Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
National Physical Laboratory
Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
Contact
Gary Phillips
Telephone
+44 2089773222
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
SRS Laser Replacement
Reference number
127860
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
Replacement of SRS laser (due Sept 25): PicoEmerald FT with upgraded electronics to improve speed, productivity and sensitivity
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: £268,981.50
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
Teddington
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Replacement of SRS laser (due Sept 25): PicoEmerald FT with upgraded electronics to improve speed, productivity and sensitivity.
Tuning speed: 1.5 s for a random tuning step, up to 100x faster than previous generation picoEmerald S we currently have at NPL. Highly improved signal-to-noise ratio mainly due to the reduction of the laser repetition rate leads to 10x faster image acquisition compared to picoEmerald S. This two-colour turnkey system ideal for stimulated Raman microscopy up to video rate speed as it offers perfect temporal and spatial overlap of exit beams; tuneable between 660 nm and 2340 nm which translates to 210 cm-1 to 5450 cm-1 energy difference (currently we can go 660 cm-1 to 4500 cm-1 ) providing the opportunity to analyse also a variety of materials that we are not capable of right now; 2 ps pulses with 10 cm-1 spectral width providing a similar spectral resolution to our current device; extremely low noise compared to all-fiber laser systems; compatible with commercial microscopes and homebuilt setups; active and passive stabilization, ideal for long-term experiments
This laser will increase the capacity of our facility but will provide also new capabilities in offering services on dynamic samples.
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 without a prior call for competition
- The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
The sole manufacture of this type of laser system is A.P.E GmbH who has made available the next generation of laser systems that are compatible to the current version we have.
This laser can be bought only as a laser unit via the exclusive representative in the UK called “Photonic Solutions”.
Photonic Solutions Ltd has been for 20 years and remains the official and exclusive distributor across the UK and Ireland for A.P.E GmbH in Berlin.
Clearly using another supplier would require replacement of the microscope as the software and the microscope we currently have will not be able to “communicate” with the new laser source. This would prove both prohibitive and costly.
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
127860
Title
SRS Laser Replacement
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
27 November 2024
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
Photonic Solutions Ltd
Unit 2.2 Quantum Court, Heriot-Watt University Research Park
Edinburgh
EH14 4AP
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: £268,981.50
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £268,981.50
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 Limited
Teddington
TW11 0LW
Country
United Kingdom