Tender

**NO AWARD** Short Pulse Laser

UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderAmendment

10 Jul 2024 at 13:56

Tender Notice
Tender

03 Jun 2024 at 13:01

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Sheffield has issued a tender for the procurement of a Short Pulse Laser focusing on cutting trials with thin electrical steel sheets and high-rate cutting of CFRP panels. The procurement is in the open procedure stage with a closing date set for 3rd July 2024 at 12 noon (UK time). The tender falls under the industry category of Lasers and Industrial machinery, aiming to improve cutting methods. The delivery address is in Yorkshire and the Humber, United Kingdom.

Businesses involved in manufacturing, particularly those in the laser technology or industrial machinery sectors, would find this tender appealing. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSE) are encouraged to participate. The contract period for the procurement ranges from 30th July 2024 to 31st October 2024, offering an opportunity for companies to contribute innovative solutions in laser technology for improved production efficiency and reduced thermal damage.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

**NO AWARD** Short Pulse Laser

Notice Description

**NO AWARD** As part of this requirement two applications are targeted: cutting trials with thin sheets of electrical steel for the production of electrical machine laminations and high rate cutting of CFRP panels. The remote laser cutting is being investigated as an alternative to traditional gantry-mounted fusion laser cutting. The benefits of this method of cutting are that the cut rate is increased and the thermal damage is reduced. Materials being investigated are high-silicon steel and cobalt iron. Sheet thicknesses could range from 0.35 mm down to 0.1 mm. A continuous-wave laser has been used in this investigation. But has been shown to produce an increased cut rate but creates more thermal damage to the material in the region of the cut. This is a result of firstly there being significant melting of the material, as well as vaporisation, and the fact that the molten material is not ejected from the component surface. A new short pulse laser is sought to overcome these issues. This new laser shall be capable of removing material in a way that produces reduced thermal damage compared to a traditional laser system. The new laser should be capable of cutting the steel sheets at a rate such that the resultant cut rate of the system is greater than that for a traditional gantry laser system. The second application addresses a requirement to put arrays of holes into aerospace-grade carbon fibre reinforced polymer composite panels typically associated with primary structure components, up to 3 mm thick. These holes are required to be produced at high rate (> 10 holes per second) without affecting any visible heat affected zone within the fibre or matrix surrounding the through-hole entry/exit/bore surfaces in the part being laser processed. Thermal damage is typically seen through either a charring/blackening or other discoloration on a surface and/or removal of additional material in the zone surrounding the intended hole's removal zone. These high-rate through holes are expected to be percussion drilled to maximise productivity and can be produced in parallel to manage thermal dissipation. The through holes required would range in size from 0.1 mm to 2 mm in diameter with a diameter tolerance of +-10%. The AMRC's existing optics can focus the spot across this range, however, alternative solutions to enable entry diameters, with minimal taper at high rate within this range are welcomed. The laser shall be capable of meeting this baseline. An ability to produce holes up to 25.4 mm in diameter using the trepanning method is also considered desirable. Tender Process and Documentation: This procurement is an open procedure. The ITT can be downloaded by registering and expressing your interest on the University's e-tendering system https://in-tendhost.co.uk/Sheffield If you have any questions or comments in relation to this tender they must be submitted via the same e-tendering system, this can be accessed at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/Sheffield. Additional information: Tender Process and Documentation: This procurement is an open procedure. The ITT can be downloaded by registering and expressing your interest on the University's e-tendering system https://in-tendhost.co.uk/Sheffield If you have any questions or comments in relation to this tender they must be submitted via the In-tend System, this can be accessed at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/Sheffield Completed tenders must be returned through the same e-tendering system. Closing date for receipt of tenders: 3rd of July 2024 at 12 noon (UK time) .

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-2942a67e-4317-485a-b2f0-085499f491dc
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d42205ef-1505-4221-9cfb-79c1c44a577c
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (above threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

42 - Industrial machinery

CPV Codes

38636100 - Lasers

38636110 - Industrial lasers

42000000 - Industrial machinery

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Jul 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
3 Jul 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
29 Jul 2024 - 31 Oct 2024 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SHEFFIELD
Postcode
S10 2TN
Post Town
Sheffield
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE3 South Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE32 Sheffield
Delivery Location
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Local Authority
Sheffield
Electoral Ward
Broomhill and Sharrow Vale
Westminster Constituency
Sheffield Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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