--- title: "Helium-4 Optically Pumped Magnetometer (OPM-MEG) Supply, Installation, Service and Maintenance" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-040cfa" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-040cfa" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040cfa.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040cfa.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "ASTON UNIVERSITY" published: "2023-12-08" --- # Helium-4 Optically Pumped Magnetometer (OPM-MEG) Supply, Installation, Service and Maintenance Buyer: ASTON UNIVERSITY Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-040cfa [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-040cfa) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040cfa.json) ## Summary Aston University has completed a procurement process for the supply, installation, service, and maintenance of a Helium-4 Optically Pumped Magnetometer (OPM-MEG) system. The 5-year contract was awarded to Mag4Health without a call for competition, as Aston University required specific technical capabilities for extensive clinical trials. The contract covers the period from February 2024 to January 2029 and involves the operation of the OPM-MEG for up to 8 hours a day, with examinations lasting up to 2 hours on a subject. The total contract value is estimated at £1,600,000. This tender provides an opportunity for businesses involved in laboratory, optical, and precision equipment to explore collaboration with Aston University. Businesses specializing in the supply of Helium OPM-MEG systems may find this tender particularly suitable. The procurement method used was an award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition, reflecting the specific technical requirements that limited the field of potential suppliers. The contracting process was aimed at identifying a supplier with the unique capabilities needed for the successful completion of the project. ## Notice Aston University has awarded a 5-year contract for the supply, installation, service and maintenance of a Helium-4 Optically Pumped Magnetometer MEG system (OPM-MEG) to Mag4Health from February 2024 to January 2029. Aston University has awarded the contract without a call for competition in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ((32.2(b) ii. * The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: * absence of competition for technical reasons Aston University will carry out extensive clinical trials during this period and requires an OPM-MEG that can be operated up to 8 hours a day, with examinations lasting up to 2 hours on a subject. The Helium OPM-MEG technology dissipates 20 mW per sensor, unlike the Rubidium OPM-MEG, which dissipates about 500 mW to heat the Rubidium at 150degC. The absence of heating will make it simpler for us to operate the system for long periods without the need to actively remove heat. Helium OPM technology is being used in space (e.g. satellites) at the moment and has been proven to work continuously for 10 years. Although other manufacturers of OPM-MEG systems exist, they do not supply Helium OPM-MEG and for this reason, we have determined that Mag4Health are the only available supplier in the market. The negotiated contract value estimate reflects a long-term collaboration between Mag4Health and Aston University. ### Lot Information Lot 1 Aston University has awarded a 5-year contract for the supply, installation, service and maintenance of a Helium-4 Optically Pumped Magnetometer MEG system (OPM-MEG) to Mag4Health from February 2024 to January 2029. Aston University has awarded the contract without a call for competition in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ((32.2(b) ii. * The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: * absence of competition for technical reasons Aston University will carry out extensive clinical trials during this period and requires an OPM-MEG that can be operated up to 8 hours a day, with examinations lasting up to 2 hours on a subject. The Helium OPM-MEG technology dissipates 20 mW per sensor, unlike the Rubidium OPM-MEG, which dissipates about 500 mW to heat the Rubidium at 150degC. The absence of heating will make it simpler for us to operate the system for long periods without the need to actively remove heat. Helium OPM technology is being used in space (e.g. satellites) at the moment and has been proven to work continuously for 10 years. Although other manufacturers of OPM-MEG systems exist, they do not supply Helium OPM-MEG and for this reason, we have determined that Mag4Health are the only available supplier in the market. The negotiated contract value estimate reflects a long-term collaboration between Mag4Health and Aston University. ### Procurement Information Aston University will carry out extensive clinical trials during this period and requires an OPM-MEG that can be operated up to 8 hours a day, with examinations lasting up to 2 hours on a subject. The Helium OPM-MEG technology dissipates 20 mW per sensor, unlike the Rubidium OPM-MEG, which dissipates about 500 mW to heat the Rubidium at 150degC. The absence of heating will make it simpler for us to operate the system for long periods without the need to actively remove heat. Helium OPM technology is being used in space (e.g. satellites) at the moment and has been proven to work continuously for 10 years. Although other manufacturers of OPM-MEG systems exist, they do not supply Helium OPM-MEG and for this reason, we have determined that Mag4Health are the only available supplier in the market. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036282-2023 | | 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 | SME | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 8 Dec 2023 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 17 Oct 2023 | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | £1,600,000 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Cancelled | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | ASTON UNIVERSITY | | Locality | BIRMINGHAM | | Post town | Birmingham | | Postcode | B4 7ET | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands | | ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham | | Local authority | Birmingham | | Electoral ward | Nechells | | Westminster constituency | Birmingham Ladywood | | Delivery location | TLG31 Birmingham | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | MAG4HEALTH | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) ### Codes - 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) ## Release History - 8 Dec 2023 at 16:30 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036282-2023 - 18 Oct 2023 at 11:23 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030743-2023 ## Notice URLs - https://www.aston.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-040cfa. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040cfa.json.