--- title: "Photonic Wafer-Scale Testing System" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-2ec9b717-0b26-433e-8782-f1e6ec315fc6" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-2ec9b717-0b26-433e-8782-f1e6ec315fc6" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2ec9b717-0b26-433e-8782-f1e6ec315fc6.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2ec9b717-0b26-433e-8782-f1e6ec315fc6.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON" published: "2017-01-13" --- # Photonic Wafer-Scale Testing System Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-2ec9b717-0b26-433e-8782-f1e6ec315fc6 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-2ec9b717-0b26-433e-8782-f1e6ec315fc6) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2ec9b717-0b26-433e-8782-f1e6ec315fc6.json) ## Summary The University of Southampton is seeking tenders for a Photonic Wafer-Scale Testing System to support research activities at its Highfield Campus. The project is classified under the industry category of laboratory, optical and precision equipment and is located in Hampshire, South East England. This tender is currently in the open procurement stage, with a deadline for submissions set for 16 February 2017. The total budget for this contract is capped at £250,000, which includes the initial purchase, a four-year warranty, and potential future accessory costs. Notably, the estimated value for the initial purchase and service contract is between £150,000 and £180,000, excluding VAT. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in precision equipment manufacturing, particularly those specialising in optical and industrial machinery. Companies that design and produce advanced testing systems and optical devices would find this contract particularly relevant. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to apply, given the inclusive nature of the tender that invites diverse suppliers. Engaging in this project could facilitate long-term partnerships with a prestigious academic institution, potentially leading to further business opportunities within the research and development community. ## Notice A photonic wafer-scale testing system is required by Silicon Photonics Group at the University of Southampton (Highfield Campus) for research activities. As one of the leading research team, the Silicon Photonics group has made a significant contribution in the field of silicon photonics most notably in waveguides, optical modulators, grating couplers, optical filters and switches. Collaborations with a number of industrial and academic institutions have been established. Silicon photonics is an emerging technology for making devices for optical communication systems, high-speed computing or various sensing applications. Complicated photonic circuits can be made on Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) wafers based on a similar fabrication technology as used for CMOS industry. Similar to the CMOS industry, wafer-scale testing is going to be a critical step for quality control and failure diagnoses for silicon photonics. Grating couplers will be used as optical input/output (I/O) on photonic circuits to couple light into/out from single-mode optical fibres. Grating coupler is a device made of periodically etched lines to diffract light upwards to the optical fibres. Most grating couplers are about 10mm by 10mm in size, which may vary depending on specific designs. The accuracy for positioning the single-mode fibres for testing is required to be better than 1mm. We also developed a new type of erasable grating couplers, which can be used as optical I/O for testing and then erased with high power laser afterwards. Therefore, a tailor-made high power laser source used particularly for erasing the gratings would be required. The testing system is targeted to work with 8 inch wafers. Both passive and active photonic devices would be fabricated on the wafer. Apart from all those optical I/O mentioned above, high-speed electrical I/O would also be required. It may carry signals up to 50 Gb/s. Full details in relation to the requirement can be found in the Specification (File 4). Additional information: Bidders are advised that the maximum budget for this project in its entirety is PS250,000 GBP (excluding VAT) and any bids submitted in excess of PS250k will not be accepted. The entire project value is intended to reflect the estimated cost of the initial purchase of the wafer testing system as well as the warranty and servicing contract for a four year period PLUS the potential future costs of any accessories to be developed under this contract (further details in relation to the development potential can be found in the Invitation to Tender documents (Specification, File 4)). The estimated contract value for the initial cost of the system purchase and four year warranty and service contract is estimated to be between PS150,000 and PS180,000 GBP (excluding VAT) Details of current expenditure or potential future uptake are given in good faith as a guide to past purchasing and current planning to assist you in submitting your Tender. They should not be interpreted as an undertaking to purchase any goods or services to any particular value and do not form part of the Contract. Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e3a09747-15cd-434b-a995-a96b5b614f2d | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 13 Jan 2017 | | Submission deadline | 16 Feb 2017 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 29 Sep 2017 - 30 Sep 2021 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £250,000 | | 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 SOUTHAMPTON | | Locality | HAMPSHIRE | | Post town | Southampton | | Postcode | SO17 1BJ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight | | ITL 3 | TLJ32 Southampton | | Local authority | Southampton | | Electoral ward | Portswood | | Westminster constituency | Southampton Test | | Delivery location | TLJ South East (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) - 42 - Industrial machinery ### Codes - 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) - 38300000 - Measuring instruments - 38500000 - Checking and testing apparatus - 38540000 - Machines and apparatus for testing and measuring - 38600000 - Optical instruments - 38800000 - Industrial process control equipment and remote-control equipment - 38810000 - Industrial process control equipment - 38900000 - Miscellaneous evaluation or testing instruments - 42000000 - Industrial machinery - 42900000 - Miscellaneous general and special-purpose machinery ## Release History - 13 Jan 2017 at 11:37 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e3a09747-15cd-434b-a995-a96b5b614f2d ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e3a09747-15cd-434b-a995-a96b5b614f2d 13th January 2017 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton/aspx/ Additional information on how to apply for this contract ## 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-b5fd17-2ec9b717-0b26-433e-8782-f1e6ec315fc6. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2ec9b717-0b26-433e-8782-f1e6ec315fc6.json.