--- title: "Tender for the Supply and Installation of a Bridgman Furnace" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-1aca54f1-0bc6-47e8-be53-05526ea930a1" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1aca54f1-0bc6-47e8-be53-05526ea930a1" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1aca54f1-0bc6-47e8-be53-05526ea930a1.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1aca54f1-0bc6-47e8-be53-05526ea930a1.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM" published: "2017-11-22" --- # Tender for the Supply and Installation of a Bridgman Furnace Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-1aca54f1-0bc6-47e8-be53-05526ea930a1 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1aca54f1-0bc6-47e8-be53-05526ea930a1) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1aca54f1-0bc6-47e8-be53-05526ea930a1.json) ## Summary The University of Birmingham is currently seeking tenders for the "Tender for the Supply and Installation of a Bridgman Furnace," a significant procurement in the industrial and laboratory furnace sector. This open procurement process is designed to support the institution's academic research capabilities. The tender is active and submissions must be completed by 22nd December 2017 at 23:59 GMT. The successful contract will commence on 29th January 2018 and conclude by 27th July 2018, with delivery expected in Edgbaston, West Midlands, UK. This opportunity presents a valuable avenue for businesses specialising in high-precision laboratory equipment and electrothermic appliances. Companies with expertise in manufacturing and installing specialised furnaces, as well as those who can demonstrate capabilities in high-purity materials and complex thermal processes, would be particularly well-suited to compete. The requirements for varied crucible materials and rapid quenching capabilities highlight the need for suppliers who can provide tailored, advanced technological solutions. ## Notice Supply and Installation of a Bridgman Furnace The University of Birmingham invites tenders for the supply of a high specification vertical Bridgman-Stockbarger furnace, with a maximum operating temperature of 1700degC or greater, for the solidification and growth of single crystals of 12 mm diameter over a wide range of growth rates, including quenching capability. The specification below outlines the requirements for a Bridgman-Stockbarger furnace that will be used to solidify samples for academic research. The core uses are twofold: 1. The production of high-purity, homogeneous single crystals across a wide spectrum of materials systems, from tin alloys and aluminium alloys to MnSi, FeGa alloys and rare-earth transition metals (e.g. DyFe2). The furnace must therefore allow different crucible materials and types, and operate over a wide range of growth temperatures, with controlled, slow withdrawal rates of typically 0.03 mm min-1. The supplier should detail which crucible materials are possible and indicate the costs of crucibles and their suppliers. To produce single crystals in non-equilibrium structures, the furnace must be capable of rapidly quenching its charge. To achieve high-purity, the sample chamber should be leak-tight under vacuum and have a gas-handling system for backfilling of inert gas atmospheres. 2. The study of dendritic growth and solidification kinetics in selected systems e.g. nickel superalloys. Here high withdrawal rates (typically 3 mm min-1) and large thermal gradients (200degC cm-1 or greater) are required, with a long charge length (45 cm or greater). Quenching is necessary to freeze in dendrite structures. Different technical solutions are evidently possible to realise the quenching requirement e.g. among others, dropping into a liquid metal bath or through a rapid motion into a snug-fit cooled jacket. If the supplier opts for the latter, it should be noted that this must be optimised for at least two charge (i.e. inner crucible) diameters: 6mm and 12mm. This could be achieved with, for example, a removable copper insert in the quench zone. Additional information: All main correspondence should go via the University's In-Tend website. Your tender documents and information must be submitted via In-Tend by the date and time specified; https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofbirmingham/aspx/Home Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e6ff4871-ba8d-46c0-b48d-18333567ed2a | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 22 Nov 2017 | | Submission deadline | 22 Dec 2017 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 29 Jan 2018 - 27 Jul 2018 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM | | Locality | EDGBASTON | | Post town | Birmingham | | Postcode | B15 2TT | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands | | ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham | | Local authority | Birmingham | | Electoral ward | Edgbaston | | Westminster constituency | Birmingham Edgbaston | | Delivery location | TLG West Midlands (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products - 42 - Industrial machinery ### Codes - 39711300 - Electrothermic appliances - 42300000 - Industrial or laboratory furnaces, incinerators and ovens ## Release History - 22 Nov 2017 at 11:16 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e6ff4871-ba8d-46c0-b48d-18333567ed2a ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e6ff4871-ba8d-46c0-b48d-18333567ed2a 22nd November 2017 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofbirmingham/aspx/ Additional information on how to apply for this contract ## Notice URLs - https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofbirmingham/aspx/Home ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1aca54f1-0bc6-47e8-be53-05526ea930a1. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1aca54f1-0bc6-47e8-be53-05526ea930a1.json.