Award

CAN - sSNOM for University of Manchester

NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

20 Dec 2022 at 15:34

Award

17 Oct 2022 at 10:50

Summary of the contracting process

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has completed a procurement process for a scattering-type near-field optical microscope (VIS-neaSCOPE) for the University of Manchester. The process was carried out under a limited procurement method, without prior publication of a call for competition. The contract was awarded to attocube systems AG. The procurement was for laboratory, optical, and precision equipment, specifically a unique microscope system with patented technologies for high precision imaging and spectroscopy. The contract has a total value of £395,278.96 and was signed on 29th November 2022.

This tender opportunity presents a niche market entry for businesses specializing in laboratory and precision equipment. The awarded contract provides attocube systems AG with an exclusive opportunity due to their unmatched expertise in manufacturing the required scattering-type near-field optical microscope. This contract indicates a specific demand for technical precision and innovation, making it suitable for companies with advanced optical and spectroscopic technologies. Businesses looking to expand into the laboratory equipment sector or enhance their technological capabilities in precision imaging and spectroscopy would find this tender conducive to business growth.

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Notice Title

CAN - sSNOM for University of Manchester

Notice Description

NPL has a requirement for a scattering-type near-field optical microscope (VIS-neaSCOPE) that enables simultaneous background-free imaging and spectroscopy on nanometre length scales in the visible range.

Lot Information

Lot 1

A scattering-type near-field optical microscope (VIS-neaSCOPE) that enables simultaneous background-free imaging and spectroscopy on nanometre length scales in the visible range. - Patented parabolic mirror design for focusing and collection of light - Patented dual-port design to allow two beams of light to be focused on the atomic force microscope (AFM) tip for nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy - Patented signal processing for optical background suppression - Patented pseudo-heterodyne detection (PsHEt) technology for background suppression - Patented interferometric design (nano-FTIR) for background-free optical detection technology and simultaneous detection of optical amplitude and phase and hyperspectral imaging - Patented high speed holography (HSH) for multispectral imaging - Patened phase shifting (PhS) detection to extract relative phase - Optimised scanning probe microscope system that can be combined with mechanical and electrical measurements - Built-in optical imaging and spectroscopy software modules, as well as data visualisation and analysis software - Position sensors for motorised parabolic mirror axes to enable alignment-free focusing of a laser beam to the AFM tip - Visible and NIR illumination units, which can be integrated and coupled into both the room-temperature and cryogenic temperature s-SNOM system.

Procurement Information

Absence of competition for technical reasons. VEAT ref: 2022/S 000-029139 Attocube is the only company worldwide, who manufactures a scattering-type near-field optical microscope (VIS-neaSCOPE) that enables simultaneous background-free imaging and spectroscopy on nanometre length scales in the visible range. Their exclusive design works with the following patents: - Patented parabolic mirror design for focusing and collection of light - Patented dual-port design to allow two beams of light to be focused on the atomic force microscope (AFM) tip for nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy - Patented signal processing for optical background suppression - Patented pseudo-heterodyne detection (PsHEt) technology for background suppression - Patented interferometric design (nano-FTIR) for background-free optical detection technology and simultaneous detection of optical amplitude and phase and hyperspectral imaging - Patented high speed holography (HSH) for multispectral imaging - Patend phase shifting (PhS) detection to extract relative phase These patents and the exclusive design have enabled the VIS-neascope system to conduct amplitude and phase-resolved vector field, reflection and absorption mapping with nanoscale spatial resolution. It is currently the only system on the market that enables dual-port operation combined with a high NA parabolic mirror, which is essential for low SNR pump-probe measurements in the visible range. The VIS-neascope system is also the only system offering pseudoheterodyne background-free detection of the amplitude and phase of the near-field signal up to the 5th harmonic order, which is another essential requirement for s-SNOM in the visible range. In addition, the vis-neaSCOPE offers the following unique technical specifications: - Optimised scanning probe microscope system that can be combined with mechanical and electrical measurements - Built-in optical imaging and spectroscopy software modules, as well as data visualisation and analysis software - Position sensors for motorised parabolic mirror axes to enable alignment-free focusing of a laser beam to the AFM tip - Visible and NIR illumination units, which can be integrated and coupled into both the room-temperature and cryogenic temperature s-SNOM system. The system is also flexible and can be upgraded to operate in other wavelength ranges (out to THz range), perform electrical measurements, nano-PL, nano-Raman and photothermal expansion mapping in the future. In particular, neaspec is the only company who can upgrade the existing cryogenic s-SNOM system (cryo-neaSCOPE) based at University of Manchester and integrate a visible illumination unit to perform nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy at low temperature.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-037636
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036071-2022
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, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

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
£855,778 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Dec 20223 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
16 Oct 20223 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY
Contact Name
Nina Heath
Contact Email
nina.heath@npl.co.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

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
Not specified

Local Authority
Richmond upon Thames
Electoral Ward
Teddington
Westminster Constituency
Twickenham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

ATTOCUBE SYSTEM

ATTOCUBE SYSTEMS

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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