Published date: 20 August 2018

This notice was replaced on 16 November 2018

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

Awarded contract (published 16 November 2018)

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

  • Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) - 38000000

Location of contract

TW11 0LW

Value of contract

£0

Procurement reference

tender_176967/697430

Published date

20 August 2018

Closing date

19 September 2018

Contract start date

20 September 2018

Contract end date

20 September 2019

Contract type

Supply contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (below threshold)

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

This procedure can be used for procurements below the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No


Description

The National Physical Laboratory [NPL] is the UK's National Measurement Institute and is heavily engaged in the research and development of novel measurement processes. The required femtosecond laser system will be used for precision machining of optical materials.

NPL require a femtosecond laser machining system to enable the fabrication of optical waveguides and microresonators at improved accuracies. The high pulse powers should allow for the direct machining of resonators via surface ablation as well as writing of resonators and waveguides inside the bulk of transparent materials via permanent localised refractive index changes (and possibly selective laser etching). Importantly, machining should be possible for a variety of material types - research shall be conducted with numerous crystalline and amorphous materials and the machining system should be flexible enough to allow accurate fabrication for each (materials include fused silica, CaF, Si3N4, and other transparent glasses).

Accordingly, NPL require a femtosecond laser system along with the means to direct this beam into the samples to be machined. Finally, a method to precisely move the sample around the focal spot of the beam is then required for the machining system. NPL understands that full machining systems may not be available, in which case a femtosecond laser will still be required with the remaining parts being assembled "in house".


More information

Additional text

Please ensure that you register on Bravo Solutions (link below) to obtain the documents and submit your interest / intention to bid.

https://lupc.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml


About the buyer

Address

Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
England

Email

James.Webb@npl.co.uk