Award

Optical Fibre Time Transfer Hardware

NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

19 Jan 2021 at 23:08

Summary of the contracting process

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), based in Teddington, has completed a procurement process for "Optical Fibre Time Transfer Hardware" under the goods category, specifically classified as laboratory, optical, and precision equipment. The contract, valued at £500,000, was awarded to PikTime Systems sp. z o.o. NPL used a limited procurement method, opting for an award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition, reflecting the specialised nature of the requirement. This initiative was part of NPL’s efforts to develop a new national time scale, crucial to ensuring high accuracy and reliability in timekeeping applications.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in advanced optical technologies and fibre-optic solutions. Companies that specialise in manufacturing electronic stabilised fibre-optic modules or have expertise in time and frequency distribution systems would be particularly well-suited to participate. Given NPL's collaborative history with research institutions and its high standards for technology, businesses with proven reliability and innovation in optical equipment may find avenues for growth and collaboration in future projects. This tender underlines the potential for ongoing advancements in timekeeping technology, which may open pathways for further partnerships and contracts in the sector.

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Notice Title

Optical Fibre Time Transfer Hardware

Notice Description

NPL proposes to award a contract to PikTime Systems for the supply of ELSTAB fibre-optic time and frequency distribution hardware.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The requirement is for ELSTAB (electronically stabilised fibre-optic time and frequency distribution) modules and optical distribution amplifiers for use in a time scale application.

Procurement Information

NPL proposes to award a contract for ELSTAB (electronically stabilised fibre-optic time and frequency distribution) modules to PikTime Systems sp. z o.o. In its role as the UK's National Measurement Institute, NPL is developing a new, resilient time scale for national use. The time accuracy and stability, and also the reliability, of the system will depend heavily on the supporting fibre-optic technology employed in its operation. The ELSTAB technology developed by AGH University of Science and Technology, for which PikTime is the commercial supplier, will therefore be key to the success of the new time scale. NPL has previously worked collaboratively with AGH University to assess the suitability of ELSTAB for use in the Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) space mission. As part of ACES, NPL rigorously tested and evaluated the performance of the University's ELSTAB technology. This was a time-consuming process which has made it clear that the testing of any alternative technology which might potentially be suitable for NPL's new application would have serious impacts on our project timings and budget because it couldn't feasibly be completed in less than 6 months. NPL has also collaborated on published research with the University, concerning the use of the ELSTAB technology during the development of our caesium fountain primary frequency standard. PikTime Systems is the only supplier worldwide that can provide technology that NPL has sufficient confidence in to serve in our application. No equivalent product is known to be available from any other source. Alternative technologies are known to be in development around the world but aren't expected to be launched as commercial products in the short to medium term. NPL published a Prior Information Notice (2019/S 127-309989) in 2019. There were no expressions of interest from appropriately qualified suppliers.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-028bb5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001119-2021
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

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


CPV Codes

31221600 - Time relays

38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Jan 20215 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Jan 20215 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY
Contact Name
Simon Coller
Contact Email
simon.coller@npl.co.uk
Contact Phone
+44 2089436485

Buyer Location

Locality
TEDDINGTON
Postcode
TW11 0LW
Post Town
Twickenham
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI7 Outer London - West and North West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI75 Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames
Delivery Location
TLI London

Local Authority
Richmond upon Thames
Electoral Ward
Teddington
Westminster Constituency
Twickenham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PIKTIME SYSTEMS

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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