Contract

(NU/1722) Supply of a comprehensive Ultrafast Transient Absorption Spectroscopy and Microscopy Facility

  • Newcastle University

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-029427

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-02ebd1

Published 19 October 2022, 11:27am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Newcastle University

Newcastle University, Procurement Services, Kingsgate

Newcastle

NE1 7RU

Contact

Mr Dave Anderson

Email

dave.anderson@ncl.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 1912085360

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKZ - Extra-Regio NUTS 1

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.ncl.ac.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.ncl.ac.uk

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

(NU/1722) Supply of a comprehensive Ultrafast Transient Absorption Spectroscopy and Microscopy Facility

Reference number

DN575877

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 North East ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy and microscopy facility (based at

Newcastle University) will be a unique national facility to fulfil a strategically and critically

important research infrastructure gap in the region. The facility aligns with the institutional

strategy that includes the establishment of Centres for Research Excellence in Energy, Data

and Cancer and the establishment of NU Academic Track Fellowships, several of whom will

benefit from this facility. Transient absorption spectroscopy is a key tool that enables

scientists to probe the identity, formation and fate of short-lived, energetic species formed

on excitation with light (e.g. from a laser). It permits ultrafast optical and near infrared

spectroscopy on a range of molecular, biological and functional material systems to provide

critical mechanistic information on light-induced reaction pathways. This includes tracking

the dynamics of key excited state and charge-transfer intermediates that lie at the heart of a

vast amount of chemistry, from solar energy conversion to enzyme reactions. This national

facility will support several multidisciplinary fields with substantial potential for societal and

economic impact, including

(1) Energy (e.g. emerging photovoltaic technology, solar-driven H2 evolution and CO2

conversion to fuels and feedstocks) research which is supported by joint, collaborative

centres, the EPSRC/ISCF North East Centre for Energy Materials (NECEM) and the EPSRC

Centre for Doctoral Training in Renewable Energy at North east Universities (ReNU).

Page 4 to 8

(2) Photonic materials and metamaterials (e.g. Organic LEDs, energy transfer in solid state

materials, 2D and 3D materials in LEDs and waveguides).

(3) Chemical Biology and Biological Chemistry (bio-imaging, radiochemistry, photodynamic

therapy-related cancer research and drug discovery) including the Cancer Research centre

and EPSRC Centre for Doctoral training MosMed.

This facility is being funded though an EPSRC Strategic Equipment grant EP/W006340/1

The scope of this contract is for the supply, delivery and installation of the equipment as

detailed in the ITT to the University, with after-sales support and 24 months warranty and

maintenance.

The contract reference was NU/1722.

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: £618,633

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKC22 - Tyneside

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The North East ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy and microscopy facility (based at

Newcastle University) will be a unique national facility to fulfil a strategically and critically

important research infrastructure gap in the region. The facility aligns with the institutional

strategy that includes the establishment of Centres for Research Excellence in Energy, Data

and Cancer and the establishment of NU Academic Track Fellowships, several of whom will

benefit from this facility. Transient absorption spectroscopy is a key tool that enables

scientists to probe the identity, formation and fate of short-lived, energetic species formed

on excitation with light (e.g. from a laser). It permits ultrafast optical and near infrared

spectroscopy on a range of molecular, biological and functional material systems to provide

critical mechanistic information on light-induced reaction pathways. This includes tracking

the dynamics of key excited state and charge-transfer intermediates that lie at the heart of a

vast amount of chemistry, from solar energy conversion to enzyme reactions. This national

facility will support several multidisciplinary fields with substantial potential for societal and

economic impact, including

(1) Energy (e.g. emerging photovoltaic technology, solar-driven H2 evolution and CO2

conversion to fuels and feedstocks) research which is supported by joint, collaborative

centres, the EPSRC/ISCF North East Centre for Energy Materials (NECEM) and the EPSRC

Centre for Doctoral Training in Renewable Energy at North east Universities (ReNU).

Page 4 to 8

(2) Photonic materials and metamaterials (e.g. Organic LEDs, energy transfer in solid state

materials, 2D and 3D materials in LEDs and waveguides).

(3) Chemical Biology and Biological Chemistry (bio-imaging, radiochemistry, photodynamic

therapy-related cancer research and drug discovery) including the Cancer Research centre

and EPSRC Centre for Doctoral training MosMed.

This facility is being funded though an EPSRC Strategic Equipment grant EP/W006340/1

The scope of this contract is for the supply, delivery and installation of the equipment as

detailed in the ITT to the University, with after-sales support and 24 months warranty and

maintenance.

The contract reference was NU/1722.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Ability to meet Technical Specification / Weighting: 40

Quality criterion - Name: Quality of the Warranty, Maintenance and Servicing / Weighting: 7.5

Quality criterion - Name: After-Sales Support / Weighting: 7.5

Quality criterion - Name: Delivery / Weighting: 5

Price - Weighting: 40

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

Open procedure

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: 2021/S 000-025700


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

1

Lot No

1

Title

(NU/1722) Supply of a comprehensive Ultrafast Transient Absorption Spectroscopy and Microscopy Facility

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

17 January 2022

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 1

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Ultrafast Systems LLC

8330 Consumer Ct

Sarasota

34240

Country

United States

NUTS code
  • US - United States
The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot: £618,633


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Newcastle University

Newcastle upon Tyne

Country

United States

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

The University will incorporate a standstill period at the point information on the award of the

contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification will provide full information on the

award decision. The standstill period, which will be for a minimum of 10 calendar days,

provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the

contract is entered into.

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) within 30 days of knowledge or constructive

knowledge of breach.