Supply of a Warm Pellet Press

CPV: Industrial machinery · Medical equipments · Pharmaceutical products

Procedure method

Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition

Legal basis

CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)

Procurement category

Goods

Notice status

Awarded without competition

Procurement threshold

Unspecified in notice

Regulatory regime

Standard

Commercial structure

Stand-alone contract (no framework)

Competition type

Direct award (no call for competition)

GPA / WTO covered

Yes (GPA)

Recurring procurement

Unspecified in notice

First published

27 Mar 2024, 15:33 GMT

Last source update

10 Jul 2024, 12:27 BST

Authority reference

PSS_2024_049

FTS notice number

2024/S 000-021047

Classification (CPV)

Industrial machineryMedical equipmentsPharmaceutical products

Delivery area

North West (UKD45)

Official registry OCID

ocds-h6vhtk-044dbe Find a Tender

Why no open competition

The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons

Published justification

National Nuclear Laboratory ("NNL") has awarded this contract under Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii), to Huxley Bertram in respect of the purchase of a Warm Pellet Press.

The Warm Pellet Press is required to support NNL in the development of Coated Particle Fuel (CPF), funded by the UK Government. These fuels will be used in the next generation of High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (HTGRs) and will be a key contribution towards achieving net zero. To support NNL in the development of CPF, NNL requires a hydraulic press is required which can press with a force of 50 kN to produce both annular cylindrical compacts. NNL proposes to use a commercial off the shelf tablet press intended for the pharmaceutical industry. The nominal dimensions of 30 mm diameter x 40 mm in height with an internal annulus of 4-12 mm. A heated die is required to allow for compacts to be produced at a temperature of up to 300ºC. Die filling should be done using automated die feed utilising a hopper system to fill the die automatically before each press cycle. The press should record data during the pressing process such as temperature, punch position, force and die wall pressure. This data will be used to optimise the pressing process and form part of the QA process.

The equipment is to be installed and commissioned at NNL Preston Laboratory.

The scope of the work consists of:

1. Purchase of a HB10 pharma tablet compaction simulator and engagement with NNL to review the equipment via Hazard and Operability Studies
2. Building, installation, commissioning, training and maintenance
3. Ongoing manufacturer support through the provision of a service contract.

Following extensive market research of off the shelf equipment manufacturers in various sectors, and engagement including:

A PIN notice 2023/S/000-019956, Early Engagement Notice advertising a supply chain event where this procurement was featured, an Early Engagement Notice from 8th - 22nd March 2024 and an Early Engagement Notice dated 25th January - 8th February 2024. A VEAT notice 2023/S/000-010097 was published on 27th March 2024 which was followed by an immediate 10 day standstill period.

No suitable suppliers were identified to undertake this contract except Huxley Bertram, no challenges were brought to NNL's attention during the 10 day standstill period.

Due to the reason stated above, under section 32b(ii) of the PCR Guidelines; "competition is absent for technical reasons".

• Huxley Bertram Engineering LimitedAwarded supplierGB-COH: 03358704 53 Pembroke Avenue, Cambridge, East of England, CB25 9QP

No document links were published on the notice.