter into contract with SPT Labtech for procurement of an automated EM grid spray deposition and freezing instrument.

Förklaring:

The department of Biochemistry and Biophysics is in need of an automated EM grid spray deposition and freezing instrument, it would give a unique research opportunity and support both ongoing and new research projects.

Negotiated without publication of a contract notice / call for competition

Justification for the choice of the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice in the OJEU, in accordance with Directive 2014/24/EU

The works/goods/services can be provided only by a particular tenderer for reasons that are: technical

1) The system must deposit the sample using a piezoelectric spraying-based dispensing tool.

2) The system must employ commercially available self-wicking grid technology.

3) The system must offer on-board optical screening as a way to prioritize grids ahead of downstream microscope screening.

4) There must be no requirement for blotting of the grids at any stage of the workflow.

5) Grids must remain unclipped at the end of the vitrification process to allow entry to a broad range of screening microscopes.

6) The system must automatically handle the grids beyond the initial insertion to reduce manual handling and damage/loss.

7) The system “dispense-to-plunge” time must be possible at timescales of 70 ms or less. This time is inclusive of sample application (dispensing) and vitrification.

8) The system must offer on-board optical screening as a way to prioritize grids ahead of downstream microscope screening.

9) system must contain an in-line glow discharge unit with user selectable values for duration of glow and current applied.

10) system must have automated temperature control of liquid ethane and level sensing of liquid nitrogen used in the preparation of samples.

11) system must be able to capture all relevant parameters and grid images for record keeping and future reproducibility. It must be capable of outputting detailed reports and the end of a freezing session.

This instrument reduces the time that the sample is on the grid and not yet frozen by reducing the time of the deposition to freezeing process greatly, which results in a decreased freezing time, and an increased sample quality, and opens the possibility for development of better time-resolved structural methods.

This instrument will provide a unique research capability for the National cryo-EM unit, hosted by The department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Stockholm University at the Science for Life Laboratory in Solna.

During 2019 the same department at Stockholm University announced a procurement for the same instrument but the market responded that there were no similar or equivalent instrument in production and available at that time because the technology was not yet developed. Since then, the company STP Labtech, has started develop an instrument, the Chameleon, for commercial use that has the requested functions and requirements.

The combination of requirements described above are now fulfilled exclusively by STP Labtech.

This announcement of voluntary ex ante transparency will be followed by a stand still period of 10 days. Contract will be signed no earlier than 10 days from the day the notice of voluntary ex ante transparency is published.