Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
University Of Edinburgh
Charles Stewart House, 9-16 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1HT
Telephone
+44 1316502759
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00107
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
Dry heat sterilizer for animal bedding and cages
Reference number
NCA31110
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 42000000 - Industrial machinery
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The University provides accommodation for a large volume of animals in the course of it’s day to day work. Regular sterilization of bedding and cages is critical to ensure the health and wellbeing of animals and to comply with bio-security controls set by the government and by accepted best-practice (such as avoiding the propagation of infectious diseases).
In recent months an incumbent steam-based sterilizer system has failed on a regular basis, placing these bio-security and welfare controls at risk. Steam based machines are time consuming to build and maintain; in order to avoid an operational incident and provide biosecurity assurance as soon as possible the University has decided it should urgently procure an immediate solution, ahead of making long term plans for the replacement/upgrade of such machines. It is believed that a new type of device – a dry-heat based steriliser – would be the most appropriate solution, as in principle this is a simpler device which could be delivered and built faster than a steam counterpart.
On the basis of;
- Urgent circumstances which the University could not reasonably foresee or control
- It is believed there may only be one supplier on the market who has an established dry-heat proposition with a prior service record encompassing a reasonable period of time
The University is notifying the market it plans to undertake a Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Call for Competition.
The University will observe a ten (10) day Stand-Still in line with the Public Contract Regulations (Scotland) 2015. Any suppliers wishing to challenge this procedure should do so with the individual stated on the notice, during this Stand-Still.
Value is an estimate consisting of GBP 380k expected cost with GBP 25k contingency.
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: £405,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Main site or place of performance
City of Edinburgh
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Technical requirements
A dry heat sterilizer is required for the routine sterilization of assembled animal cages, bedding and other thermostable items involved in laboratory animal science.
General characteristics:
-Electrically powered heating, either 240V (2-phase) or 400V (3-phase)
-Operating temperature of 140 deg C for routine use, no higher than 210°C at any time
-Air circulation required to ensure even temperature distribution throughout static holding period
-Intake air must be filtered to <0.3um (micro-metre)
-Exhaust air must be filtered to <0.3um (micro-metre)
-Throughput must be able to exceed 3320 cages per working week
-There are no weight constraints
Dimensions:
Internal chamber dimensions should not be LESS than
-Width 1000mm
-Depth 2300mm
-Height 2130mm
Must be able to accommodate logistics trolleys and plenum racks for (e.g.) GM500 mouse IVC cages (Tecniplast) and must be able to process 3320 assembled mouse cages in a standard working week (5 days, 8 hours per day). You may include scheduled start and unattended cycle end times.
External device dimensions should NOT EXCEED
-Width 3600mm
-Depth 3150mm
-Height 2750mm
Design considerations
The sterilizer may be pit mounted. The door openings should be at opposite sides of the sterilizer so that un-sterile cargo is loaded from the external side, and sterile cargo is unloaded from the internal side (pass-through design). Human Machine Interface (“HMI”) (i.e. control panel) controls should be located on the external side, with the ability to control cycle operation and safely open doors from the internal side as well. There needs to be the capacity to save at least 10 configured control settings for different load types.
Doors should have an airtight seal, preferably an inflatable gasket-type. Both doors must interlock when the machine is operating. When a cycle fail occurs, or an emergency stop is used, only the door on the side that initiated that cycle should be unlocked until the control system is reset. The existing stainless steel facia [surrounding an obsolete sterilizer] needs to be reinstated to seal with all existing finished surfaces to re-create an airtight barrier between clean and dirty access doors.
The floor of the cargo chamber must be flush or near flush with the finished floor level on both sides of the sterilizer. This is so heavy loads can be easily wheeled in and out. The maximum threshold at each door is 15mm and the threshold must be bevelled for smooth transit.
Extracted air must be mechanically exhausted via ducting to the outside to minimise cycle time.
Each operation must be recorded on paper at the Human-Machine Interface (control panel), and must also have the capacity to save electronic run data in an accessible format . Alarm history must also be stored.
The steriliser must have overtemperature sensors and control systems independent of the main controls in case of sensor failure in the main circuit. An audible alarm must sound in cases of overtemperature and failed airflow.
Full validation of various load types must be achievable at our location. Access for installation is good, with double doorway and no steps.
The sterilizer must be CE certified. You must also be able to provide customer references for a closely matched sterilizer and provide reliability information for equivalent machines in similar environments for a reasonable period of time to give high degree confidence.
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
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 University provides accommodation for a large volume of animals in the course of it’s day to day work. Regular sterilization of bedding and cages is critical to ensure the health and wellbeing of animals and to comply with bio-security controls set by the government and by accepted best-practice (such as avoiding the propagation of infectious diseases).
In recent months an incumbent steam-based sterilizer system has failed on a regular basis, placing these bio-security and welfare controls at risk. Steam based machines are time consuming to build and maintain; in order to avoid an operational incident and provide biosecurity assurance as soon as possible the University has decided it should urgently procure an immediate solution, ahead of making long term plans for the replacement/upgrade of such machines. It is believed that a new type of device – a dry-heat based steriliser – would be the most appropriate solution, as in principle this is a simpler device which could be delivered and built faster than a steam counterpart.
On the basis of;
- Urgent circumstances which the University could not reasonably foresee or control
- It is believed there may only be one supplier on the market who has an established dry-heat proposition with a prior service record encompassing a reasonable period of time
The University is notifying the market it plans to undertake a Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Call for Competition.
The University will observe a ten (10) day Stand-Still in line with the Public Contract Regulations (Scotland) 2015. Any suppliers wishing to challenge this procedure should do so with the individual stated on the notice, during this Stand-Still.
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
20 May 2025
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
Process Control Solutions
577A Hartford Tpke
SHREWSBURY
01545
Telephone
+44 5083664363
Country
United States
NUTS code
- US - United States
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: £380,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The University will observe a ten (10) day Stand-Still in line with the Public Contract Regulations (Scotland) 2015. Any suppliers wishing to challenge this procedure should do so with the individual stated on the notice, during this Stand-Still.
(SC Ref:799260)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Edinburgh
Country
United Kingdom