Microplate reader with absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence

The European Commission DG JRC plans a negotiated supplies procedure to purchase a microplate reader capable of absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence measurements. The procedure identifier is EC-JRC/IPR/2026/LVP/4833-EXA, main CPV 38000000, maximum contract duration 3 months and the estimated total value is not disclosed. Expressions of interest must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using an EU Login account between 16/09/2026 and 01/10/2026, with an indicative launch of the negotiated procedure on 06/10/2026. Interested suppliers should be prepared to provide full technical specifications, delivery timelines, warranty and after-sales support documentation for the proposed equipment.

Opportunity type

Planned negotiated procedure (low/middle value) — supplies

Procurement for a laboratory microplate reader capable of measuring absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence. The contracting authority is the European Commission, DG JRC Joint Research Centre.

Key procurement identifiers:Procedure identifier EC-JRC/IPR/2026/LVP/4833-EXA. Main CPV 38000000 (laboratory, optical and precision equipment). Maximum contract duration 3 months.

1. 1What is funded: supply of one microplate reader for detection and quantification of biological, chemical or physical events in microplate wells (absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence).
2. 2Who can apply: suppliers of laboratory equipment able to submit electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using an EU Login account.
3. 3Procurement type and value: planned negotiated procedure for a low or middle value contract (no detailed estimated total value published).
4. 4Important dates: expression of interest opens 16/09/2026 and closes 01/10/2026; indicative launch of the negotiated procedure 06/10/2026.

Submissions and expressions of interest must be sent electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal; an EU Login account is required. Full tender documents will be published at the launch of the procedure on the portal Tender page.

Basic procurement facts

Procurement reference EC-JRC/IPR/2026/LVP/4833-EXA. Lead contracting authority:European Commission, DG JRC - Joint Research Centre. Procedure type: planned negotiated procedure for middle/low value contract (publication is an ExA notice announcing intent to launch a future negotiated low or middle value procedure). Nature of the contract: supplies. Main CPV: 38000000 Laboratory, optical and precision equipment (excl. glasses). Maximum contract duration: 3 months. Contract model: single supplies contract; framework-agreement contracting system type indicated as none (planned negotiated procedure).

Description of goods:The contracting authority intends to procure a microplate reader capable of detecting and quantifying biological, chemical, or physical events in microplate wells. Required measurement modes explicitly include absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence.

Key dates and milestone schedule

This publication is an announcement of intent and not the call for tenders itself. Important dates listed in the ExA notice are: start date for expression of interest 16/09/2026 (Europe/Brussels), deadline for expression of interest 01/10/2026 00:59 (Europe/Rome). Indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure 06/10/2026 (Europe/Rome). EXA registration deadline 30/09/2026 23:59:59 (Europe/Rome). Planned date for the call (eForm publication) 2026-10-06+02:00 Europe/Rome.

Submission method and administrative requirements

Expressions of interest and future tender submissions must be sent electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal / eSubmission tool. Submission requires an EU Login account. The method of expression of interest is electronic and submissions must be sent exclusively to the address for submission provided in the future call. The entry is explicitly not a call for tenders but a notice of intent (ExA).

Categorisation and eligibility details

Eligible Applicant Types:Suppliers of laboratory equipment. Typical eligible applicant organisation types are private companies (SMEs and large enterprises) that manufacture or distribute laboratory/optical/precision equipment. Public sector suppliers or contracting consortia could participate if legally permitted, but the notice and CPV indicate a standard supplies procurement directed at commercial suppliers. Research institutes, universities or non-profit providers could respond only if they are legal suppliers of the product. Individual natural persons are not relevant for this supplies procurement.

Funding Type:This is a procurement/tender (public contract for supplies). The financial mechanism is a public procurement contract (purchase of goods), not a grant, loan or equity instrument.

Consortium Requirement:Not explicitly required. The procurement appears targeted at a single supplier contract for supplies. A supplier may present a consortium or subcontracting arrangement if allowed by the contracting rules for negotiated procedures, but the default expectation is a single contracting supplier.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Standard EU public procurement via the European Commission. The contracting authority is an EU body (DG JRC) and the eSubmission system requires EU Login. Suppliers established in EU Member States and potentially EEA/associated countries commonly participate in EC procurements; the notice itself does not list country exclusions. Practically, geographic eligibility aligns with EU procurement rules (EU, EEA and potentially other countries depending on treaty obligations and the procurement documents published in the negotiated procedure).

Target Sector:Laboratory equipment sector: biomedical/life sciences research, analytical chemistry laboratories, diagnostics, chemical analysis, environmental testing and related research infrastructures. The instrument is relevant to health, biotech/medtech, lab infrastructure and general research services.

Mentioned Countries:No specific contracting beneficiary countries are named. The notice references Europe/Brussels and Europe/Rome timezones for dates and the lead contracting authority is the European Commission (DG JRC), headquartered across EU sites including the JRC (with facilities in Member States such as the Netherlands, Italy, etc.). The procurement is published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for EU procurement.

Project Stage:Procurement of off-the-shelf equipment for immediate operational use. This relates to acquisition and deployment stage (purchase for laboratory use) rather than R&D. Expected maturity: commercialization / ready-to-use equipment.

