Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
National Physical Laboratory
Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Research
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
sSNOM for University of Manchester
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
Procurement of scattering-type near-field optical microscope (VIS-neaSCOPE) that enables simultaneous background-free imaging and spectroscopy on nanometre length scales in the visible range.
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: 460,500 EUR
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
NPL Management Ltd
Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Neaspec (attocube) is the only company worldwide, who manufactures a scattering-type near-field optical microscope (VIS-neaSCOPE) that enables simultaneous background-free imaging and spectroscopy on nanometre length scales in the visible range. Their exclusive design works with the following patents:
- Patented parabolic mirror design for focusing and collection of light
- Patented dual-port design to allow two beams of light to be focused on the atomic force microscope (AFM) tip for nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy
- Patented signal processing for optical background suppression
- Patented pseudo-heterodyne detection (PsHEt) technology for background suppression
- Patented interferometric design (nano-FTIR) for background-free optical detection technology and simultaneous detection of optical amplitude and phase and hyperspectral imaging
- Patented high speed holography (HSH) for multispectral imaging
- Patend phase shifting (PhS) detection to extract relative phase
These patents and the exclusive design have enabled the VIS-neascope system to conduct amplitude and phase-resolved vector field, reflection and absorption mapping with nanoscale spatial resolution. It is currently the only system on the market that enables dual-port operation combined with a high NA parabolic mirror, which is essential for low SNR pump-probe measurements in the visible range. The VIS-neascope system is also the only system offering pseudoheterodyne background-free detection of the amplitude and phase of the near-field signal up to the 5th harmonic order, which is another essential requirement for s-SNOM in the visible range.
In addition, the vis-neaSCOPE offers the following unique technical specifications:
- Optimised scanning probe microscope system that can be combined with mechanical and electrical measurements
- Built-in optical imaging and spectroscopy software modules, as well as data visualisation and analysis software
- Position sensors for motorised parabolic mirror axes to enable alignment-free focusing of a laser beam to the AFM tip
- Visible and NIR illumination units, which can be integrated and coupled into both the room-temperature and cryogenic temperature s-SNOM system.
The system is also flexible and can be upgraded to operate in other wavelength ranges (out to THz range), perform electrical measurements, nano-PL, nano-Raman and photothermal expansion mapping in the future.
In particular, neaspec is the only company who can upgrade the existing cryogenic s-SNOM system (cryo-neaSCOPE) based at University of Manchester and integrate a visible illumination unit to perform nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy at low temperature.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Cost criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 70%
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 30%
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 procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
Neaspec (attocube) is the only company worldwide, who manufactures a scattering-type near-field optical microscope (VIS-neaSCOPE) that enables simultaneous background-free imaging and spectroscopy on nanometre length scales in the visible range. Their exclusive design works with the following patents:
- Patented parabolic mirror design for focusing and collection of light
- Patented dual-port design to allow two beams of light to be focused on the atomic force microscope (AFM) tip for nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy
- Patented signal processing for optical background suppression
- Patented pseudo-heterodyne detection (PsHEt) technology for background suppression
- Patented interferometric design (nano-FTIR) for background-free optical detection technology and simultaneous detection of optical amplitude and phase and hyperspectral imaging
- Patented high speed holography (HSH) for multispectral imaging
- Patend phase shifting (PhS) detection to extract relative phase
These patents and the exclusive design have enabled the VIS-neascope system to conduct amplitude and phase-resolved vector field, reflection and absorption mapping with nanoscale spatial resolution. It is currently the only system on the market that enables dual-port operation combined with a high NA parabolic mirror, which is essential for low SNR pump-probe measurements in the visible range. The VIS-neascope system is also the only system offering pseudoheterodyne background-free detection of the amplitude and phase of the near-field signal up to the 5th harmonic order, which is another essential requirement for s-SNOM in the visible range.
In addition, the vis-neaSCOPE offers the following unique technical specifications:
- Optimised scanning probe microscope system that can be combined with mechanical and electrical measurements
- Built-in optical imaging and spectroscopy software modules, as well as data visualisation and analysis software
- Position sensors for motorised parabolic mirror axes to enable alignment-free focusing of a laser beam to the AFM tip
- Visible and NIR illumination units, which can be integrated and coupled into both the room-temperature and cryogenic temperature s-SNOM system.
The system is also flexible and can be upgraded to operate in other wavelength ranges (out to THz range), perform electrical measurements, nano-PL, nano-Raman and photothermal expansion mapping in the future.
In particular, neaspec is the only company who can upgrade the existing cryogenic s-SNOM system (cryo-neaSCOPE) based at University of Manchester and integrate a visible illumination unit to perform nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy at low temperature.
Related PIN reference number: 2022-040278
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
17 October 2022
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
attocube system AG
nanoscale analytics, Eglfinger Weg 2,
Haar
85540
Country
Germany
NUTS code
- DE - Germany
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: 460,500 EUR
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NPL Management Ltd
Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
NPL Management Ltd
Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
Country
United Kingdom