Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NATIONAL NUCLEAR LABORATORY LIMITED
5th Floor Chadwick House, Birchwood Park
Warrington
WA3 6AE
Contact
Charlotte Wilson
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKD61 - Warrington
Companies House
03857752
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Nuclear
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Supply of a Warm Pellet Press
Reference number
PSS_2024_049
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 42000000 - Industrial machinery
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
This Award Notice is to inform the market that NNL has awarded a contract for a Warm Pellet Press.
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: £434,929
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 33100000 - Medical equipments
- 33600000 - Pharmaceutical products
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD45 - Mid Lancashire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
In support of NNL's CPF programme, a hydraulic press is required which can press with a force of 50 kN to produce both annular cylindrical compacts.
NNL is purchasing a commercial off the shelf tablet press intended for the pharmaceutical industry. The nominal dimensions of 30 mm diameter x 40 mm in height with an internal annulus of 4-12 mm. A heated die is required to allow for compacts to be produced at a temperature of up to 300ºC. Die filling will be done using automated die feed utilising a hopper system to fill the die automatically before each press cycle.
The press will record data during the pressing process such as temperature, punch position, force and die wall pressure. This data will be used to optimise the pressing process and form part of the QA process.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: 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 services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
National Nuclear Laboratory ("NNL") has awarded this contract under Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii), to Huxley Bertram in respect of the purchase of a Warm Pellet Press.
The Warm Pellet Press is required to support NNL in the development of Coated Particle Fuel (CPF), funded by the UK Government. These fuels will be used in the next generation of High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (HTGRs) and will be a key contribution towards achieving net zero. To support NNL in the development of CPF, NNL requires a hydraulic press is required which can press with a force of 50 kN to produce both annular cylindrical compacts. NNL proposes to use a commercial off the shelf tablet press intended for the pharmaceutical industry. The nominal dimensions of 30 mm diameter x 40 mm in height with an internal annulus of 4-12 mm. A heated die is required to allow for compacts to be produced at a temperature of up to 300ºC. Die filling should be done using automated die feed utilising a hopper system to fill the die automatically before each press cycle. The press should record data during the pressing process such as temperature, punch position, force and die wall pressure. This data will be used to optimise the pressing process and form part of the QA process.
The equipment is to be installed and commissioned at NNL Preston Laboratory.
The scope of the work consists of:
1. Purchase of a HB10 pharma tablet compaction simulator and engagement with NNL to review the equipment via Hazard and Operability Studies
2. Building, installation, commissioning, training and maintenance
3. Ongoing manufacturer support through the provision of a service contract.
Following extensive market research of off the shelf equipment manufacturers in various sectors, and engagement including:
A PIN notice 2023/S/000-019956, Early Engagement Notice advertising a supply chain event where this procurement was featured, an Early Engagement Notice from 8th - 22nd March 2024 and an Early Engagement Notice dated 25th January - 8th February 2024. A VEAT notice 2023/S/000-010097 was published on 27th March 2024 which was followed by an immediate 10 day standstill period.
No suitable suppliers were identified to undertake this contract except Huxley Bertram, no challenges were brought to NNL's attention during the 10 day standstill period.
Due to the reason stated above, under section 32b(ii) of the PCR Guidelines; "competition is absent for technical reasons".
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: 2024/S 000-010097
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
PSS_2024_049
Title
Supply of a Warm Pellet Press
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
12 June 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Huxley Bertram Engineering Limited
53 Pembroke Avenue
Cambridge
CB25 9QP
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC
Companies House
03358704
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £434,929
Total value of the contract/lot: £434,929
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The Royal Courts of Justice
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom