United Kingdom-Newcastle: (NU/1722) Supply of a comprehensive Ultrafast Transient Absorption Spectroscopy and Microscopy Facility

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Ref: (2021/S 000-025700/EN)
Nature of contract: Supply contract
Procedure: Open procedure
Type of bid required: Global bid

Contract notice
Supplies

Section I: Contracting authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Official name: Newcastle University
Postal address: Newcastle University, Procurement Services, Kingsgate
Town: Newcastle
Postal code: NE1 7RU
Country: United Kingdom
Contact Person: Mr Dave Anderson
Telephone: +44 1912085360
Email: dave.anderson@ncl.ac.uk
Internet address(es):
Main address:
Address of the buyer profile:

I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge,at:
Additional information can be obtained from:
the above mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted:
electronically via:
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title: (NU/1722) Supply of a comprehensive Ultrafast Transient Absorption Spectroscopy and Microscopy Facility

Reference number: DN575877
II.1.2) Main CPV code: 38000000
II.1.3) Type of contract: Supplies
II.1.4) Short Description: The North East ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy and microscopy facility (based at Newcastle University) will be a unique national facility to fulfil a strategically and critically important research infrastructure gap in the region. The facility aligns with the institutional strategy that includes the establishment of Centres for Research Excellence in Energy, Data and Cancer and the establishment of NU Academic Track Fellowships, several of whom will benefit from this facility. Transient absorption spectroscopy is a key tool that enables scientists to probe the identity, formation and fate of short-lived, energetic species formed on excitation with light (e.g. from a laser). It permits ultrafast optical and near infrared spectroscopy on a range of molecular, biological and functional material systems to provide critical mechanistic information on light-induced reaction pathways. This includes tracking the dynamics of key excited state and charge-transfer intermediates that lie at the heart of a vast amount of chemistry, from solar energy conversion to enzyme reactions. This national facility will support several multidisciplinary fields with substantial potential for societal and economic impact, including
(1) Energy (e.g. emerging photovoltaic technology, solar-driven H2 evolution and CO2 conversion to fuels and feedstocks) research which is supported by joint, collaborative centres, the EPSRC/ISCF North East Centre for Energy Materials (NECEM) and the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Renewable Energy at North east Universities (ReNU).
(2) Photonic materials and metamaterials (e.g. Organic LEDs, energy transfer in solid state materials, 2D and 3D materials in LEDs and waveguides).
(3) Chemical Biology and Biological Chemistry (bio-imaging, radiochemistry, photodynamic therapy-related cancer research and drug discovery) including the Cancer Research centre and EPSRC Centre for Doctoral training MosMed.
This facility is being funded though an EPSRC Strategic Equipment grant EP/W006340/1
The scope of this contract is for the supply, delivery and installation of the equipment as detailed in the ITT to the University, with after-sales support and 24 months warranty and maintenance.
Expressions of interest in this project can be made by registering via the University’s
etendering portal at:
The contract reference is NU/1722.
The deadline for expressing an interest in this tender is Friday 12th November 2021 at 16:00
hours GMT

II.1.6) Information about lots:
The contract is divided into lots: no
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
Nuts code:
II.2.4) Description of the procurement:
The North East ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy and microscopy facility (based at Newcastle University) will be a unique national facility to fulfil a strategically and critically important research infrastructure gap in the region. The facility aligns with the institutional strategy that includes the establishment of Centres for Research Excellence in Energy, Data and Cancer and the establishment of NU Academic Track Fellowships, several of whom will benefit from this facility. Transient absorption spectroscopy is a key tool that enables scientists to probe the identity, formation and fate of short-lived, energetic species formed on excitation with light (e.g. from a laser). It permits ultrafast optical and near infrared spectroscopy on a range of molecular, biological and functional material systems to provide critical mechanistic information on light-induced reaction pathways. This includes tracking the dynamics of key excited state and charge-transfer intermediates that lie at the heart of a vast amount of chemistry, from solar energy conversion to enzyme reactions. This national facility will support several multidisciplinary fields with substantial potential for societal and economic impact, including
(1) Energy (e.g. emerging photovoltaic technology, solar-driven H2 evolution and CO2 conversion to fuels and feedstocks) research which is supported by joint, collaborative centres, the EPSRC/ISCF North East Centre for Energy Materials (NECEM) and the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Renewable Energy at North east Universities (ReNU).
(2) Photonic materials and metamaterials (e.g. Organic LEDs, energy transfer in solid state materials, 2D and 3D materials in LEDs and waveguides).
(3) Chemical Biology and Biological Chemistry (bio-imaging, radiochemistry, photodynamic therapy-related cancer research and drug discovery) including the Cancer Research centre and EPSRC Centre for Doctoral training MosMed.
This facility is being funded though an EPSRC Strategic Equipment grant EP/W006340/1
The scope of this contract is for the supply, delivery and installation of the equipment as detailed in the ITT to the University, with after-sales support and 24 months warranty and maintenance.
Expressions of interest in this project can be made by registering via the University’s
etendering portal at:
The contract reference is NU/1722.
The deadline for expressing an interest in this tender is Friday 12th November 2021 at 16:00
hours GMT
II.2.5) Award criteria

II.2.7) Duration of the contract,framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 4
This contract is subject to renewal: no
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: no
II.2.11) Information about options
Options: no
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:no
II.2.14) Additional information: Expressions of interest in this project can be made by registering via the University’s
etendering portal at:
The contract reference is NU/1722.
The deadline for expressing an interest in this tender is Friday 12th November 2021 at 16:00
hours GMT

Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure:
Open procedureIV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement(GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date: 2021-11-15 Local time: 14:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted:EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tender must maintain the tender
Duration in months:3(from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening tenders
Date: 2021-11-15 Local time: 14:30

Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence:
This is a recurrent procurement: no
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Official name: Newcastle University
Town: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Country: United Kingdom

VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
The University will incorporate a standstill period at the point information on the award of the
contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification will provide full information on the
award decision. The standstill period, which will be for a minimum of 10 calendar days,
provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the
contract is entered into.
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No 102) provide for aggrieved parties who
have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High
Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) within 30 days of knowledge or constructive
knowledge of breach.

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice:2021-10-14