United Kingdom-Sheffield: Metal-working machine tools

Type of document: Pre-information procedures
Country: United Kingdom
OJEU Ref: (15/S 215-392103/EN)
Nature of contract: Supply contract
Procedure: Not applicable
Regulation of procurement: EU – with participation by GPA countries
Award criteria: Not applicable
Type of bid required: Not applicable

Prior information notice without call for competition
Supplies
Directive 2004/18/EC
Section I: Contracting authority
I.1) Name addresses and contact point(s):
University of Sheffield
Procurement Office, Arts Tower, Western Bank
Sheffield
Postal code: S10 2TN
United Kingdom
For the attention of: Ms Y. Everitt
Phone: +44 1142222173
Email: y.everitt@sheffield.ac.uk
Internet Address(es):
General address of the contracting authority: www.shef.ac.uk/procurement
Further information can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)
I.2) Type of the contracting authority:
Body governed by public law
I.3) Main activity: Education
I.4) Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities/entities:
The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: No
Section II.B: Object of the contract (Supplies or services):
II.1) Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority/entity:
Prior Information Notice — Sheffield Translational Facility for metal powder processing in high value manufacturing and engineering.
II.2) Type of contract and place of delivery or of performance:
Supplies
University of Sheffield — Sir Henry Royce Institute — Sheffield Wing.
Nuts code: UKE32
II.3) Information on framework agreement:
II.4) Short description of nature and quantity or value of suppliers or services:
The University of Sheffield is looking to research pilot-scale metal powder production and powder processing facility. This facility will be for the production and utilisation of metal powders in high value manufacturing and engineering sectors. In particular we will be looking for equipment for the following areas:
— Pilot scale metal atomization — for the production of metals and reactive alloys;
— Induction plasma technology system for powder densification and spheroidisation;
— Vacuum induction melting furnace;
— Milling technology: to grind metal into a powder;
— Laser powder bed metal 3D printer — Small laser spot size for maximum fine structures of 50 um;
— 3D material printing system — using print head technology that consecutively applies binder to metal powder layers to produce 3D parts;
— Blown powder 3D metal laser printer — for the production of graded material components from mixtures of materials. Capability for new alloy development;
— Hot isostatic pressing;
— Metal injection moulding equipment;
— Metal injection moulding sintering furnace’
This is not a call for tenders or a pre-qualification exercise. It is a market sounding exercise to provide advance information of requirements and open a dialogue with the supply chain.
We are seeking information that will help inform the strategy, design and specifications for a forthcoming tender(s) for the above facility. In particular we seek to understand the types of facilities required by manufacturers for the correct working environment and operational site requirements that will be needed, such as floor loading, space requirements, energy, temperature control, gas inputs or waste disposal etc. which will help inform the design of the building that will be constructed to house the facility.
II.5) Common procurement vocabulary (CPV):
42630000, 42000000, 38400000, 38000000, 42610000, 42300000, 42623000, 38430000, 42620000, 42940000, 42660000, 42637300
II.6) Scheduled date for start of award procedures:
II.7) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA):
The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): YES
II.8) Additional information:
This is not a call for tenders or a pre-qualification exercise. It is a market sounding exercise to provide advance information of requirements and open a dialogue with the supply chain.
We are seeking information that will help inform the strategy, design and specifications for a forthcoming tender(s) for the above facility. In particular we seek to understand the types of facilities required by manufacturers for the correct working environment and operational site requirements that will be needed, such as floor loading, space requirements, energy, temperature control, gas inputs or waste disposal etc. which will help inform the design of the building that will be constructed to house the facility.

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions relating to the contract:
III.1.1) Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them:
III.2) Conditions for participation:
III.2.1) Information about reserved contracts:

Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about European Union funds:
The contract is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: yes.
Possibly to be part-funded by ERDF (European Regional Development Fund).
VI.2) Additional information:
This Prior Information exercise will close on 26.1.2016, which is the final date for expressions of interest.
VI.3) Information on general regulatory framework:
VI.4) Date of dispatch of this notice: 03.11.2015