Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
Contact
Phil Perkins
Telephone
+44 1235467147
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
National registration number
N/A
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
Buyer's address
https://uk.eu-supply.com/ctm/Company/CompanyInformation/Index/72814
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Fusion Research
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
HyDUS Mobile Containerised Laboratory
Reference number
JNCA/BO093/23
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 44211100 - Modular and portable buildings
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The HyDUS project is creating a world first demonstrator for a reversible hydrogen storage system and the MCL (Mobile Containerised Laboratory) will act to house this demonstrator. Procurement of this equipment is essential since it allows better control and isolation of the demonstrator system to the surrounding environment. Isolation is a requirement here due to the nature of the experimental campaign which includes production of DU storage bed systems containing pyrophoric powders during conditioning, handling of mildly radioactive DU (includes risk of contamination) and work with explosive/flammable gases such as hydrogen (operating at low pressure ranges). The MCL, as delivered will:
• Function as the surrounding environment
• Contain the safety systems for the process hazards
• Be delivered with the experimental process infrastructure in place
• Be delivered with a DU powder sump system per bed as per suppliers design
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: 836,325 CHF
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 44211100 - Modular and portable buildings
- 45214610 - Laboratory building construction work
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
Main site or place of performance
Culham Science Centre
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The HyDUS project is creating a world first demonstrator for a reversible hydrogen storage system and the MCL (Mobile Containerised Laboratory) will act to house this demonstrator. Procurement of this equipment is essential since it allows better control and isolation of the demonstrator system to the surrounding environment. Isolation is a requirement here due to the nature of the experimental campaign which includes production of DU storage bed systems containing pyrophoric powders during conditioning, handling of mildly radioactive DU (includes risk of contamination) and work with explosive/flammable gases such as hydrogen (operating at low pressure ranges). The MCL, as delivered will:
• Function as the surrounding environment
• Contain the safety systems for the process hazards
• Be delivered with the experimental process infrastructure in place
• Be delivered with a DU powder sump system per bed as per suppliers design
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
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
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:
UKAEA requires a hydrogen compliant containerised laboratory that would also be certified for holding depleted uranium getter/storage beds. Following a prior information notice (PIN) UKAEA identified that there was only one company that could meet the unusual combination of technical capability.
From our market engagement, there were no other suppliers that can provide containerised laboratory solutions which include accommodation of DU and DU getter beds combined with hydrogen circulation and storage. Available off the shelf containerised laboratories do not provide compliance with both the safety features required for hydrogen storage, as well as, the safety features required for housing depleted uranium metal in a powdered and therefore, pyrophoric form (flammable). This is a unique combination of risks and therefore, highly specialised.
As such, COTS solutions are not suitable, because they are not safety compliant. For a supplier, other than the chosen supplier, to modify a COTS containerised solution it would add complexity, time and cost and it is considered highly unlikely that they would have the technical capability or interest in providing a solution that is safety compliant to our specifications. It is considered that it is much better to go directly to the only specialised manufacturer that has a track record of delivering the capability that our project requires.
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: 2022/S 000-036496
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
1
Title
HyDUS Mobile Containerised Laboratory
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
22 August 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Smolsys Ltd
Platz 4
Root
6039
Country
Switzerland
NUTS code
- CH - Switzerland
National registration number
CHE-455.625.619
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: 836,325 CHF
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
UK Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
UK Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
VI.4.2)Body responsible for mediation procedures
VI.4.3)Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
The authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers.
This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to seek further debriefing from the authority before a contract is entered into applicants have 2 working days from the notification of the award decision to request. Additional debriefing and that information have to be provided within a minimum of 3 working days before the expiry of the standstill period. Such additional information should be sought from the contact named in this notice.
If an appeal regarding the award of a contract has not been successfully resolved, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No. 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
Any such action must be brought promptly.
(generally within 3 months).
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
UK Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority