Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
EDGBASTON
BIRMINGHAM
B15 2TT
Contact
Kseniya Samsonik
Telephone
+44 1214146899
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG31 - Birmingham
Companies House
RC000645
Internet address(es)
Main address
www.birmingham.ac.uk/contact/index.aspx
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Procurement of the Femtosecond Spitfire ACE laser system
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 38636100 - Lasers
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Professor Vas Stavros and his group recently (January 2023) relocated from the University of Warwick to the University of Birmingham.
The femtosecond laser system that is sought (as part of Vas Stavros's start-up package) is from a single supplier: MKS Newport Spectra-Physics. The Femtosecond Spitfire ACE laser system (termed henceforth Spitfire ACE) will replace a now obsolete MKS Newport Spectra-Physics Spitfire Pro XP, currently housed in the Stavros Lab at the University of Warwick. This is a like-for-like replacement with superior output stability.
The Spitfire ACE delivers 3) fractions, three of these fractions can be used to optically pump the OPAs that will be transferred from the University of Warwick. The tunability in wavelength output from the OPAs will enable multiple different measurements to be carried out concurrently.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Lowest offer: £1 / Highest offer: £535,846 taken into consideration
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 38636000 - Specialist optical instruments
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Spitfire ACE will dovetail three existing optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs, essentially smaller lasers with unrivalled wavelength tunability) that will be transferred from the University of Warwick to the University of Birmingham. These OPAs are MKS Newport Spectra-Physics supplied OPAs and thus are set up to only be compatible with the Spitfire ACE. For this reason, we are seeking a single source supplier for the like-for-like replacement (vide supra).
Spectra-Physics have done a lot of system work with the Spitfire and OPA together to be able to supply a system with stable output. The result of this work was ACE (Automated Compressor
Enhancement). No other manufacturer has this capability. Whilst the OPAs can be made to work with amplifiers from other manufacturers, drifts in OPA output are not compensated for. The OPAs that Prof. Stavros has have been operated with an amplifier with Automated Compressor Enhancement and for long timescale experiments such as his, this drift compensation is essential. Therefore, the only company that would be able to supply an instrument to meet the University's requirements, particularly the drift compensation (Automated Compressor Enhancement), is Spectra-Physics.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
The Spitfire ACE will dovetail three existing optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs, essentially smaller lasers with unrivalled wavelength tunability) that will be transferred from the University of Warwick to the University of Birmingham. These OPAs are MKS Newport Spectra-Physics supplied OPAs and thus are set up to only be compatible with the Spitfire ACE. For this reason, we are seeking a single source supplier for the like-for-like replacement (vide supra).
Spectra-Physics have done a lot of system work with the Spitfire and OPA together to be able to supply a system with stable output. The result of this work was ACE (Automated Compressor Enhancement). No other manufacturer has this capability. Whilst the OPAs can be made to work with amplifiers from other manufacturers, drifts in OPA output are not compensated for. The OPAs that Prof. Stavros has have been operated with an amplifier with Automated Compressor Enhancement and for long timescale experiments such as his, this drift compensation is essential.
Therefore, the only company that would be able to supply an instrument to meet the University's requirements, particularly the drift compensation (Automated Compressor Enhancement), is Spectra-Physics.
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
Procurement of the Femtosecond Spitfire ACE laser system
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
28 April 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
NEWPORT SPECTRA-PHYSICS LIMITED
Cheshire
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKD - North West (England)
Companies House
02096856
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Lowest offer: £1 / Highest offer: £535,846 taken into consideration
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
BIRMINGHAM
B15 2TT
Country
United Kingdom