--- title: "TENDER FOR THE BULK SUPPLY OF LIQUID CARBON DIOXIDE - UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02b889" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02b889" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02b889.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02b889.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM" published: "2021-06-04" --- # TENDER FOR THE BULK SUPPLY OF LIQUID CARBON DIOXIDE - UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02b889 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02b889) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02b889.json) ## Summary The University of Birmingham is currently seeking suppliers for the bulk supply of liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) to support the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR). This tender, titled "TENDER FOR THE BULK SUPPLY OF LIQUID CARBON DIOXIDE," is classified under the industry category of gases (CPV code: 24100000) and is intended for a five-year period commencing from April 2022. The procurement is in the active tender stage, with submissions due by 11:00 on 5th July 2021. The project is significant, as it examines the long-term impact of elevated CO2 on forest ecology and health, making it one of only two such ongoing projects globally. Deliveries will primarily be required in the Staffordshire area during the growing season from late March to early November, necessitating two deliveries per day from a single fossil fuel source. This contract presents substantial opportunities for businesses involved in the supply of industrial gases, particularly those that can meet the unique specifications required for food-grade CO2. Suppliers who can guarantee a reliable and secure source of CO2 while adhering to environmental standards will be well-positioned to compete. The contract entails a projected total requirement of between 20,000 and 36,250 tonnes over the duration of the agreement, which translates into potential growth for companies able to manage large-scale, consistent deliveries, especially during peak demand months. ## Notice The University has a requirement for basic food grade carbon dioxide (CO2) for a five year period to support the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR). This project is high profile and far reaching, exploring the long term effects of elevated CO2 on forests. Based in the Staffordshire area, this project is led by the University of Birmingham and is one of only two such projects (other is in Australia) currently running in the World, exploring the real long term impact of CO2 on forest ecology and health. The experiment consists of six arrays of towers within a woodland, each 30 m across, which extend from the ground to the top of the trees. CO2 will be released within three of these rings, while the other three will act as control plots and receive ambient air only. CO2 is stored in 3 x 40,000kg (40 tonnes) capacity Storage Vessels under pressure as a liquid. The liquid CO2 is converted to a gas using ambient heat vaporisers and transported in pipes through the woodland to the experimental arrays. Here, it is diluted with normal air until the level reaches ~550 parts per million (ppm) before being released into the research woodland arrays. Sensors within the array are used by a computer to automatically adjust the amount and direction of released CO2 according to the speed and direction of the wind. The findings will be published as part of the argument on the long-term impacts of CO2. The facility has been in full operation since April 2016 and has been using CO2 product to deliver the experimental conditions since April 2017 to date. The University of Birmingham own and operate all the storage and delivery infrastructure related to bulk liquid CO2. To operate the project effectively and to ensure a high level of robustness in the findings of the research a minimum quantity of 4,000 tonnes per annum (a possible maximum use of 7,250 per year) from April 2022. Thus, a total projected requirement would range from 20,000 tonnes to 36,250 tonnes from April 2022 to April 2027. Variations in volume will be determined by a variety of local environmental conditions, namely, number of daylight hours, wind speeds and ambient temperature. The average consumption of liquid CO2 has been 4,391 +- 1,866 tons per year but there are considerable month to month variations. Historically, the highest demand is in April (~900 tons) and demand drops each subsequent month until October (~600 tons) when supply to the arrays is in early November. The delivery requirement would be most likely to be two deliveries per day from a known/reported point source. The source must also be of fossil fuel origin e.g. ammonia production. Deliveries of product will be required during the growing period lasting approximately from late-March to early-November. ### Lot Information Lot 1 The University has a requirement for basic food grade CO2 for a five year period to support the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR). This project is high profile and far reaching, exploring the long term effects of CO2 on forests. This project is based in the Staffordshire area and is led by the University of Birmingham. It is one of only two such projects currently running in the World, exploring the real long term impact of CO2 on forest ecology and health. This high-profile research project has been commissioned by the University to develop a real understanding of the long-term impact of CO2 on mature forest; the findings will also be published as part of the argument on the long-term impacts of CO2. To operate the project effectively and to ensure a high level of robustness in the findings of the research a minimum quantity of 4,000 tonnes per annum (a possible maximum use of 7,250 per year) from April 2017. Thus, a total projected requirement would range from 20,000 tonnes to 36,250 tonnes from April 2022 to April 2027. Variations in volume will be determined by a variety of local environmental conditions, namely, number of daylight hours, wind speeds and ambient temperature. The average consumption of liquid CO2 has been 4,391 +- 1,866 tons per year but there is considerable month to month variations, but historically, the highest demand is in April (~900 tons) and demand drops each subsequent month until October (~600 tons). The delivery requirement would be most likely to be two deliveries per day. Deliveries will be required during the growing period lasting approximately from March to mid-November. The experimental system became operational in spring 2016 and is designed to run for more than a decade until November 2026. BIFoR Free-Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) CO2 storage and distribution delivery arrangements are detailed as follows; a) CO2 will be delivered to site by tanker and transferred to insulated storage vessels. The storage vessels will be equipped with refrigeration and heating units to maintain a pressure of 1725kPa to ensure the CO2 is in the liquid phase irrespective of demand. b) To ensure continuity of supply during the operation season the storage vessels will have a capacity of approximately 140 tons based on a weekly use of 190 tons through the growing season (nominally April - October inclusive). c) Storage vessels will be maintained at 100+ tons at all times during the operating season. Storage levels below 100 tons should be considered the call off point for resupply. d) It is important that a supplier will be able to guarantee supply security of the CO2 throughout the operation period from a majority single point source. e) The need to secure supply from a single CO2 source (i.e. from fertiliser production or cement or brewing but not a mix of all three). This is important because the isotopic signature of the CO2 varies with the source it comes from. Please report the carbon-13 isotope ratio in your supply and provide details of how and when that isotopic signature might vary (e.g., as a result of change of natural gas feedstock). Additional information: Contract Value has been published at the FTS minimum PS1 to encourage competition. 3 scenarios have been included with the Tender Documents Pricing Schedule. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012567-2021 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 4 Jun 2021 | | Submission deadline | 5 Jul 2021 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1 | | Lots value | £1 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## 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) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 24 - Chemical products ### Codes - 24100000 - Gases ## Release History - 4 Jun 2021 at 12:34 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012567-2021 ## 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-02b889. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02b889.json.