Gas controlled biofoundry

Strict anaerobic microorganisms (species that cannot survive exposure to oxygen or ambient at-mospheric conditions) have great potential in green biotechnologies. They have unique capabilities to convert C1 gasses (such as carbon dioxide, methane and carbon monoxide) into stored energy (in the form of ethanol and hydrocarbons), proteins (for food and …

CPV: 73000000 Výzkum a vývoj a související služby
Místo provedení:
Gas controlled biofoundry
Misto zadání:
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet - DTU
Číslo zakázky:
10366

1. Buyer

1.1 Buyer

Official name : Danmarks Tekniske Universitet - DTU
Legal type of the buyer : Body governed by public law
Activity of the contracting authority : Education

2. Procedure

2.1 Procedure

Title : Gas controlled biofoundry
Description : Strict anaerobic microorganisms (species that cannot survive exposure to oxygen or ambient at-mospheric conditions) have great potential in green biotechnologies. They have unique capabilities to convert C1 gasses (such as carbon dioxide, methane and carbon monoxide) into stored energy (in the form of ethanol and hydrocarbons), proteins (for food and other applications) and other industrial bulk chemicals (such as acetone). The development of cell factories and strains has been accelerated by the integration of AI and machine learning tools in a concept known as a biofoundry. In a biofoundry the generation and characterization of high numbers (100-1000) of strains in parallel serves as input data to a model which is then able to describe the next set of designs to test (the classic Design-Build-Test-Learn cycle). Generating high numbers of strains necessitates the use of laboratory automation and liquid handling. We are looking to significantly expand our capabilities in bioengineering and cultivation of strict anaerobic microorganisms by developing an anaerobic biofoundry. The building of an anaerobic biofoundry has significant technical challenges due to the requirement that strains are protected from both exposure to ambient atmospheric gas and oxygen. The large size and maintenance requirements of liquid handling platforms poses further technical challenges, as these must be fully enclosed in an anaerobic environment, while still having the ability to supply fresh tips and other consumables. In addition, anaerobic conditions may affect the performance of liquid handling units as these are generally not tested for functionality under anaerobic conditions. Further, there are challenges in decontamination of these systems, as there is limited access to surfaces for manual disinfection and cleaning. We are therefore seeking a platform that can perform automated engineering (transformation, plat-ing, colony picking etc) of microbial strains under anaerobic conditions. In addition, it should have the capability to cultivate these strains under gas controlled conditions and allow removal of the sealed cultures for analytical analysis without perturbing the ongoing experiments. This should all be accomplished
Procedure identifier : db17709f-4879-4779-9f83-9a78d26f2a05
Internal identifier : 10366
Type of procedure : Negotiated without prior call for competition

2.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Services
Main classification ( cpv ): 73000000 Research and development services and related consultancy services

2.1.2 Place of performance

Anywhere

2.1.4 General information

Legal basis :
Directive 2014/24/EU

5. Lot

5.1 Lot technical ID : LOT-0000

Title : Gas controlled biofoundry
Description : Strict anaerobic microorganisms (species that cannot survive exposure to oxygen or ambient at-mospheric conditions) have great potential in green biotechnologies. They have unique capabilities to convert C1 gasses (such as carbon dioxide, methane and carbon monoxide) into stored energy (in the form of ethanol and hydrocarbons), proteins (for food and other applications) and other industrial bulk chemicals (such as acetone). The development of cell factories and strains has been accelerated by the integration of AI and machine learning tools in a concept known as a biofoundry. In a biofoundry the generation and characterization of high numbers (100-1000) of strains in parallel serves as input data to a model which is then able to describe the next set of designs to test (the classic Design-Build-Test-Learn cycle). Generating high numbers of strains necessitates the use of laboratory automation and liquid handling. We are looking to significantly expand our capabilities in bioengineering and cultivation of strict anaerobic microorganisms by developing an anaerobic biofoundry. The building of an anaerobic biofoundry has significant technical challenges due to the requirement that strains are protected from both exposure to ambient atmospheric gas and oxygen. The large size and maintenance requirements of liquid handling platforms poses further technical challenges, as these must be fully enclosed in an anaerobic environment, while still having the ability to supply fresh tips and other consumables. In addition, anaerobic conditions may affect the performance of liquid handling units as these are generally not tested for functionality under anaerobic conditions. Further, there are challenges in decontamination of these systems, as there is limited access to surfaces for manual disinfection and cleaning. We are therefore seeking a platform that can perform automated engineering (transformation, plat-ing, colony picking etc) of microbial strains under anaerobic conditions. In addition, it should have the capability to cultivate these strains under gas controlled conditions and allow removal of the sealed cultures for analytical analysis without perturbing the ongoing experiments. This should all be accomplished
Internal identifier : 10366

