Award

Provision of Helium BiPS

DOJ FORENSIC SCIENCE NORTHERN IRELAND

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

13 Aug 2024 at 11:05

Summary of the contracting process

The Department of Justice Forensic Science Northern Ireland (DoJ FSNI) has completed a procurement process for the provision of high purity helium gas cylinders with a Built-In Purification System (BIPS). The contract titled "Provision of Helium BiPS" is classified under the industry category of gas cylinders for laboratory use. The procurement, conducted under a limited method without prior publication of a call for competition, covers locations across Forensic Science Northern Ireland's facilities in Seapark, Carrickfergus, County Antrim. The awarded contract, valued at £180,000, was signed on 9th August 2024.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in the supply of high purity gases, particularly helium, with proprietary purification systems. Since the BIPS technology is exclusively provided by a specific supplier due to patented rights, companies with innovative and similar capabilities could stand to gain business by introducing alternative solutions in this niche market. Businesses in the laboratory equipment and scientific instrumentation sectors would find this contract well-aligned with their expertise and product offerings, potentially fostering growth in collaborative research and advanced scientific applications.

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Notice Title

Provision of Helium BiPS

Notice Description

This Direct Award Contract is to cover expenditure for the supply of cylinders of helium gas with a Built In Purification System (BIPS) for use with an instrumentation set up in a number of labs across FSNI which demands high purity helium in order to avoid unnecessary maintenance, repair and down time.

Lot Information

Lot 1

This Direct Award Contract is to cover expenditure for the supply of cylinders of helium gas with a Built In Purification System (BIPS) for use with an instrumentation set up in a number of labs across FSNI which demands high purity helium in order to avoid unnecessary maintenance, repair and down time.

Procurement Information

FSNI tested the market for Helium with BIPS in 2013 when they tendered for the Supply & Delivery of Gases, this product had to be removed from the tender specification as no other supplier was permitted to supply Helium BIPS which only the appointed contractor can supply. Horizon scanning has continued since then to understand whether there may be an alternative in provision that could provide the same level of purity required and recent market sounding has confirmed that there remains no alternative to the patented product offered by the appointed contractor. BIPS cylinders are exclusive to the appointed contractor, who developed and own the Built In Purification System. The appointed contractor have this system patented, therefore no other supplier can offer the same or similar products in UK or Ireland. Further research (2023/24) in the market has confirmed that the appointed contractor remains the only provider capable of providing high purity helium.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-048a47
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025583-2024
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
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)


CPV Codes

44612100 - Gas cylinders

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£180,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Aug 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
8 Aug 20241 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
DOJ FORENSIC SCIENCE NORTHERN IRELAND
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
justice.cpd@finance-ni.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT3 9ED
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN0F Mid and East Antrim

Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Sydenham
Westminster Constituency
Belfast East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

AS PER REGULATION 50(6)(A) - INFORMATION WITHHELD FOR SECURITY REASONS

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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