CEFAS25-84 Contract for the Supply of an imaging particle analyser

The Supplier will provide an imaging particle analyser instrument to cover gaps in microzooplankton monitoring capabilities in existing programmes. Currently, 80μm mesh ringnets are used in the annual PELTIC (PELagic ecosystems in the Western English Channel and eastern CelTIC Seas) fisheries surveys but the existing imaging methods (Zooscan) are limited to a lower detection limit of 300μm- sized objects. This potentially means organisms in the 80-300μm size range are being missed out entirely. Cefas therefore require a new instrument that must be capable of using objective lenses to detect objects in the size range of 2μm-1mm. Additionally, the instrument must have the ability to be used on board our research vessel to process samples collected at sea, thereby saving time and resources spent analysing the samples post-survey.

Scope of Requirements:

1.

Technical Requirement

1.1

Must be equipped with objective lens capable of object detection between at least 80μm- 1mm size.

1.2

Must be capable of flow-through automatic image capture with either colour or monochrome images.

1.3

Additional extras to include transportation kit for packing instrument for surveys, including dust cover.

1.4

Must include appropriate image processing software licensing to be able to install software across multiple PCs.

1.5

Must be portable, to allow use both in the lab and to be taken on board our research vessel.

2. Environmental Considerations

2.1

Unit should have an ultra-low power consumption.

2.2

Consideration of how packaging will be managed. Ideally at the time of installation the supplier will remove packaging and dispose of by ethical and environmentally friendly methods. Where possible packaging is to be re-used or recycled.

2.3

Consideration of life cycle assessment for the equipment.

3. Hardware, Software, PC, Licenses, operating systems

3.1

VisualSpreadsheet software (available for installation on other PCs/work laptops), ability to connect to PC/work laptop with Zooprocess and ImageJ software installed. Compatibility with Windows 11 software would be ideal due to recent site upgrades of IT equipment.

4. Installation

4.1

Compatible with UK plug socket.

5. Ease of maintenance

5.1

Easy to clean and flush between sample runs, low-cost cleaning chemicals required without regular need of expensive consumables/parts.

6. Parts, Consumables and Updates

6.1

To provide a fully usable item for all purposes, alongside the core unit,Cefas require provision of:

6.1.1

Objective lens with magnification according to specifications in 1.1

6.1.2

Flowcell

6.1.3

Dust cover

The Short Form Contract – version 1.5 42 of 48 Cefas version 1 April 2025

6.1.4

Transportation kit for survey packing.

7. Warranties, Guarantees, Servicing

7.1

Warranties will start from the point of acceptance of delivery and once the goods have been tested to ensure they are in working order. Cefas expect minimum warranty period of 12 months to be included in the purchase.