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Published 22 Apr 2021, 14:36 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Contract for the Supply and Installation of a Squid Magnetometer with Versatile Measurement Options to the University of Birmingham

Official notice

Authority: THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Education)·Consortium: 2 public authorities

GoodsOpen procedure
Sectors: Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) (38) Delivery: West Midlands (UKG)
Published estimate£692,501exc. VAT4.2% above published estimate
Submissions closed 17 May 2021awarded 19 Jul 2021
Awarded to Quantum Design UK and Ireland Ltd
Contract term Ends 31 Jan 2022

What is being bought

Published requirement description

This project is funded by UK Research and Innovation's Engineering and Physical

Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the University of Birmingham.

The University of Birmingham invites tenders for supply and installation of a

Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer with a versatile

range of measurement options. The SQUID magnetometer and its measurement

options will form the Midlands Mag Lab, a state-of-the-art magnetometry facility

created with the support of an EPSRC Strategic Equipment award. It will facilitate

advanced magnetic materials characterisation by academic and industry users in the

Midlands region and beyond. The equipment will be used to deliver new understanding

of fundamental magnetic materials properties, as well as developing new technologies

that exploit the magnetic properties of solids in the areas of quantum materials and

technologies, energy materials, and sustainable materials and recycling. The broad user

base and diverse range of materials to be characterised with the equipment means that

the equipment interface should be user friendly.

The instrument should perform DC and AC magnetometry measurements on a single

platform over a temperature range of 2 to 400 K in applied fields of up to 7 T. It should

be compatible with a suite of measurement options to enable a versatile range of

experimental conditions that meet the needs of the broad user base. Specifically, the

measurement options should facilitate DC measurements:

With a moment sensitivity in the range of 1 x 10 - 8 emu,

At controlled sub-0.5 K temperatures as well as between 2 K and 1000 K,

With active cancelation of residual magnetic flux so that samples can be cooled

in a field less than 0.05 G,

With field-setting resolution of 0.002 G for a field range up to 20 G,

With sample mounting and automated rotation to enable sample rotations of

up to 360 degrees in 0.1 degree increments in an applied field,

Under applied voltage in a range 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz,

Under applied pressure of at least 1 GPa.

The measurement options should be easily exchangeable and integrated with the main

instrument, with the entire system having a single PC-based controller capable of

executing automated system setting and data collection. The instrument should be a

wet system, connecting directly with the University of Birmingham's helium liquefier

system. It should be delivered, installed, and tested on site with a maintenance and

service package, with key users provided with training.

This project may be funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) or;

  • European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) or;
  • UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the strategic partnership of the UK's seven

Research Councils.

CPV: Instruments for checking physical characteristics · Instruments for measuring quantities

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1The University of Birmingham invites tenders for supply and installation of aAwardedPublished value£692,501

The University of Birmingham invites tenders for supply and installation of a

Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer with a versatile

range of measurement options. The SQUID system and its measurement options will form

the Midlands Mag Lab, a state of the art magnetometry facility created with the support

of an EPSRC Strategic Equipment award. It will facilitate advanced magnetic materials

characterisation by academic and industry users in the Midlands region and beyond. The

equipment will be used to deliver new understanding of fundamental magnetic materials

properties, as well as developing new technologies that exploit the magnetic properties

of solids in the areas of quantum materials and technologies, energy materials and

sustainable materials and recycling. The broad user base and diverse range of materials

to be characterised with the equipment means that the equipment interface must be

user friendly and reliable.

General characteristics

A SQUID magnetometry instrument that can be utilised for high-sensitivity and high throughput DC magnetometry measurements of polycrystalline, single-crystal and thin film magnetic materials. The instrument can also be utilised in AC magnetometry

measurement mode. It is compatible with the range of measurement options as specified

in Sections ii - vii below.

Specification

i. The magnetometer should

  1. Be a SQUID-based magnetometer,
  2. Have a magnetic moment sensitivity of at least 10-8 emu at low fields and

at least 10-7 emu at the maximum field (see ii),

  1. Measure a maximum magnetic moment up to 10 emu,
  2. Enable measurement of samples of at least 5 mm in diameter,
  3. Enable automated sample environment and measurement controls, with

capability for programmable measurement sequences,

  1. Operate through a stand-alone software with a user-friendly interface,
  2. Be a wet system that consumes less than 5 L of liquid helium per day with a

hold time longer than 10 days.

ii. The magnetic field environment of the magnetometer should

  1. Be produced by a superconducting solenoid,
  2. Have a field range of at least -7 T to + 7 T,
  3. Have a field homogeneity better than 100 ppm over a typical scan length,
  4. Have a maximum field charging rate greater than 500 Oe/s,
  5. Have a remanent field no greater than 5 Oe when set to zero field after

applying the maximum field.

