AwardedAwarded 1 November 2025

Laboratory Gases and Associated Equipment & Services

Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC) · Public body

In brief

Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC) awarded heating and plumbing and training work to BOC Ltd, Buse Gases Ltd and BOC Limited and 1 others on 1 November 2025.

It is split into 12 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

What the notice says

Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC) is seeking to establish framework agreements for the purchase of a wide range of laboratory and workshop gases (including refrigerants) and associated equipment and services. This requirement automatically covers the members of the following higher education regional purchasing consortia; Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC), North East Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC), North West Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC), London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC), Higher Education Purchasing Consortium Wales (HEPCW), Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC), Crescent Purchasing Consortia (CPC), Marine Scotland, TUCO Purchasing Ltd and constituent bodies within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI https://www.ukri.org/about-us/) participate as Full Members of LUPC via UK SBS.

Lots

LotTradeValue
Compressed Industrial Gases
What this lot covers

A range of Compressed Industrial Gases to be supplied, in rented cylinders of various sizes and bar pressures covering the range ‘small cylinders’, ‘standard cylinders’ and manifold cylinder packs. i. Industrial Oxygen (≥99.5%) ii. Air iii. Argon (≥99.998%) iv. Carbon Dioxide (≥99.8%) v. Nitrogen (Oxygen Free) (≥99.998%) vi. Hydrogen (High Purity) (≥99.995%) vii. Acetylene (Dissolved) (≥98.5%) viii. Propane

Heating, plumbing and ventilation, Energy and utilities—
Compressed Medical Gases
What this lot covers

A range of Compressed Medical Gases and gas mixtures, to be supplied in rented cylinders of various sizes to those Participating Institutions that are permitted to use medical gases.

Energy and utilities—
Compressed Research/Special Gases and Gas Mixtures
What this lot covers

A range of Compressed Research/Special Gases and Gas Mixtures (that are not already covered under Lots 1 and 2), to be supplied in rented cylinders of various sizes.

Energy and utilities—
Solid Carbon Dioxide (CO2, ‘Dry Ice’)
What this lot covers

Solid Carbon Dioxide to be supplied in the forms of pellets. A very small quantity in other solid forms including blocks may also be ordered through the agreement.

——
Liquid Helium
What this lot covers

Liquid Helium to be supplied in both rented cryogenic pressure vessels and in Participating Institutions' own cryogenic pressure vessels of various sizes.

——
Liquid Nitrogen and other Cryo Liquids in Small vessels
What this lot covers

Liquid Nitrogen and to a much lesser extent, liquid Argon, Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide is supplied in both rented cryogenic pressure vessels and in Participating Institution's own cryogenic pressure vessels of various sizes

Heating, plumbing and ventilation, Energy and utilities—
Liquid Nitrogen in Bulk
What this lot covers

Liquid Nitrogen to be supplied with a transfer pressure of 1 Bar to specific Participating Institutions in both owned and rented bulk vessels of various sizes

Heating, plumbing and ventilation, Energy and utilities—
Gas Regulators and Handling Equipment
What this lot covers

A range of equipment for use with gas cylinders, cryogenic pressure vessels etc., to handle and monitor gases (including the service, repair and calibration of these items of equipment where appropriate). Prices are also requested for the inspection and certification of Gas Handling Equipment and for Service, Repair and Calibration services for Gas Handing Equipment.

Heating, plumbing and ventilation, Training, Education services, Energy and utilities—
Assorted Fixtures and Fittings including Inspection and Maintenance
What this lot covers

A range of assorted fixtures and fittings for use with gas cylinders, cryogenic pressure vessels etc., to handle and distribute gases (including inspection and maintenance where appropriate).

Heating, plumbing and ventilation, Training, Education services, Energy and utilities—
Dispensing Gases and Associated Systems
What this lot covers

To supply a range of bar dispensing gas including but not limited to high purity, food grade Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide and various mixtures thereof. Gas storage and blending systems may be required by Participating Institutions and shall be quoted for on request.

Heating, plumbing and ventilation, Training, Education services, Energy and utilities—
Gas Safety Training Courses
What this lot covers

To provide a range of Safety Training Courses or Workshops, which cover issues around the safe storage, handling and usage of Gases

Training, Education services, Energy and utilities—
Tanks – including annual servicing maintenance (Liquid Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon)
What this lot covers

To provide a range of tanks which hold Liquid Nitrogen, Oxygen or Argon, sizes if which vary from 25L to 500L.

Heating, plumbing and ventilation, Energy and utilities—

Who won

WinnerLotValueDates
BOC Ltd
Buse Gases Ltd (SME)
2 bids received
Compressed Industrial Gases£16,000,000
BOC Limited
1 bid received
Dispensing Gases and Associated Systems£500,000
BOC Limited
Medical and Industrial Gas Services Ltd (SME)
2 bids received
Gas Safety Training Courses£500,000
BOC Ltd
1 bid received
Compressed Medical Gases£2,000,000
BOC Ltd
Buse Gases Ltd (SME)
2 bids received
Compressed Research/Special Gases and Gas Mixtures£24,000,000
Buse Gases Ltd (SME)
BOC Limited
2 bids received
Solid Carbon Dioxide (CO2, ‘Dry Ice’)£11,000,000
Buse Gases Ltd (SME)
BOC Limited
2 bids received
Liquid Helium£10,000,000
Buse Gases Ltd (SME)
BOC Limited
2 bids received
Liquid Nitrogen and other Cryo Liquids in Small vessels£32,000,000
Buse Gases Ltd (SME)
BOC Limited
2 bids received
Liquid Nitrogen in Bulk£22,000,000
Buse Gases Ltd (SME)
BOC Limited
Medical and Industrial Gas Services Ltd (SME)
3 bids received
Gas Regulators and Handling Equipment£1,000,000
Medical and Industrial Gas Services Ltd (SME)
1 bid received
Assorted Fixtures and Fittings including Inspection and Maintenance£1,000,000

Values as the award notice gives them, excluding VAT where stated.

Timeline

  1. Contract award notice · notice 072177-2025

About the buyer

  1. Water Hygiene Services

    Caledonian Sleeper LimitedScotlandHealthcare services, Construction

    Closing soon2 days left

    £680kestimated
  2. The Supply of Commercial Refrigeration and Freezer Equipment

    Lancashire County CouncilNorth WestConstruction, Heating, plumbing and ventilation

    Closing soon3 days leftSuitable for SMEs

    £400kestimated
  3. Provision of CPU Refrigeration Upgrade

    Northampton General Hospital NHS TrustEast MidlandsConstruction, Heating, plumbing and ventilation

    Closing soon3 days leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £600kestimated
  4. Repairs & Maintenance Framework

    Burnley Borough CouncilNorth WestConstruction, Building maintenance and repairs

    Closing soon3 days left25 lotsSuitable for SMEsFramework

    £3.8mframework ceiling
  5. Major Works 2027

    Places for People Group LimitedNorth East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, ScotlandConstruction, Building maintenance and repairs

    Closing soon4 days left33 lotsSuitable for SMEsFramework

    £163mframework ceiling

From notice 072177-2025 on Find a Tender, first published 7 November 2025. We last checked for changes on 27 September 2026.