---
title: "Contract for the Supply and Installation of a Squid Magnetometer with Versatile Measurement Options to the University of Birmingham"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02a91e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02a91e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02a91e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02a91e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM"
published: "2021-07-26"
---

# Contract for the Supply and Installation of a Squid Magnetometer with Versatile Measurement Options to the University of Birmingham

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02a91e

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## Summary

The University of Birmingham is currently at the award stage for a tender titled "Contract for the Supply and Installation of a Squid Magnetometer with Versatile Measurement Options." This procurement process involves the supply and installation of advanced instrumentation within the education sector, classified under Instruments for checking physical characteristics (CPV code: 38400000). The awarding organisation has a budget of approximately £721,276 and the contract was signed on 19 July 2021. This initiative aims to enhance the Midlands Mag Lab, a facility for advanced magnetic materials characterisation. It serves the region of Birmingham, UK, with the procurement method being an open procedure, which encourages participation from a wide range of suppliers.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in the supply and installation of scientific instruments, especially those with expertise in superconducting technologies and advanced measurement systems. Companies involved in producing or maintaining quantum measurement devices, cryogenic equipment, and research-based applications may find this tender particularly relevant. Additionally, firms that offer training and technical support services for complex instrumentation will be well-suited to compete, thereby aiding their growth while contributing to innovative research in the fields of quantum materials, energy, and sustainable technologies.

