To enhance the research facilities available, the University of York is looking to acquire an automated protein crystal imaging system with multiple integrated plate incubator units. The system is to be sited within the York Structural Biology Laboratory (YSBL) with the purpose of supporting crystallography work undertaken by YSBL and its national and international collaborators.

The University requires the supply of two compressor-controlled and temperature-stable incubators capable of performing automated storage and retrieval of SBS-type crystallisation plates used for protein crystallisation experiments. The incubators should be supplied integral to an automatic imaging system capable of imaging stored plates according to user-defined schedules. Plates must be imaged using visible and UV light at the same temperature at which they are being stored. The imager and software should be suitable for the requirements of a multi-user facility and allow generated data to be manipulated on multiple pc"s locally as well as allowing remote image access through a web-based interface.

This contract is for the supply and install of the equipment and the provision of a service/maintenance contract for the following years. The length of contract is envisaged to be five years but this may vary, depending on the options provided by the tenderers.

This tender has been published to invite proposals for the above system.