The Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU) plans the purchase of a laser ablation system to be coupled to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The instrument is intended as direct solid sampling for elemental and isotopic analysis by ICP-MS. The instrument is to be used at the European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements, Nuclear Safeguards and Forensics Unit, and to be coupled to a multi-collector ICP-MS (open glove box) and a single-collector ICP-MS (nuclearised closed glove box via a dedicated inlet system designed by ITU). The system must operate with a UV laser, including optics with optical energy attenuation, with a homogenised and flat-top energy profile laser beam. The system must have a computer controlled video microscope, together with an overall software control.