---
title: "Provision of Helium BiPS"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-048a47"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-048a47"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-048a47.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-048a47.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DOJ FORENSIC SCIENCE NORTHERN IRELAND"
published: "2024-08-13"
---

# Provision of Helium BiPS

Buyer: DOJ FORENSIC SCIENCE NORTHERN IRELAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-048a47

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## Summary

The Department of Justice Forensic Science Northern Ireland (DoJ FSNI) has completed a procurement process for the provision of high purity helium gas cylinders with a Built-In Purification System (BIPS). The contract titled "Provision of Helium BiPS" is classified under the industry category of gas cylinders for laboratory use. The procurement, conducted under a limited method without prior publication of a call for competition, covers locations across Forensic Science Northern Ireland's facilities in Seapark, Carrickfergus, County Antrim. The awarded contract, valued at £180,000, was signed on 9th August 2024.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in the supply of high purity gases, particularly helium, with proprietary purification systems. Since the BIPS technology is exclusively provided by a specific supplier due to patented rights, companies with innovative and similar capabilities could stand to gain business by introducing alternative solutions in this niche market. Businesses in the laboratory equipment and scientific instrumentation sectors would find this contract well-aligned with their expertise and product offerings, potentially fostering growth in collaborative research and advanced scientific applications.

## Notice

This Direct Award Contract is to cover expenditure for the supply of cylinders of helium gas with a Built In Purification System (BIPS) for use with an instrumentation set up in a number of labs across FSNI which demands high purity helium in order to avoid unnecessary maintenance, repair and down time.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

This Direct Award Contract is to cover expenditure for the supply of cylinders of helium gas with a Built In Purification System (BIPS) for use with an instrumentation set up in a number of labs across FSNI which demands high purity helium in order to avoid unnecessary maintenance, repair and down time.

### Procurement Information

FSNI 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 no other supplier was permitted to supply Helium BIPS which only the appointed contractor can supply. 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 appointed contractor. BIPS cylinders are exclusive to the appointed contractor, who developed and own the Built In Purification System. The appointed contractor have this system patented, therefore no other supplier can offer the same or similar products in UK or Ireland. Further research (2023/24) in the market has confirmed that the appointed contractor remains the only provider capable of providing high purity helium.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025583-2024 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Aug 2024 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 8 Aug 2024 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £180,000 |

## 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 | TLN0F Mid and East Antrim |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | AS PER REGULATION 50(6)(A) - INFORMATION WITHHELD FOR SECURITY REASONS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 44612100 - Gas cylinders

## Release History

- 13 Aug 2024 at 11:05 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025583-2024

## Notice URLs

- 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-048a47. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-048a47.json.