## Notice

This project is funded by UK Research and Innovation's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the University of Birmingham. The University of Birmingham invites tenders for supply and installation of a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer with a versatile range of measurement options. The SQUID magnetometer and its measurement options will form the Midlands Mag Lab, a state-of-the-art magnetometry facility created with the support of an EPSRC Strategic Equipment award. It will facilitate advanced magnetic materials characterisation by academic and industry users in the Midlands region and beyond. The equipment will be used to deliver new understanding of fundamental magnetic materials properties, as well as developing new technologies that exploit the magnetic properties of solids in the areas of quantum materials and technologies, energy materials, and sustainable materials and recycling. The broad user base and diverse range of materials to be characterised with the equipment means that the equipment interface should be user friendly. The instrument should perform DC and AC magnetometry measurements on a single platform over a temperature range of 2 to 400 K in applied fields of up to 7 T. It should be compatible with a suite of measurement options to enable a versatile range of experimental conditions that meet the needs of the broad user base. Specifically, the measurement options should facilitate DC measurements: With a moment sensitivity in the range of 1 x 10 - 8 emu, At controlled sub-0.5 K temperatures as well as between 2 K and 1000 K, With active cancelation of residual magnetic flux so that samples can be cooled in a field less than 0.05 G, With field-setting resolution of 0.002 G for a field range up to 20 G, With sample mounting and automated rotation to enable sample rotations of up to 360 degrees in 0.1 degree increments in an applied field, Under applied voltage in a range 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz, Under applied pressure of at least 1 GPa. The measurement options should be easily exchangeable and integrated with the main instrument, with the entire system having a single PC-based controller capable of executing automated system setting and data collection. The instrument should be a wet system, connecting directly with the University of Birmingham's helium liquefier system. It should be delivered, installed, and tested on site with a maintenance and service package, with key users provided with training. This project may be funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) or; - European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) or; - UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The University of Birmingham invites tenders for supply and installation of a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer with a versatile range of measurement options. The SQUID system and its measurement options will form the Midlands Mag Lab, a state of the art magnetometry facility created with the support of an EPSRC Strategic Equipment award. It will facilitate advanced magnetic materials characterisation by academic and industry users in the Midlands region and beyond. The equipment will be used to deliver new understanding of fundamental magnetic materials properties, as well as developing new technologies that exploit the magnetic properties of solids in the areas of quantum materials and technologies, energy materials and sustainable materials and recycling. The broad user base and diverse range of materials to be characterised with the equipment means that the equipment interface must be user friendly and reliable. General characteristics A SQUID magnetometry instrument that can be utilised for high-sensitivity and high throughput DC magnetometry measurements of polycrystalline, single-crystal and thin film magnetic materials. The instrument can also be utilised in AC magnetometry measurement mode. It is compatible with the range of measurement options as specified in Sections ii - vii below. Specification i. The magnetometer should 1) Be a SQUID-based magnetometer, 2) Have a magnetic moment sensitivity of at least 10-8 emu at low fields and at least 10-7 emu at the maximum field (see ii), 3) Measure a maximum magnetic moment up to 10 emu, 4) Enable measurement of samples of at least 5 mm in diameter, 5) Enable automated sample environment and measurement controls, with capability for programmable measurement sequences, 6) Operate through a stand-alone software with a user-friendly interface, 7) Be a wet system that consumes less than 5 L of liquid helium per day with a hold time longer than 10 days. ii. The magnetic field environment of the magnetometer should 8) Be produced by a superconducting solenoid, 9) Have a field range of at least -7 T to + 7 T, 10) Have a field homogeneity better than 100 ppm over a typical scan length, 11) Have a maximum field charging rate greater than 500 Oe/s, 12) Have a remanent field no greater than 5 Oe when set to zero field after applying the maximum field. iii. The temperature environment of the magnetometer should13) Enable continuous operation at any temperature from below 2 K up to 400 K using a liquid helium based wet cryostat, 14) Have a temperature stability of 0.5% or better over the entire measurement range, 15) Cool from room temperature to base in under 30 minutes. iv. A low-temperature option should 16) Be a 3He fridge, 17) Have a base temperature of less than 0.5 K, 18) Have a temperature stability of at least 1 %, 19) Cool from room temperature to base in under 3 hours, 20) Have a base temperature hold time greater than 24 hours, 21) Have a recondensation time of less than 30 mins, 22) Be fully compatible with the software and operation of the SQUID magnetometer. v. A high-temperature option should 23) Enable continuous temperature operation at all temperatures between 300 K and 1000 K, 24) Be fully compatible with the software and operation of the SQUID magnetometer. vi. A low-field option should 25) Cancel the residual magnetic field of the superconducting solenoid magnet to within 0.05 G of zero field, 26) Have a field resolution better than 0.002 G for applied fields in the range of 20 G, 27) Be fully compatible with the software and operation of the SQUID magnetometer. vii. An AC magnetometry measurement mode should 28) Have a response that is flat to within 5 % over the range 0.1 Hz - 1 kHz, 29) Have an amplitude of 0.1 - 10 Oe, 30) Have a magnetic moment sensitivity of at least 5 X 10-8 emu and accuracy better than 1 %, 31) Have a phase angle accuracy of at least 0.5, 32) Be fully compatible with the software and operation of the SQUID magnetometer, as well as the low- and high-temperature sample environments. viii. A high-pressure option should 33) Generate a maximum pressure of at least 1 GPa, 34) Generate minimal magnetic background to the measurement signal, 35) Enable measurement of samples with a diameter greater than 2 mm. ix. A sample rotation option should 36) Enable 360 sample rotation in 0.1 increments 37) Enable automated control of sample orientation using a stepper motor for sample rotation. x. An electric transport option should 38) Enable AC/DC resistance measurements, 39) Supply a continuous current between 10 nA and 100 mA, 40) Have a frequency range of at least 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz, 41) Enable application of a magnetic field in parallel and perpendicular to the bias direction, 42) Enable 2 and 4 wire measurements, 43) Enable magnetic measurements to be carried out with the same probe while applying a voltage.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017648-2021 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 26 Jul 2021 |
| Submission deadline | 17 May 2021 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 18 Jul 2021 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £692,501 |
| Lots value | £692,501 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £721,276 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM |
| Locality | BIRMINGHAM |
| 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) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | QUANTUM DESIGN UK AND IRELAND |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 38340000 - Instruments for measuring quantities
- 38400000 - Instruments for checking physical characteristics

## Release History

- 26 Jul 2021 at 12:38 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017648-2021
- 22 Apr 2021 at 13:36 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008621-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.in-tendhost.com/universityofbirmingham
- https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/index.aspx

## 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-h6vhtk-02a91e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02a91e.json.