Award

Additive Manufacture of Tailored Electromagnetic Materials (AMOTEM) Hybrid Printing Testing

  • Ministry of Defence

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-032658

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03862a

Published 17 November 2022, 2:53pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Ministry of Defence

Dstl, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JQ

Salisbury

Email

ipthomas@dstl.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-science-and-technology-laboratory

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

Defence


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Additive Manufacture of Tailored Electromagnetic Materials (AMOTEM) Hybrid Printing Testing

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

To develop a structure that combines an active, nanoparticle-loaded material in a polymer dielectric matrix that exhibits metamaterial behaviour at microwave frequencies.

The key aim is to develop additive manufacturing technology that will maximise the ratio of active to dielectric materials with a target wall thickness for the matrix of below 100 microns in the X-Y plane. The manufacturing process should also be capable of building 3D, layered structures, and the method selected or developed must be a suitable candidate for scaling up to production rate manufacture.

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: £150,000

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

To develop a structure that combines an active, nanoparticle-loaded material in a polymer dielectric matrix that exhibits metamaterial behaviour at microwave frequencies.

The key aim is to develop additive manufacturing technology that will maximise the ratio of active to dielectric materials with a target wall thickness for the matrix of below 100 microns in the X-Y plane. The manufacturing process should also be capable of building 3D, layered structures, and the method selected or developed must be a suitable candidate for scaling up to production rate manufacture.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Criterion: Value for Money 100

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 procedure without publication of a contract notice

  • No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to negotiated procedure with prior publication of a contract notice
  • The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development

Explanation:

The Secretary of State for Defence intends to enter into a supply contract with The Centre for Additive Manufacturing (CfAM) at the University of Nottingham and their spin out company Added Scientific Ltd for Additive Manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing services. The total estimated value of this procurement is £150,000. In accordance with the provisions of The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 SI No. 2020/1319, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as amended (in particular by SI 2020/1319). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation(s) 32(2)(b)(ii) and 32(5)(a) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015. This is because has a unique capability in ink formulation, printer adaption/development and the use of a number of different printers to optimise inks, printing conditions etc. to maximise structure fidelity which is necessary for operation at the electromagnetic frequencies of interest. This capability could not be replicated in a reasonable timeframe or at a reasonable expense. Additionally, the contract will be for research, experimentation, study or development at low TRL. Neither University of Nottingham nor its spin out company Added Scientific Ltd are production companies. Future work beyond research, experimentation, study or development would be transferred to UK Industry.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No


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

8 November 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

The Centre for Additive Manufacturing (CfAM)

Nottingham

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
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: £150,000

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £150,000

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

Dstl

Salisbury

Country

United Kingdom