Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
National Physical Laboratory
Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Research
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Particle accelerator system for the production of standard neutron fields to replace existing Van de Graff accelerator
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
A particle accelerator capable of accelerating protons and deuterons to any energy between 200 keV and 4 MeV. The system will produce a DC ion beam with a maximum beam current of at least 300 µA. The system will include ion source(s), accelerator, beamlines, switching magnet, ion optics/monitoring and control systems. The system will interface with building utilities and safety systems. The accelerator will be used primarily for producing neutron standards, but also opens up options for charged particle irradiations for materials analysis and nuclear physics experiments.
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: £4,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
NPL Management Ltd
Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The accelerator system will be capable of delivering accelerated ion beams to neutron producing targets (targets not included in procurement). The system will include:
• 2 multicusp ions sources to produce protons, deuterons and helium ions
• Pulser/buncher system to produce pulses approximately 2 ns wide at frequencies up to 4 MHz
• 2 MV Tandetron accelerator to accelerate protons and deuterons from 200 keV to 4 MeV and helium ions up to 8 MeV
• Switching/analysing magnet
• 2 beamlines (approx. 14 m and 7 m long) with associated ion optics (electrostatic quadrupoles) and monitoring (faraday cups and profile monitors)
• Computer control system and software
The ion sources, pulser/buncher, accelerator and switching/analysing magnet will fit in the existing accelerator room (approx. 11 x 8.5 m) and the beamlines will extend into the neighbouring experimental area. The procurement will include transportation, on-site acceptance testing, training of personnel and equipment warranty.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Cost criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 80
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 20
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:
The technological solution required by this project is an electrostatic accelerator and there is only 1 company globally that produce electrostatic accelerators with the required specifications, High Voltage Engineering (HVE).
The unique features of the HVE solution are as follows:
• The high voltage generation equipment is based on a Cockcroft-Walton generator and has no moving parts. This results in a highly stable terminal voltage and low electronic noise and voltage ripple. This results in a better beam energy resolution when compared to other similar accelerators. It also simplifies the machine operation, increases the machine reliability, dramatically reducing maintenance burden.
• The accelerator is able to produce higher beam currents than similar machines. Higher beam current means the production of higher neutron fluences which are required for planned research and new measurement services.
• The manufacturer is based in Europe and regulatory alignment to the UK is beneficial. Additional benefits, such as a proximity and similar time zone make the project and ongoing logistics easier (i.e. factory visits, future maintenance).
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
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
28 February 2023
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
High Voltage Engineering Europa B.V.
Postbus 99
AMERSFOORT
3800AB
Country
Netherlands
NUTS code
- NL - Netherlands
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £4,000,000
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
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
NPL Management Ltd
Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
Country
United Kingdom