Official UK procurement notice
Provision of Broadband Ocean-Bottom Seismographs
Authority: University of Southampton (Charity / VCSE)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe University of Southampton sought to procure a small number (5-10 depending on cost) of broadband ocean-bottom seismographs to assess their interoperability with its existing instrument pool, with a view to expand these numbers in the mid-to-longer term. They would have been used primarily for solid Earth imaging using natural sources of seismic energy (e.g. earthquakes, ocean waves) and would also have been used in experiments that use man-made controlled seismic sources (e.g. airguns).
CPV: Detection and analysis apparatus · Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1The Ocean-Bottom Instrumentation Facility (OBIF) has a successful track record of over…CancelledRenewalPublished value£375,000
The Ocean-Bottom Instrumentation Facility (OBIF) has a successful track record of over 15 years of deploying a range of autonomous sensors on the seabed. OBIF is funded by the UK's Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and operated jointly by the Universities of Southampton and Durham to support researchers in a range of environmental science disciplines. We carry out deployments in water depths ranging between 10's of m and 5500 m for periods from a few days to a year to measure parameters such as ground vibration, pressure, and electric and magnetic field strengths.
OBIF currently have a fleet of 55 autonomous seabed instruments, with a physical platform (flotation, pressure tubes, acoustic releases) modified from an original Scripps Institution of Oceanography design, although the current generation of loggers are an internal OBIF design. For measuring vibrations, we currently use high-frequency sensors. We have been awarded NERC capital funding to extend our capability by purchase of a number of market-established broadband ocean-bottom seismographs.
We sought to procure a small number (5-10 depending on cost) of broadband ocean-bottom seismographs to assess their interoperability with our existing instrument pool, with a view to expanding these numbers in the mid-to-longer term. They were intended to be used primarily for solid Earth imaging using natural sources of seismic energy (e.g. earthquakes, ocean waves) but would also have been used in experiments that use man-made controlled seismic sources (e.g. airguns). Additional information: This contract was NOT suitable for splitting into lots. The risk of dividing the requirement into Lots would render the execution of the contract excessively technically difficult, not cost effective and would undermine proper execution of the contract.
What it takes to wini
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 morei
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).
Published sub-criteria (3)
- Desirable Requirements: 50%
- Data Samples: 30%
- Number of Seismographs provided for budget: 20%
Published award criteria (4)
- Mandatory Requirements: Pass/Fail
- Desirable Requirements: 50
- Data Samples: 30
- Number of Seismographs provided for budget: 20
- Economic & financial standing
To support the financial assessment, the University will obtain a Business Risk Report for all Potential Suppliers and every organisation that is being relied on to meet this procurement, using an independent company called Creditsafe.
The University reserves the right to exclude a Tenderer or request provision of further assurances such as parent company/bank guarantee or performance bonds where a Tenderer's Business Risk
Score is: "Moderate Risk"; "High Risk"; "Very High Risk"; or "Not Rated", based on the rating provided by Creditsafe
Where a Business Risk Score from our external system is not available, then an alternative method of assessing financial standing will be used. This method is detailed within the Invitation to Tender document set.
Minimum: Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required: Potential suppliers are advised that a requirement of this procurement is to have in place, or commit to obtain prior to the commencement of the contract, the following minimum insurance levels: Employers (Compulsory) Liability: £1… - Technical & professional ability
Tenderers attention is drawn to the MANDATORY requirements of the award criteria:
A system proven by past successful deployments over a range of full ocean depths. Data examples (in miniseed form with appropriate meta-data including instrument response, station longitude, latitude, water depth, clock synchronization and any time corrections applied) should be provided as part of the tender submission, and be sufficient to enable evaluation of performance during quiescent periods and periods of seismic activity, together with periods of sensor releveling as applicable.
To have a depth rating for all deployed components of at least 6000 m.
Warranty and servicing
All electronic components to be covered by warranty for a period of at least 12 months.
Acceptance
At customer discretion, acceptance will be subject to a post award deep-water systems trial to be carried out at customer cost, most likely from a UK port.
The timing of this trial is negotiable within a window commencing 3 months from part to 3 months from full delivery.
Delivery of complete order before 1st December 2021.
Please see the File 4 Specification document for full details of all requirements of this tender.
- Price carries 20 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2 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 · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Cancelled
- 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
- 15 Apr 2021, 13:36 BST
- Last source update
- 12 Nov 2021, 15:45 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- 20 Apr 2021 – …
- Authority reference
2020UoS-0208- FTS notice number
2021/S 000-028372- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-029d73Find a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
- Performance terms
At the University's discretion, acceptance will be subject to a deep-water systems trial to be carried out at customer cost, most likely from a UK port.
The timing of this trial is negotiable within a window commencing 3 months from part to 3 months from full delivery.
Publisher note: In accordance with Regulation 55(1) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the University of Southampton has elected to discontinue this procurement. The University's grounds for discontinuing the procurement are to undertake a review of its procurement management to achieve a competitive, open, and transparent process. This will further enable the University to additionally review and develop its specification and requirement. Costs and Expenses: Potential suppliers/tenderers were solely responsible for their costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation and submission of responses and participation in this and all future stages of this procurement. Under no circumstances would the University be liable for any costs or expenses borne by potential suppliers/tenderers or any of their supply chain, partners or advisers in this procurement process. The University is not liable for any costs resulting from the cancellation of this procurement process, as disclosed in the original notice and supporting tender documents.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 20 Apr 2021, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 120 days from the deadline
- Bids opened
- 20 Apr 2021, 12:01 BST
Timeline
20 Apr 2021 → 12 Nov 2021 · 3 dates- Submission deadline20 Apr 2021, 12:00 BST
- Bids opened20 Apr 2021, 12:01 BST
- Notice published12 Nov 2021, 15:45 GMT
Notice history
5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 27 Jul 2021- Published value published: £375,00027 Jul 2021, 18:14 BST
- Status changed to active27 Jul 2021, 18:14 BST
- Procurement method changed27 Jul 2021, 18:14 BST
- Deadline moved to 20 Apr 2021, 12:00 BST27 Jul 2021, 18:14 BST-7 days · was 27 Apr 2021, 12:00 BST
- Status changed to cancelled12 Nov 2021, 15:45 GMT
Published amendments (1 · 1 deadline change)
| When | What | Before | After | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | DeadlineTime limit for receipt of projects or requests to participate · IV.2.2 | 20 Apr 2021 | 27 Apr 2021 | +7 d |
1 amendment published without a description.
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast1 further award records carry no date or value.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.