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UKRI-4697 EPAC Optic Bundle 4

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

13 Feb 2025 at 12:05

Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), based in Swindon, United Kingdom, has recently completed the procurement process for upgrading the EPAC facility by introducing a second beamline in the pump laser section. The tender, titled "UKRI-4697 EPAC Optic Bundle 4", falls under the laboratory, optical and precision equipment industry category. This procurement, classified as goods, pertains to the highly specialised and operationally critical Optic Bundle 4. The contract was awarded to Manx Precision Optics Ltd. on 12th February 2025 for £184,500. The procurement method was a limited award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition, justified by the absence of competition for technical reasons. The contract involved significant collaboration between UKRI and the original equipment supplier to ensure compatibility and operational efficiency.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in the development and supply of specialised optical and precision equipment. Companies with expertise in high-tech laboratory equipment, particularly those experienced in similar collaborative projects, would find this type of procurement beneficial for business growth. The bespoke nature of the equipment and the strategic importance of compatibility and operational efficiency in the EPAC facility highlight the need for suppliers with a deep understanding of technical integration and long-term project involvement. Such tenders provide avenues for businesses to establish or strengthen relationships with prominent research organisations like UKRI, potentially leading to further collaborative and mutually beneficial opportunities.

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Notice Title

UKRI-4697 EPAC Optic Bundle 4

Notice Description

The work involves an upgrade of the existing EPAC facility to introduce a second beamline in the pump laser section of EPAC. This purchase is for an EPAC Bundle 4.

Lot Information

Lot 1

In order to ensure efficiency of operation, maintenance and to share operational costs of spares and resources this second beamline will be a duplicate of the original. This requires an additional Optic Bundle 4. This optical bundle is highly specialist, and operationally critical pieces of equipment, which have been developed in collaboration with the CLF over the past 10 years. The previous designs have been fully tested and integrated into the current facility and work very well for the intended use. They are based on 10 years of development work and represent significant work on both the part of STFC and MPO to ensure effective integration and operation. They are absolutely necessary components of the EPAC laser system, the optics already in place have been fully integrated into the EPAC overall control and machine protections systems. In taking this approach we ensure that spare parts for these optics can be used on the original system and on the second beamline. The compatibility between the two beamlines is critical as we already have spare parts from the first beamline which can, if needed, be used on the second beamline, this in turn saves the facility money as the spare parts are already available and time as these spare parts are already stored on site at RAL. The upgrade will ensure the optical systems for the second beamline operate in the same manner as the existing system. Additional information: The term and conditions relating to this purchase are provided in the Contract, which matches the Contract number cited in the narrative to this Purchase Order and are specific to this Contract. Where the Contract number is not so cited, then our standard terms and conditions will apply which are available at :- https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/UKRI-090123-ProcurementContractData-2658-December2022.pdf

Procurement Information

The original manufacturer of the optical system for EPAC's first beamline was supplied by MPO who have intimate knowledge of the design and operation of the existing system from previously contracted deliveries under contracts PR16037. This is a direct replica of the existing system in EPAC. The previous designs have been fully tested and integrated into the current facility. They are based on 10 years of development work and represent significant work on both the part of STFC and MPO to ensure effective integration and operation. The spare parts for these optics can be used on the original system and on the second beamline. The compatibility between the two beamlines are critical, as we already have spare parts from the first beamline which can, if needed, be used on the second beamline which allows the beamlines to stay functioning. For these reasons, STFC have awarded to MPO in accordance to regulation 32 for absence of competition, for technical reasons.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04de94
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004906-2025
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

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
£184,500 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Feb 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
12 Feb 20251 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
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Contact Name
Chloe Lacy
Contact Email
stfcprocurement@ukri.org
Contact Phone
+44 01793298902

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Post Town
Swindon
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

MANX PRECISION OPTICS

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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