---
title: "X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) system and Ultra-high vacuum system"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-031b80"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-031b80"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-031b80.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-031b80.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL"
published: "2022-06-09"
---

# X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) system and Ultra-high vacuum system

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-031b80

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## Summary

The University of Bristol is conducting an open tender for the procurement of a state-of-the-art X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) system and an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) transfer system, essential for advancing research in actinide thin films, particularly for nuclear fuel studies. The procurement process, currently in the tender stage, has a submission deadline of 28th March 2022. The total budget allocated for this project is approximately £550,000, divided into £400,000 for the XPS system and £150,000 for the UHV transfer system. The delivery of these goods is expected within the UK.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in laboratory and precision equipment, particularly those experienced in high-tech apparatus for scientific research or nuclear applications. Suppliers capable of providing advanced technical solutions and who understand the specific requirements related to the nuclear sector may find this tender particularly appealing, as the University aims to foster a sustainable user base in the nuclear research sector up to March 2023 and beyond.

## Notice

One contract has been awarded to cover two competed lots as the same supplier was successful on both. The requirement is comprised of two pieces of equipment (1) a state-of-the-art x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) system with a particular focus on high lateral resolution and depth profiling; (2) an in-vacuum (UHV) transfer system between the new XPS and existing deposition facility, ideally with a small laboratory footprint. Bristol has an international reputation in fabrication and characterisation of actinide thin films (for studies based on the behaviour of current and advanced nuclear fuels). The FaRMS project will upgrade our growth and characterisation facilities to allow in-situ transfer of newly grown samples to the XPS system. This will be enabled by the UHV transfer system connecting both the sputtering chamber and the XPS system, as well as allowing the sputtering system and XPS system to work independently. Our long-term vision is that this instrument will enable thin layers (from a few nanometres to micron-scale films) of nuclear fuel materials to be fabricated and characterised with a range of techniques within FaRMS and the larger IAC infrastructure. FaRMS is a member of the National Nuclear User Facility, which aims to provide a service to the nuclear research sector - academic and industrial, with access funded up until March 2023, building a user-base to be financially sustainable thereafter.

### Lot Information

X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) system

A state-of-the-art x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) system with a particular focus on high lateral resolution and depth profiling

Ultra-high vacuum transfer system

In-vacuum (UHV) transfer system

X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS)

The requirement is comprised of two pieces of equipment (1) a state-of-the-art x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) system with a particular focus on high lateral resolution and depth profiling; (2) an in-vacuum (UHV) transfer system between the new XPS and existing deposition facility, ideally with a small laboratory footprint. Bristol has an international reputation in fabrication and characterisation of actinide thin films (for studies based on the behaviour of current and advanced nuclear fuels). The FaRMS project will upgrade our growth and characterisation facilities to allow in-situ transfer of newly grown samples to the XPS system. This will be enabled by the UHV transfer system connecting both the sputtering chamber and the XPS system, as well as allowing the sputtering system and XPS system to work independently. Our long-term vision is that this instrument will enable thin layers (from a few nanometres to micron-scale films) of nuclear fuel materials to be fabricated and characterised with a range of techniques within FaRMS and the larger IAC infrastructure. FaRMS is a member of the National Nuclear User Facility, which aims to provide a service to the nuclear research sector - academic and industrial, with access funded up until March 2023, building a user-base to be financially sustainable thereafter.

Ultra-High Vaccuum (UHV) Transfer System

The requirement is comprised of two pieces of equipment (1) a state-of-the-art x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) system with a particular focus on high lateral resolution and depth profiling; (2) an in-vacuum (UHV) transfer system between the new XPS and existing deposition facility, ideally with a small laboratory footprint. Bristol has an international reputation in fabrication and characterisation of actinide thin films (for studies based on the behaviour of current and advanced nuclear fuels). The FaRMS project will upgrade our growth and characterisation facilities to allow in-situ transfer of newly grown samples to the XPS system. This will be enabled by the UHV transfer system connecting both the sputtering chamber and the XPS system, as well as allowing the sputtering system and XPS system to work independently. Our long-term vision is that this instrument will enable thin layers (from a few nanometres to micron-scale films) of nuclear fuel materials to be fabricated and characterised with a range of techniques within FaRMS and the larger IAC infrastructure. FaRMS is a member of the National Nuclear User Facility, which aims to provide a service to the nuclear research sector - academic and industrial, with access funded up until March 2023, building a user-base to be financially sustainable thereafter.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015875-2022 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Jun 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 28 Mar 2022 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 30 May 2022 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £550,000 |
| Lots value | £550,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £553,006 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL |
| Locality | BRISTOL |
| Post town | Bristol |
| Postcode | BS1 5DS |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England |
| ITL 3 | TLK51 Bristol, City of |
| Local authority | Bristol, City of |
| Electoral ward | Central |
| Westminster constituency | Bristol Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SCANWEL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

## Release History

- 9 Jun 2022 at 12:05 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015875-2022
- 25 Feb 2022 at 22:45 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005348-2022

## Notice URLs

- http://www.bristol.ac.uk
- https://tenders.bris.ac.uk/

## 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-031b80. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-031b80.json.