Funding Amount:No estimated total value is provided in the ExA notice (field Estimated total value is empty). The procedure identifier includes LVP which signals low or middle value procurement; exact contract value will be specified in the forthcoming negotiated procedure documents.

Application Type:Expression of interest is required through an open electronic channel on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (open call for expressions of interest linking to a future negotiated procedure). The upcoming negotiated procedure will likely be invitation-based or negotiated with selected suppliers following the ExA process, consistent with negotiated procedure rules for low or middle value contracts.

Nature of Support:Monetary: public procurement contract resulting in payment to the awarded supplier for the supply of the microplate reader (purchase). No non-monetary services described beyond procurement of the equipment; after-sales support or maintenance terms will be in the tender documents.

Application Stages:Two main stages are implied: 1) Expression of interest / registration via the ExA publication and eSubmission (deadline 01/10/2026). 2) Participation in the negotiated procedure once launched (indicative launch 06/10/2026) where shortlisted or invited suppliers submit formal offers. The negotiated procedure may include evaluation and negotiation steps; additional stages will be defined in the tender documents.

Success Rates:Not provided. For low/middle value negotiated procedures the number of participants invited to tender is often limited; success rate depends on number of suppliers expressing interest and those invited to negotiate. No historic success-rate data is available in the notice.

Co-funding Requirement:Not applicable. This is a purchase contract: the contracting authority will fund the procurement; suppliers submit priced bids and no co-funding is required from bidders.

Technical and specification considerations for applicants

The ExA notice contains only a high-level functional description:the microplate reader must measure absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence signals from microplates. No detailed technical specification (e.g., wavelength ranges, detection limits, plate formats, monochromator vs filter, temperature control, shaking, injector modules, software compatibility, data export formats, calibration/certification requirements) is provided in this announcement. Suppliers should prepare to provide full technical specifications, compliance documentation, delivery times, warranty and service conditions, installation and training offers, CE and relevant conformity certificates, and any option modules (filters, optics, automation) when the negotiated procedure documents are released.

1. 1Prepare company registration and proof of eligibility to supply to EU institutions (legal entity form, VAT, registration).
2. 2Ensure ability to submit via EU Login and the Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission tool.
3. 3Assemble standard procurement documentation: commercial offer, technical datasheets, conformity and certification documents, warranty terms, delivery schedule, after-sales maintenance and service contracts.
4. 4Be ready to demonstrate product performance data for absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence modes, compatibility with 96/384-well plates (or other formats if requested), and software/data export capabilities.
5. 5Plan for potential negotiation stage following invitation; pricing may need to be refined during negotiation.

Actionable next steps for interested suppliers:1) Register or confirm EU Login account and company profile on the Funding & Tenders Portal; 2) Monitor the tender reference page for publication of the negotiated procedure documents and formal invitation to participate; 3) Prepare full technical and commercial documentation and be ready for electronic submission within the stated deadlines.

Reference and source:Publication on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for Procurement opportunity EC-JRC/IPR/2026/LVP/4833-EXA available at the portal tender details page Tender details. Additional practical requirements on registration and submission via EU Login are noted in the notice ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1EU Login is required to subscribe to calls for tenders, submit questions and requests to participate/tenders electronically. See EU Login help on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

This is a planned negotiated procedure for a middle or low value supplies contract issued by the European Commission, DG JRC Joint Research Centre. It concerns the procurement of a microplate reader used to detect and quantify biological, chemical or physical events within microplate wells through absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence measurements.

Opportunity status

The notice is not a live call for tenders yet. It is a publication announcing the contracting authority's intention to launch a future negotiated low or middle value procedure, so the current action available to suppliers is expression of interest.

Key procurement details

Who can apply

The planned notice does not publish a detailed eligibility list. At this stage, suppliers that can provide the required laboratory equipment and are capable of taking part in a future negotiated procurement may express interest. The portal flags the opportunity as not specifically SME suitable, so it should not be assumed to be tailored for small and medium sized enterprises.

Funding amount and financial conditions

Funding or contract value:The estimated total value is not published in the notice, so applicants should expect the financial scale to be clarified only when the negotiated procedure is launched.

Funding rate:Not applicable. This is a procurement contract for supplies, not a grant.

Contract duration:The maximum contract duration is 3 months.

Timeline

1. 1Start date for expression of interest: 16/09/2026 Europe Brussels
2. 2Deadline for expression of interest: 01/10/2026 00:59 Europe Rome
3. 3Indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure: 06/10/2026 Europe Rome

Submission requirements

Expressions of interest must be submitted electronically and exclusively through the address indicated in the portal. An EU Login account is required for electronic submission and for access to the eProcurement functions.

What applicants should be ready to show

• Ability to supply a microplate reader with absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence capability
• Relevant experience in laboratory, optical or precision equipment supply
• Capacity to deliver within a short contract period
• Technical documentation and product specifications for the proposed equipment
• After sales support, service and calibration or validation information if requested in the later procedure

Practical assessment for bidders

This opportunity is best seen as a pre tender market signal rather than a full competitive call. Suppliers monitoring JRC laboratory procurement should register interest early, because the expression of interest window is short and the future negotiated procedure may move quickly after publication.

Official portal record:EU Funding and Tenders Portal opportunity