II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ14
Main site or place of performance:
Oxfordshire.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), a component Research Council of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation, whose goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world.
Building work is currently underway at UKRI’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) site for the EPAC (Extreme Photonics and Applications Centre) facility. EPAC will be applied to short pulse high power applications with its 10 Hertz Petawatt Laser. This will provide a step-change in capabilities for laser-driven accelerator research in the UK, enabling a plasma wakefield accelerator facility with multi-GeV electron beams and spatially coherent x-ray and gamma-ray beams for cutting edge experiments in plasma physics, laboratory astrophysics and condensed matter and material science. EPAC will bring together world-leading interdisciplinary expertise to develop and apply novel, laser based, non-conventional accelerators and particle sources which have unique properties.
UKRI, the contracting authority, wishes to purchase a minimum of one laser diode pump system that will be used to pump an ytterbium:YAG laser amplifier providing pulses with an energy of up to 150 J, as part of the EPAC project. The minimum scope of the contract is for the supply of one laser diode pump system (comprising two laser diode sources), with the ability to purchase up to an additional two laser diode pump systems at a later date.
About UK Shared Business Services
UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) brings a commercial attitude to the public sector; helping our contracting authorities to improve efficiency, generate savings and modernise.
Where UK SBS is not named as the contracting authority within the documentation, UK SBS will be acting as an agent on behalf of the contracting authority.
Our broad range of expert services is shared by our customers. This allows our customers the freedom to focus resources on core activities; innovating and transforming their own organisations.
For full details of our partner base please review the following link: http://www.uksbs.co.uk/services/procure/contracts/Pages/default.aspx
UK SBS will be using the Delta eSourcing Portal for this procurement.
To register on the Delta eSourcing portal please use the link https://uksbs.delta-esourcing.com and follow the instructions to register.
If you are already registered on the Delta eSourcing Portal and wish to participate in this procurement, please use the link: https://uksbs.delta-esourcing.com and the follow the instructions to ‘Login’
Once you are logged into the system you will be able to link yourself into this procurement using the access code: 8F4XY3685F
As a user of the Delta eSourcing Portal you will have access to the Delta messaging service which facilitates all messages sent to you and from you in relation to any specific tender event. Please note it is your responsibility to access these messages on a regular basis to ensure you have sight of all relevant information applicable to this opportunity.
The contracting authority expressly reserves the right:
(i) not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice; and
(ii) to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the procurement; and in no circumstances will the contracting authority be liable for any costs incurred by any supplier. If the contracting authority decides to enter into a contract with the successful supplier, this does not mean that there is any guarantee of subsequent contracts being awarded. Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken prior to contract award is accordingly a matter solely for the commercial judgement of bidders.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70
Cost criterion: Price
/ Weighting: 30
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The minimum scope of the contract is for one laser diode pump system, to the specifications detailed. Options are included for the ability to purchase up to an additional two laser diode pump systems at a later date.
The estimated value for one laser diode pump system is GBP 1.3 million-GBP 1.5 million excl. VAT.
Including the options for up to an additional two laser diode pump systems, the total estimated value of the opportunity is GBP 3.9 million-GBP 4.5 million excl. VAT.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
All submissions will be assessed in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, for procurement values that exceed Regulation 5 (Threshold amounts).
Responses must be received by the date in the tender documentation; responses received outside of the deadline or not sent via the Delta eSourcing portal will not be accepted or considered further for this opportunity.