Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
National Physical Laboratory
Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
Contact
Simon Coller
Telephone
+44 2089436485
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKI - LONDON
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
UK National Measurement Institute
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Optical Fibre Time Transfer Hardware
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
NPL proposes to award a contract to PikTime Systems for the supply of ELSTAB fibre-optic time and frequency distribution hardware.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £500,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 31221600 - Time relays
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI - LONDON
Main site or place of performance
NPL Teddington
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The requirement is for ELSTAB (electronically stabilised fibre-optic time and frequency distribution) modules and optical distribution amplifiers for use in a time scale application.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
NPL proposes to award a contract for ELSTAB (electronically stabilised fibre-optic time and frequency distribution) modules to PikTime Systems sp. z o.o.
In its role as the UK’s National Measurement Institute, NPL is developing a new, resilient time scale for national use. The time accuracy and stability, and also the reliability, of the system will depend heavily on the supporting fibre-optic technology employed in its operation. The ELSTAB technology developed by AGH University of Science and Technology, for which PikTime is the commercial supplier, will therefore be key to the success of the new time scale.
NPL has previously worked collaboratively with AGH University to assess the suitability of ELSTAB for use in the Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) space mission. As part of ACES, NPL rigorously tested and evaluated the performance of the University’s ELSTAB technology. This was a time-consuming process which has made it clear that the testing of any alternative technology which might potentially be suitable for NPL’s new application would have serious impacts on our project timings and budget because it couldn’t feasibly be completed in less than 6 months.
NPL has also collaborated on published research with the University, concerning the use of the ELSTAB technology during the development of our caesium fountain primary frequency standard.
PikTime Systems is the only supplier worldwide that can provide technology that NPL has sufficient confidence in to serve in our application. No equivalent product is known to be available from any other source. Alternative technologies are known to be in development around the world but aren’t expected to be launched as commercial products in the short to medium term.
NPL published a Prior Information Notice (2019/S 127-309989) in 2019. There were no expressions of interest from appropriately qualified suppliers.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Title
Optical Fibre Time Transfer Hardware
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
19 January 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
PikTime Systems sp. z o.o.
Mazowiecka 59
Poznań
60-623
Country
Poland
NUTS code
- PL - POLAND
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £500,000
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NPL Management Ltd
Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
Country
United Kingdom