---
title: "DoJ FSNI Purchase of Helium BIPS for Instrumental Analysis"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02dbab"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02dbab"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02dbab.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02dbab.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DOJ FORENSIC SCIENCE NORTHERN IRELAND"
published: "2021-09-14"
---

# DoJ FSNI Purchase of Helium BIPS for Instrumental Analysis

Buyer: DOJ FORENSIC SCIENCE NORTHERN IRELAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02dbab

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02dbab)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02dbab.json)

## Summary

The Department of Justice (DoJ) Forensic Science Northern Ireland is in the process of procuring high purity helium cylinders with a Built In Purification System (BIPS) through a limited procurement method. The contract titled "DoJ FSNI Purchase of Helium BIPS for Instrumental Analysis" was awarded on 14th September 2021, with an estimated value of £170,000. The award procedure was carried out without prior publication of a call for competition, identifying the need for high purity helium for critical laboratory instrumentation used in sensitive forensic analyses. The delivery location is specified as Forensic Science Northern Ireland, Seapark, Carrickfergus, County Antrim, UK.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in high-purity gases, particularly those that can supply BIPS cylinders, which are essential for maintaining the integrity of forensic analysis equipment. Companies with capabilities in producing patented high-purity gas solutions would be particularly well-suited to engage in these tenders, given that the procurement rationale highlights the lack of alternative suppliers due to the unique technology involved. Additionally, suppliers should be prepared for strict performance monitoring, ensuring compliance with high standards set by the DoJ, which may lead to long-term partnerships for consistent gas supply in forensic settings.

## Notice

FSNI are establishing a Direct Award Contract for the supply of cylinders of helium gas with a Built In Purification System (BIPS).

### Lot Information

Lot 1

FSNI are establishing a Direct Award Contract for the supply of cylinders of helium gas with a Built In Purification System (BIPS). The instrumentation set up in a number of labs across FSNI demands high purity helium in order to avoid unnecessary maintenance, repair and down time. The instrumentation in question is highly sensitive and can be easily damaged by small impurities being allowed to enter these systems, potentially resulting in loss of results, days of down time for additional maintenance and in some cases expensive repair costs and engineer visits. The instrumentation which requires this high purity helium is used across FSNI and is used in case work. It is imperative that the purity of the gas does not compromise case work results. The issue of constant purity can be eliminated using cylinders that incorporate a Built In Purification System (BIPS Cylinders). The complex analytical instrumentation used across FSNI has a direct impact on casework turnaround times, target dates and SLAs with FSNI's customers. The availability of this instrumentation is business critical for priority 1 or urgent casework and unnecessary down time could not be tolerated by the organisation.

### Procurement Information

FSNI first tested the market for Helium with BIPS in 2013 when they tendered for the Supply & Delivery of Gases, this product had to be removed from the tender specification as only one supplier was permitted to supply Helium BIPS. Horizon scanning has continued since then to understand whether there may be an alternative in provision that could provide the same level of purity required and recent market sounding has confirmed that there remains no alternative to the patented product offered by the designated supplier. BIPS cylinders are exclusive to the designated supplier, who developed and own the Built In Purification System. They have this system patented, therefore no other supplier can offer the same or similar products. All public procurements should comply with NI Public Procurement Policy (NIPPP) and Managing Public Money NI. The value of this Direct Award Contract (DAC) is above the relevant threshold and therefore the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) apply. There are derogations under the regulations to award a contract to a single supplier where the supplies or services can only be supplied by a particular supplier for any of the following reasons:- Where competition is absent for technical reasons (regulation 32(2)(b)(ii); or i) For reasons connected with the protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights (regulation 32(2)(b)(iii)) but only where no reasonable alternative or substitute exists and the absence of competition is not the result of an artificial narrowing down of the parameters of the procurement. In this case as the BIPS system is patented and is further essential to provide the critical quality and purity of gases required for FSNI instrumentation. In applying the regulation 32 derogation, CPD, on behalf of FSNI, published a voluntary transparency notice in the Find a Tender Service (FTS) Official Journal (the UK's EU Journal equivalent). This notice was published at least 10 days before the intended contract award date. FSNI did not enter into or sign any contract document ahead of the issue of the agreed CPD award letter.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/022784-2021 |
| 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, SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 14 Sep 2021 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 31 Aug 2021 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £170,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DOJ FORENSIC SCIENCE NORTHERN IRELAND |
| Locality | BELFAST |
| Post town | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT3 9ED |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast |
| Local authority | Belfast |
| Electoral ward | Sydenham |
| Westminster constituency | Belfast East |
| Delivery location | TLN0 Northern Ireland, TLN0F Mid and East Antrim |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 2 |
| Supplier names | AS PER REGULATION 50(6)(A) - INFORMATION WITHHELD FOR SECURITY REASONS; INFORMATION WITHHELD FOR SECURITY REASONS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 24 - Chemical products
- 44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

### Codes

- 24111300 - Helium
- 44612100 - Gas cylinders

## Release History

- 14 Sep 2021 at 10:40 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/022784-2021
- 1 Sep 2021 at 09:12 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021564-2021

## Notice URLs

- https://www.finance-ni.Gov.uk/sites/default/
- https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/topics/procurement
- https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/topics/forensic-science/forensic-science-northern-ireland

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