Date Category
29th October 2021 Member Update

SUPC members can now access the SUPC led Laboratory & Other Gases, Associated Equipment and Services framework agreement.

Framework Launch Presentation

For a full breakdown of how to use the framework please watch the interactive presentation above or use this link. Created with Prezi, you are able to listen to the full recording by simply clicking the forward arrows at the bottom of the screen, or for a more interactive experience, click onto the section of the presentation that you are most interested in.


Framework Details

This SUPC led Lab Gases Framework is open to members of SUPC, APUC, HEPCW, LUPC, NEUPC and NWUPC, CPC and TUCO.

The agreement went live on 1st November 2021 and will run for 3 years with an optional 12-month extension to 31st October 2025. The framework agreement covers the provision of Lab gases and associated equipment and services.

What’s New:

  • This agreement has two new lots:
    1. Lot 12: Manifold Services including annual servicing and maintenance and
    2. Lot 13: Tanks – including annual servicing maintenance (Liquid Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon).
  • The previous agreement had a lot for Gas Detection Equipment, this has been removed and included in the LUPC Lab Equipment Framework. General Laboratory Equipment framework agreement (LAB5061 LU).
  • There is a new supplier on the agreement for Lots 8, 9, 11, 12 – Medical Industrial Gas Services.

Benefits of Using This Agreement:

  • An easy and compliant route to market for participating Institutions.
  • Competitive rates.
  • A wide choice of suppliers to match your organisational requirements and culture.
  • A set of standard added-value services across all suppliers, complemented by supplier specific added-value services detailed further in the tender response.
  • An account on stop escalation procedure is now included.

Awarded Suppliers:

The following suppliers have been awarded to the agreement under 13 lots:


How do I call-off from the framework agreement?

All call off orders from this framework MUST quote the framework reference LAB4041 SU. Members will determine the correct Lot to use when placing a call-off contract from the Framework Agreement by assessing their requirements against the available Lots.

Call off methods, always at the institution’s discretion, include:
  1. Direct Award
  2. Ranked
  3. Further Competition
  4. Desktop Exercise

How has sustainability been considered as part of the tender?

  • Sustainability carried a significant weighting within the tender at 20%.
  • Questions were drafted based on the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Given the nature of the product, key focus was drawn to the use of raw materials and addressing the likelihood of the presence of conflict minerals within the supplier’s respective supply chains.
  • Other areas of sustainability were focused on aspects of modern slavery and Ethical Trading Initiative basecode, and from a production perspective; initiatives around the reduction of CO2 emissions and efficient water management.

Further information including contact details, service offering and achieved scores is provided in the Buyers Guide available on HE Contracts.