The instruments platform to be purchased should consist of 3 lots, namely a high content microscopic imaging setup (A), an auto staining system (B) for slides with tissue or cultured cells, a robotic handling system to transfer slides, and an image processing and analysis software (C). The robotic handling system could be integrated in (A) or (B), or in both. 

The output of the high content imaging setup should be whole slide scans which should be aligned from the repetitive scanning processes. The imaging setup should deliver state of the art performance with subcellular resolution. The auto staining system should also be suitable to run staining and hybridisation protocols. A fully automated repetitive staining imaging and quenching process is a plus. 

Not all lots have to be offered by one vendor, but full compatibility between the different lots is a major selection criterion.