United Kingdom-BIRMINGHAM: Contract for the Supply and Installation of a 1.2 GHz NMR Spectrometer to the University of Birmingham

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Ref: (2023/S 000-003593/EN)
Nature of contract: Supply contract
Procedure: Award of a contract without prior publication
Type of bid required: Not applicable

Voluntary ex ante transparency notice
Supplies

Section I: Contracting authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Official name: THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
National registration number: RC000645
Postal address: EDGBASTON
Town: BIRMINGHAM
Postal code: B152TT
Country: United Kingdom
Contact Person: Kseniya Samsonik
Email: k.samsonik@bham.ac.uk
Internet address(es):
Main address: www.birmingham.ac.uk/index.aspx

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: Contract for the Supply and Installation of a 1.2 GHz NMR Spectrometer to the University of Birmingham
II.1.2) Main CPV code: 38433000
II.1.3) Type of contract Supplies
II.1.4) Short Description:
The University of Birmingham has been awarded UKRI funds as part of an EPSRC-led UK-wide NMR Infrastructure call to purchase an ultra-high field 1.2 GHz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer for the Henry Wellcome Building for Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy (HWB-NMR) and for the greater benefit of the UK life and physical sciences NMR community. Currently the highest magnetic field available for NMR, this state-of-the-art equipment will allow local PIs, collaborators and external users to remain at the forefront of international research, in terms of scientific applications, methodological development and the recruitment and training of graduate students and young researchers, fulfilling UKRI’s overarching strategy to support excellence in UK science. This additional ultra-high field capability will provide a unique enabling technology, supporting a wide range of science with far-reaching impact.
It is anticipated that the 1.2 GHz NMR spectrometer will transform our scientific understanding in three key areas: (1) the spatial and temporal resolution of biological mechanisms; (2) the structure and function of materials at the atomic level; (3) the impact of environmental and chemical agents on live cells and organisms. In all three fields, the gains brought by the 1.2 GHz spectrometer will translate into new and otherwise unreachable discoveries that will benefit human wellbeing. In health and the biological sciences, a better understanding of biological mechanisms will help define novel therapeutic strategies in contexts such as infection, cancer, neuropathologies and aging. In the physical sciences, improved characterization of solid-state structures and properties will accelerate the development of new materials (e.g. for energy storage, electronic devices and drug formulations), as well as the design of industrial strategies for green chemistry. In environmental science, deeper insights into the effects of chemicals and pollutants on plant and microbial functions will facilitate design of effective routes of prevention and intervention.
The equipment to be procured comprises a superconducting magnet operating at 1.2 GHz magnetic field, a spectrometer console capable of transmitting and receiving radiofrequencies of > 1.2 GHz, one associated cryogenically-cooled probe for measurement of solution-state samples in 3 mm tubes and a solid-state 1.9 mm probe for material science.
II.1.6) Information about lots
The contract is divided into lots: no
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement(excluding VAT)
Value:10003258.20
Currency:GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
Nuts code:
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The University of Birmingham has been awarded UKRI funds as part of an EPSRC-led UK-wide NMR Infrastructure call to purchase an ultra-high field 1.2 GHz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer for the Henry Wellcome Building for Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy (HWB-NMR) and for the greater benefit of the UK life and physical sciences NMR community. Currently the highest magnetic field available for NMR, this state-of-the-art equipment will allow local PIs, collaborators and external users to remain at the forefront of international research, in terms of scientific applications, methodological development and the recruitment and training of graduate students and young researchers, fulfilling UKRI’s overarching strategy to support excellence in UK science. This additional ultra-high field capability will provide a unique enabling technology, supporting a wide range of science with far-reaching impact.
It is anticipated that the 1.2 GHz NMR spectrometer will transform our scientific understanding in three key areas: (1) the spatial and temporal resolution of biological mechanisms; (2) the structure and function of materials at the atomic level; (3) the impact of environmental and chemical agents on live cells and organisms. In all three fields, the gains brought by the 1.2 GHz spectrometer will translate into new and otherwise unreachable discoveries that will benefit human wellbeing. In health and the biological sciences, a better understanding of biological mechanisms will help define novel therapeutic strategies in contexts such as infection, cancer, neuropathologies and aging. In the physical sciences, improved characterization of solid-state structures and properties will accelerate the development of new materials (e.g. for energy storage, electronic devices and drug formulations), as well as the design of industrial strategies for green chemistry. In environmental science, deeper insights into the effects of chemicals and pollutants on plant and microbial functions will facilitate design of effective routes of prevention and intervention.
The equipment to be procured comprises a superconducting magnet operating at 1.2 GHz magnetic field, a spectrometer console capable of transmitting and receiving radiofrequencies of > 1.2 GHz, one associated cryogenically-cooled probe for measurement of solution-state samples in 3 mm tubes and a solid-state 1.9 mm probe for material science.

II.2.5) Award criteria
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
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the Official Journal of the European Union in the cases listed below
(please complete point 2 of the Annex D)
IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement(GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: yes
IV.2) Administrative information

Section V: Award of contract/concession
V.2) Award of contract/concession
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession award decision:2023-02-06
V.2.2) Information about tenders
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Official name: Bruker UK Limited
National registration number: 923986
Town: Coventry
Postal code: CV4 8HZ
Country: United Kingdom
Nuts code:
The contractor is an SME: no

V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession(excluding VAT)
for framework agreements – total maximum value for this lot
for contracts based on framework agreements, if required – value of contract(s) for this lot not included in
previous contract award notices

Section VI: Complementary informationVI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Official name: University of Birmingham
Town: Birmingham
Postal code: B15 2TT
Country: United Kingdom

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice:
2023-02-06

Other justification for the award of the contract without prior publication of a call for competition
in the Official Journal of the European Union
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive

3.Explanation
Please explain in a clear and comprehensive manner why the award of the contract without prior publication in the Official Journal of the European Union
is lawful, by stating the relevant facts and, as appropriate, the conclusions of law in accordance with the directive:
The UKRI funds are awarded to the University of Birmingham for the purchase of a 1.2 GHz NMR spectrometer and a few peripheral accessories. The total cost of this purchase, which relates to the main instrument and some of the accessories, is £10,003,258.20. The 1.2 GHz magnet and spectrometer awarded to Birmingham (one of two 1.2 GHz systems funded) can only be supplied by one manufacturer in the world (Bruker). The same is true for the associated cryogenically-cooled probe operating at 1.2 GHz. Thus, we have negotiated with Bruker a package comprising of magnet, spectrometer, the cryogenically-cooled probe and the solid-state probe for material science. Both the cryogenically-cooled probe and the solid-state probe for material science are provided to us on loan and thus are part of the package but not of the purchase. EPSRC is aware that the instrument can only be supplied by one manufacturer.