5.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Services
Main classification ( cpv ): 73000000 Research and development services and related consultancy services

5.1.2 Place of performance

Anywhere
Additional information :

5.1.6 General information

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) : yes

5.1.15 Techniques

Framework agreement :
No framework agreement
Information about the dynamic purchasing system :
No dynamic purchase system

5.1.16 Further information, mediation and review

Review organisation : Klagenævnet for Udbud
Information about review deadlines : Complaint regarding the award of a contract must be submitted no later than 45 calendar days from the date after the Contracting Authority has published a notice in the European Union Official Journal informing that the Contracting Authority has awarded/concluded a contract, cf. lov om Klagenævnet for Udbud (Complaints Board for Tenders) § 7, Section 2, no. 1.
Organisation providing more information on the review procedures : Konkurrence- og Forbrugerstyrelsen

6. Results

Direct award :
Justification for direct award : The contract can be provided only by a particular economic operator because of an absence of competition for technical reasons
Other justification : LanzaTech is the only company that has successfully built a functional anaerobic biofoundry with the capability to do automated engineering on strict anaerobic microbes as well as cultivation under controlled gas conditions. A market survey showed that while there are companies that can make large custom anaerobic chambers none of these have demonstrated integration with capability to cultivate strains under gas-controlled conditions. Of the 40 members of the Global Biofoundry Alliance (Home | Global Biofoundries Alliance) only 2 have the capability to perform automated strain engineering under anaerobic conditions (Agile Bio-foundry, and ExFAB) and these do not have any capability to perform cultivation under gas con-trolled conditions. Given the complex technical challenges, it is a requirement that we purchase the services from someone who has demonstrated the ability to do this. Based on this, it is DTU’s assessment that there is basis for a direct award due to lack of competi-tion for technical reasons, cf. § 80, subsection 3, no. 2.

6.1 Result lot ldentifier : LOT-0000

6.1.2 Information about winners

Winner :
Official name : LanzaTech Inc
Tender :
Tender identifier : 10366
Identifier of lot or group of lots : LOT-0000
Value of the tender : 1 086 642 US dollar
Contract information :
Identifier of the contract : 10366
Date on which the winner was chosen : 12/09/2025

8. Organisations

8.1 ORG-0001

Official name : Danmarks Tekniske Universitet - DTU
Registration number : 30060946
Postal address : Anker Engelunds Vej 1
Town : Kgs. Lyngby
Postcode : 2800
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Københavns omegn ( DK012 )
Country : Denmark
Contact point : David Fajnzylber
Telephone : +45 93596840
Internet address : https://www.dtu.dk
Roles of this organisation :
Buyer

8.1 ORG-0002

Official name : Klagenævnet for Udbud
Registration number : 37795526
Postal address : Nævnenes hus, Toldboden 2
Town : Viborg
Postcode : 8800
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Østjylland ( DK042 )
Country : Denmark
Telephone : +45 35291000
Internet address : http://www.klfu.dk
Roles of this organisation :
Review organisation

8.1 ORG-0003

Official name : Konkurrence- og Forbrugerstyrelsen
Registration number : 10294819
Postal address : Carl Jacobsens Vej 35
Town : Valby
Postcode : 2500
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Byen København ( DK011 )
Country : Denmark
Telephone : +45 41715000
Internet address : http://www.kfst.dk
Roles of this organisation :
Organisation providing more information on the review procedures

8.1 ORG-0004

Official name : LanzaTech Inc
Registration number : EIN 92‑2018969
Postal address : Illinois Science and Technology Park
Town : Skokie, Illinois
Postcode : 60077
Country : United States
Roles of this organisation :
Tenderer
Winner of these lots : LOT-0000

8.1 ORG-0005

Official name : Mercell Holding ASA
Registration number : 980921565
Postal address : Askekroken 11
Town : Oslo
Postcode : 0277
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Oslo ( NO081 )
Country : Norway
Contact point : eSender
Telephone : +47 21018800
Fax : +47 21018801
Internet address : http://mercell.com/
Roles of this organisation :
TED eSender

Notice information

Notice identifier/version : 7a6a555b-e494-4fc2-9418-e4f1b0b5de10 - 01
Form type : Direct award preannouncement
Notice type : Voluntary ex-ante transparency notice
Notice dispatch date : 16/09/2025 07:26 +00:00
Notice dispatch date (eSender) : 16/09/2025 07:30 +00:00
Languages in which this notice is officially available : English
Notice publication number : 00606611-2025
OJ S issue number : 178/2025
Publication date : 17/09/2025