Published date: 13 December 2016

This notice was replaced on 22 March 2017

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 22 March 2017)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Magnetic resonance imaging equipment - 33113000

  • Magnetometer geophysical instruments - 38260000

Location of contract

OX11 0QX

Value of contract

£450,000

Procurement reference

UK SBS PR16217

Published date

13 December 2016

Closing date

18 January 2017

Contract start date

14 February 2017

Contract end date

31 March 2017

Contract type

Supply contract

Procedure type

Open procedure

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

This requirement is for a replacement SQuID magnetometer to replace the current Quantum Design MPMS XL SQuID magnetometer system in the ISIS R53 Materials Characterisation Laboratory (R53 MCL). This system was procured well over 12 years ago and has subsequently become unreliable and slow and can no longer meet the demands placed upon it in the running of the R53 MCL To support the running of the ISIS neutron facility.
ISIS, sited at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), is a pulsed neutron and muon source used to investigate the atomic structure and dynamics within a diverse range of materials for a wide range of scientific research and commercial R&D. It does this through a diverse suite of neutron beamlines situated on two neutron target stations. Each target station is like the hub of a bicycle wheel, with each spoke being a beamline dedicated to a particular neutron scattering technique. These techniques are broadly classed as elastic (where atoms are, "structure") or inelastic (how atoms move, "dynamics") neutron scattering.

The main requirement is for a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQuID) Magnetometer.
A summary of the specification is given below:

The main requirements are:
1) A research level SQuID magnetometer operated with liquid helium, with the ability of collecting data in VSM and standard DC mode, with the ability to vary both applied field and temperature.
2) User friendly and easy to use with quick alignment procedures.
3) The magnetometer must have excellent sensitivityequal or better than 10-8 emu at low magnetisations.
4) The instrument must be able to operate in the 1.8 K- 400 K and ± 7 T range temperature and field rangerespectively.
5) The instrument must be able to accommodate various sample forms.
6) The instrument must be able to run continuously forlong periods with short measuring times.
7) The instrument must have the options for additionalstages and configurations of measuring and mounting samples.
8) A computer with adequate software to control all of the system.
9) All the required accessory equipment, to control the instrument and run measurements must be included.
10) An efficient service to advise-on, repair and update all the equipment.

Full and specific details of all the requirements can be found on the Emptoris e-sourcing platform.

More information

Attachments

Additional text

UK Shared Business Services eSourcing

This procurement will be managed electronically via the Crown Commercial Service's e-Sourcing suite.

To participate in this procurement participants must first be registered on the e-Sourcing suite. If you have not yet registered on the eSourcing Suite, this can be done online at https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk by following the link 'Register for CCS eSourcing'. Please note that, to register, you must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun and Bradstreet) for the organisation which you are registering, who will be entering into a contract if invited to do so. Full instructions for registration and the use of the system can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier

Once you have registered on the eSourcing Suite, a registered user can express an interest for a specific procurement. This is done by emailing ExpressionOfInterest@crowncommercial.gov.uk.
Your email must clearly state: the name and reference for the procurement you wish to register for; the name of the registered Bidder; and the name and contact details for the registered individual sending the email.
Crown Commercial Service will process the email and then enable the Bidder to access the procurement online via the e-Sourcing Suite. The registered user will receive a notification email to alert them once this has been done.
The Sourcing documents can then be accessed on the eSourcing Suite at: https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk using the instructions detailed in the Specification documents within Contracts Finder.

As a user of the e-Sourcing Suite you will have access to Emptoris email messaging service which facilitates all messages sent to you and from you in relation to any specific RFX event. Please note it is your responsibility to access these emails on a regular basis to ensure you have sight of all relevant information.
For technical assistance on use of the e-Sourcing Suite please contact Crown Commercial Service Helpdesk : Telephone: 0345 010 3503 3503 email: supplier@ccs.gsi.gov.uk
Training support to respond to a requirement is available to bidders at http://www.uksbs.co.uk/services/procure/Pages/supplier.aspx

About the buyer

Address

North Star House
North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1FF
England

Email

patrick.mclaughlin@uksbs.co.uk