Award

sSNOM Upgrade for University of Manchester

NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

15 Jul 2024 at 10:51

Summary of the contracting process

The National Physical Laboratory, based in the UK, has awarded a contract for an upgrade project titled "sSNOM Upgrade for University of Manchester" in the laboratory, optical, and precision equipment category. The procurement process was a limited award procedure without prior publication. The main objective of this contract is to upgrade the existing cryo-neaSCOPE system to enable nanoscale THz-TDS and pump-probe imaging and spectroscopy.

This tender provides a significant opportunity for businesses involved in laboratory equipment and precision technology. Companies specialising in laboratory equipment manufacturing, optical technologies, and precision instrument development would be well-suited to compete. The successful completion of this project can lead to potential growth opportunities for companies offering innovative solutions in the laboratory and optical equipment sector.

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Notice Title

sSNOM Upgrade for University of Manchester

Notice Description

Upgrade enabling time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy for cryogenic THz-TDS near-field measurements. The pump laser must be synchronized with the existing THz-TDS spectroscopy and cryogenic near-field systems. The upgrade includes a laser amplifier unit with free-space coupled optical output at 780nm, 100MHz rep rate, pulse energy >1.3nJ, >140mW output power, and customized fiber patch cord for temporal overlap of pump-probe pulses. Additionally, a transmission module enables static pump-probe measurements in transmission, where the sample is pumped via a diffraction-limited beam from the bottom and probed by amplitude- & phase-resolved near-field measurements (pseudo-heterodyne detection) from the top.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Upgrade for cryo-neaSCOPE+xs s-SNOM system can only be provided by the base system's manufacturer - attocube systems AG. Needs and requirements include: 1. Ultra-fast spectroscopy software module for THz-TDS * Enables pump-probe spectroscopy for THz-TDS in neaSCAN * Provides software control of all delays and components for ready-to-use results * Allows acquisition of time-resolved spectra with down to 40 fs temporal resolution 2. Synchronized Transmission-Mode Detection Module * Enables bottom-side sample illumination in transmission-mode with broadband parabolic mirror (NA=0.44) * Enables simultaneous detection of optical near-field amplitude & phase * Motorized parabolic mirror for beam-alignment * Stationary focal point with respect to AFM-tip * Variable illumination spot size (ca. 2mm - 100mm) * Suitable for plane-wave illumination * Exchangeable beam-splitter mount * Supports stationary focal point with respect to sample position (bottom-side illumination synchronized with sample scanner) * Support AFM scan-speed: up to 20 mm/s @ highest spatial resolution 3. Software Development Kit for neaSCAN 4. THz Pump-Probe operation * additional delay line & synchronized software control for pump probe * amplifier unit with free-space coupled optical output at 780nm with amplifier unit mounted on optical table next to neaSNOM microscope * 100MHz rep rate, pulse energy >1.3nJ, >140mW output power * Customized fiber patch cord for temporal overlap of pump-probe pulses

Procurement Information

Attocube systems AG is the only company worldwide, who manufactures a scattering-type near-field optical microscope (our pre-upgrade system) that enables simultaneous background-free imaging and spectroscopy on nanometre length scales in the visible-IR-THz 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 for multispectral imaging * Patented phase shifting detection to extract relative phase These patents and the exclusive design have enabled the neaSCOPE system to conduct amplitude and phase-resolved vector field, reflection, and absorption mapping with nanoscale spatial resolution. It is currently the only solution provider on the market that enables dual-port s-SNOM operation combined with a high NA parabolic mirror, which is essential for low SNR THz TDS and pump-probe measurements. In particular, attocube systems AG is the only company who can upgrade the existing cryogenic s-SNOM system (cryo-neaSCOPE) based at University of Manchester to perform nanoscale THz-TDS and pump-probe imaging and spectroscopy at low temperature. Therefore, the same manufacture of the pre-upgraded s-SNOM system is required to ensure: * All upgrade subsystems must be compatible with the existing microscope controls (both in hardware and software), while still being amplitude- & phase-resolved and background-free. * Pump laser must be electronically synchronized with the existing cryogenic THz-TDS spectroscopy system * Excitation wavelength must be compatible with optical windows in the cold shroud of the existing cryo-neaSCOPE system

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-047d59
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021633-2024
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
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
£262,370 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Jul 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Jul 20241 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
Not specified
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
1
Supplier Name

ATTOCUBE SYSTEM

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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