iii. The temperature environment of the magnetometer should13) Enable continuous operation at any temperature from below 2 K up to 400

K using a liquid helium based wet cryostat,

  1. Have a temperature stability of 0.5% or better over the entire

measurement range,

  1. Cool from room temperature to base in under 30 minutes.

iv. A low-temperature option should

  1. Be a 3He fridge,
  2. Have a base temperature of less than 0.5 K,
  3. Have a temperature stability of at least 1 %,
  4. Cool from room temperature to base in under 3 hours,
  5. Have a base temperature hold time greater than 24 hours,
  6. Have a recondensation time of less than 30 mins,
  7. Be fully compatible with the software and operation of the SQUID

magnetometer.

v. A high-temperature option should

  1. Enable continuous temperature operation at all temperatures between

300 K and 1000 K,

  1. Be fully compatible with the software and operation of the SQUID

magnetometer.

vi. A low-field option should

  1. Cancel the residual magnetic field of the superconducting solenoid magnet

to within 0.05 G of zero field,

  1. Have a field resolution better than 0.002 G for applied fields in the range

of 20 G,

  1. Be fully compatible with the software and operation of the SQUID

magnetometer.

vii. An AC magnetometry measurement mode should

  1. Have a response that is flat to within 5 % over the range 0.1 Hz - 1 kHz,
  2. Have an amplitude of 0.1 - 10 Oe,
  3. Have a magnetic moment sensitivity of at least 5 X 10-8 emu and accuracy

better than 1 %,

  1. Have a phase angle accuracy of at least 0.5,
  2. Be fully compatible with the software and operation of the SQUID

magnetometer, as well as the low- and high-temperature sample

environments.

viii. A high-pressure option should

  1. Generate a maximum pressure of at least 1 GPa,
  2. Generate minimal magnetic background to the measurement signal,
  3. Enable measurement of samples with a diameter greater than 2 mm.

ix. A sample rotation option should

  1. Enable 360 sample rotation in 0.1 increments
  2. Enable automated control of sample orientation using a stepper motor for

sample rotation.

x. An electric transport option should

  1. Enable AC/DC resistance measurements,
  2. Supply a continuous current between 10 nA and 100 mA,
  3. Have a frequency range of at least 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz,
  4. Enable application of a magnetic field in parallel and perpendicular to the

bias direction,

  1. Enable 2 and 4 wire measurements,
  2. Enable magnetic measurements to be carried out with the same probe

while applying a voltage.

Contract period: … – 31 Jan 2022
Delivery: West Midlands
Variant bids: not allowed
38340000 Instruments for measuring quantities

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored
Quality: 90%Price: 5%Environmental: 5%
Published sub-criteria (6)
  • Compliance to the Specifications: 60%
  • After Sales and Technical back up: 10%
  • Delivery and Training: 10%
  • Standard Supplier Questionnaire (SQ) Part 1 and Part 2: 10%
  • price: 5%
  • Sustainability and Environmental: 5%
Published award criteria (6)
  • Compliance to the Specifications: 60
  • After Sales and Technical back up: 10
  • Delivery and Training: 10
  • Sustainability and Environmental: 5
  • Standard Supplier Questionnaire (SQ) Part 1 and Part 2: 10
  • Price: 5
What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 5 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 0.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Goods
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
No (one-off requirement)
First published
22 Apr 2021, 14:36 BST
Last source update
26 Jul 2021, 13:38 BST
Award evaluation window
24 May 2021 – …
Authority reference
SC9126/21
FTS notice number
2021/S 000-017648
Classification (CPV)
Instruments for checking physical characteristicsInstruments for measuring quantities
Delivery area
West Midlands (UKG)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-02a91e Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: portal not identified
Language: EN
Submission deadline
17 May 2021, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
{"electronicSubmission"}
Accepted languages
en
Bids opened
24 May 2021, 12:00 BST
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

www.in-tendhost.com/universityofbirmingham ↗

Timeline

17 May 2021 → 26 Jul 2021 · 3 dates
  1. Submission deadline
    17 May 2021, 12:00 BST
  2. Bids opened
    24 May 2021, 12:00 BST
  3. Notice published
    26 Jul 2021, 13:38 BST

Notice history

2 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 26 Jul 2021
  1. Status changed to complete
    26 Jul 2021, 13:38 BST
  2. Buyer details updated
    26 Jul 2021, 13:38 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £721,2761 contract exc. VAT
Bids received 2
Contracts signed 1latest 19 Jul 2021
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Quantum Design UK and Ireland Ltd£721,276 †—Awarded

Contracts

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
2bids———

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

2 public bodies on the notice

UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

Contracting authorityEducationBody governed by public lawEducation Chancellors Close, BIRMINGHAM, West Midlands, B152TTContact name, email

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • The University of BirminghamReview body Birmingham

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.