Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
Chancellors Close
BIRMINGHAM
B152TT
Contact
Pauline Harrison-Johnson
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKG - West Midlands (England)
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/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
Contract for the Supply and Installation of a Squid Magnetometer with Versatile Measurement Options to the University of Birmingham
Reference number
SC9126/21
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 38400000 - Instruments for checking physical characteristics
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
This project is funded by UK Research and Innovation's Engineering and Physical
Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the University of Birmingham.
The University of Birmingham invites tenders for supply and installation of a
Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer with a versatile
range of measurement options. The SQUID magnetometer and its measurement
options will form the Midlands Mag Lab, a state-of-the-art magnetometry facility
created with the support of an EPSRC Strategic Equipment award. It will facilitate
advanced magnetic materials characterisation by academic and industry users in the
Midlands region and beyond. The equipment will be used to deliver new understanding
of fundamental magnetic materials properties, as well as developing new technologies
that exploit the magnetic properties of solids in the areas of quantum materials and
technologies, energy materials, and sustainable materials and recycling. The broad user
base and diverse range of materials to be characterised with the equipment means that
the equipment interface should be user friendly.
The instrument should perform DC and AC magnetometry measurements on a single
platform over a temperature range of 2 to 400 K in applied fields of up to 7 T. It should
be compatible with a suite of measurement options to enable a versatile range of
experimental conditions that meet the needs of the broad user base. Specifically, the
measurement options should facilitate DC measurements:
With a moment sensitivity in the range of 1 x 10 - 8 emu,
At controlled sub-0.5 K temperatures as well as between 2 K and 1000 K,
With active cancelation of residual magnetic flux so that samples can be cooled
in a field less than 0.05 G,
With field-setting resolution of 0.002 G for a field range up to 20 G,
With sample mounting and automated rotation to enable sample rotations of
up to 360 degrees in 0.1 degree increments in an applied field,
Under applied voltage in a range 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz,
Under applied pressure of at least 1 GPa.
The measurement options should be easily exchangeable and integrated with the main
instrument, with the entire system having a single PC-based controller capable of
executing automated system setting and data collection. The instrument should be a
wet system, connecting directly with the University of Birmingham's helium liquefier
system. It should be delivered, installed, and tested on site with a maintenance and
service package, with key users provided with training.
This project may be funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) or;
- European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) or;
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the strategic partnership of the UK's seven
Research Councils.
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: £721,276
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 38340000 - Instruments for measuring quantities
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The University of Birmingham invites tenders for supply and installation of a
Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer with a versatile
range of measurement options. The SQUID system and its measurement options will form
the Midlands Mag Lab, a state of the art magnetometry facility created with the support
of an EPSRC Strategic Equipment award. It will facilitate advanced magnetic materials
characterisation by academic and industry users in the Midlands region and beyond. The
equipment will be used to deliver new understanding of fundamental magnetic materials
properties, as well as developing new technologies that exploit the magnetic properties
of solids in the areas of quantum materials and technologies, energy materials and
sustainable materials and recycling. The broad user base and diverse range of materials
to be characterised with the equipment means that the equipment interface must be
user friendly and reliable.
General characteristics
A SQUID magnetometry instrument that can be utilised for high-sensitivity and high throughput DC magnetometry measurements of polycrystalline, single-crystal and thin film magnetic materials. The instrument can also be utilised in AC magnetometry
measurement mode. It is compatible with the range of measurement options as specified
in Sections ii - vii below.
Specification
i. The magnetometer should
1) Be a SQUID-based magnetometer,
2) Have a magnetic moment sensitivity of at least 10-8 emu at low fields and
at least 10-7 emu at the maximum field (see ii),
3) Measure a maximum magnetic moment up to 10 emu,
4) Enable measurement of samples of at least 5 mm in diameter,
5) Enable automated sample environment and measurement controls, with
capability for programmable measurement sequences,
6) Operate through a stand-alone software with a user-friendly interface,
7) Be a wet system that consumes less than 5 L of liquid helium per day with a
hold time longer than 10 days.
ii. The magnetic field environment of the magnetometer should
8) Be produced by a superconducting solenoid,
9) Have a field range of at least -7 T to + 7 T,
10) Have a field homogeneity better than 100 ppm over a typical scan length,
11) Have a maximum field charging rate greater than 500 Oe/s,
12) Have a remanent field no greater than 5 Oe when set to zero field after
applying the maximum field.
iii. The temperature environment of the magnetometer should13) Enable continuous operation at any temperature from below 2 K up to 400
K using a liquid helium based wet cryostat,
14) Have a temperature stability of 0.5% or better over the entire
measurement range,
15) Cool from room temperature to base in under 30 minutes.
iv. A low-temperature option should
16) Be a 3He fridge,
17) Have a base temperature of less than 0.5 K,
18) Have a temperature stability of at least 1 %,
19) Cool from room temperature to base in under 3 hours,
20) Have a base temperature hold time greater than 24 hours,
21) Have a recondensation time of less than 30 mins,
22) Be fully compatible with the software and operation of the SQUID
magnetometer.
v. A high-temperature option should
23) Enable continuous temperature operation at all temperatures between
300 K and 1000 K,
24) Be fully compatible with the software and operation of the SQUID
magnetometer.
vi. A low-field option should
25) Cancel the residual magnetic field of the superconducting solenoid magnet
to within 0.05 G of zero field,
26) Have a field resolution better than 0.002 G for applied fields in the range
of 20 G,
27) Be fully compatible with the software and operation of the SQUID
magnetometer.
vii. An AC magnetometry measurement mode should
28) Have a response that is flat to within 5 % over the range 0.1 Hz - 1 kHz,
29) Have an amplitude of 0.1 - 10 Oe,
30) Have a magnetic moment sensitivity of at least 5 X 10-8 emu and accuracy
better than 1 %,
31) Have a phase angle accuracy of at least 0.5,
32) Be fully compatible with the software and operation of the SQUID
magnetometer, as well as the low- and high-temperature sample
environments.
viii. A high-pressure option should
33) Generate a maximum pressure of at least 1 GPa,
34) Generate minimal magnetic background to the measurement signal,
35) Enable measurement of samples with a diameter greater than 2 mm.
ix. A sample rotation option should
36) Enable 360 sample rotation in 0.1 increments
37) Enable automated control of sample orientation using a stepper motor for
sample rotation.
x. An electric transport option should
38) Enable AC/DC resistance measurements,
39) Supply a continuous current between 10 nA and 100 mA,
40) Have a frequency range of at least 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz,
41) Enable application of a magnetic field in parallel and perpendicular to the
bias direction,
42) Enable 2 and 4 wire measurements,
43) Enable magnetic measurements to be carried out with the same probe
while applying a voltage.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Compliance to the Specifications / Weighting: 60
Quality criterion - Name: After Sales and Technical back up / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Delivery and Training / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Sustainability and Environmental / Weighting: 5
Quality criterion - Name: Standard Supplier Questionnaire (SQ) Part 1 and Part 2 / Weighting: 10
Price - Weighting: 5
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2021/S 000-008621
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
19 July 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Quantum Design UK and Ireland Ltd
1 Mole Business Park Leatherhead
Surrey
KT22 7BA
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £721,276
Total value of the contract/lot: £721,276
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The University of Birmingham
Birmingham
B15 2TT
Country
United Kingdom