Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
Chancellors Close
BIRMINGHAM
B152TT
Contact
Susanna Ting
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKG31 - Birmingham
Internet address(es)
Main address
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
Supply and Installation of A-Step Mount Drive
Reference number
SC9515/21
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
The University of Birmingham and CNRS have closely collaborated since 2019 to develop a program of observations of exoplanets from Antarctica in the frame of the ASTEP project lead by the Lagrange Laboratory at OCA. A new focal instrument was developed for the ASTEP telescope. The University of Birmingham contributed a new camera with large bandwidth and this will be installed on the telescope at the end of 2021 for its use during the southern winter 2022 and further. The scientific teams of the CNRS and the University of Birmingham, both agree to develop a new direct-drive mount, called ASTEP-Mount, specifically designed for the conditions in Antarctica, to replace the present ASTEP commercial mount. The University of Birmingham will provide a financial contribution to the CNRS which covers a part of the cost of the new mount and CNRS will be in charge of the purchase, assembly, tests, adaptation and installation of the ASTEP-Mount at the Concordia station in Antarctica. CNRS, the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, the University of Birmingham and ESA are contributing to this upgrade.
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: £198,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG31 - Birmingham
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The testing will be done at Laboratoire Lagrange, which is equipped with adequate facilities including a low temperature enclosure. The software development will also be done at Laboratoire Lagrange. All the logistics related to Concordia is fully managed by the French and Italian polar agencies IPEV and PNRA. The telescope runs in automatic mode and can be remotely controlled. Laboratoire Lagrange will be responsible for the robotic operations and yearly maintenance (one or two collaborators go on site every summer campaign). Daily maintenance will be handled by the winter-over crew as in previous years. The telescope is owned by Laboratoire Lagrange so the organisation will be decided only by the parties mentioned in this proposal.
CNRS will openly collaborate with the University of Birmingham on the tools and procedures needed to properly read and manipulate PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) controllers used to tune a telescope's direct-drive mount securely and accurately. This transfer will take the form of detailed documentation.
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 products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development
Explanation:
Laboratoire Lagrange is to the best of our knowledge the only company that can provide the new direct-drive mount. The proposed mount is expensive because the motors and encoders are entirely insulated and heated which requires a new mechanical design. Special bearings, low-temperature grease and dedicated cables are used. The mount is to be fully tested in a cold chamber prior to its delivery.
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
Contract No
SC9515/21
Title
Supply and Installation of A-Step Mount Drive
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
11 October 2021
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
Laboratoire Lagrange
Université Côte d'Azur, Observatoire de la Côte, d'Azur, CNRS, Bd de l'Observatoire, CS 34229
Nice cedex 4
06304
Country
France
NUTS code
- FR - France
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £198,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £198,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The University has applied a 10 calendar days standstill period from publication of this notice.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
B15 2TT
Country
United Kingdom