UK Research & Innovation: UKRI-2121 LISA Optical Bench Baseplate

UK-Swindon: Optical instruments.
Section I: Contracting Authority
      I.1) Name and addresses
             UK Research & Innovation
             https://www.ukri.org/, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1FL, United Kingdom
             Tel. +44 7563420665, Email: Elizabeth.Gage@ukri.org
             Contact: Elizabeth Gage
             Main Address: https://www.ukri.org/
             NUTS Code: UK
      I.2) Joint procurement
      The contract involves joint procurement: No.
      In the case of joint procurement involving different countries, state applicable national procurement law: Not provided       
      The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body: Yes.
      I.3) Communication
      The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/
      Additional information can be obtained from: the abovementioned address
      Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address       
      Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at: Not provided
      I.4) Type of the contracting authority
            Body governed by public law
      I.5) Main activity
            Other activity:

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
      II.1.1) Title: UKRI-2121 LISA Optical Bench Baseplate       
      Reference Number: UKRI-2121
      II.1.2) Main CPV Code:
      38600000 - Optical instruments.

      II.1.3) Type of contract: SUPPLIES
      II.1.4) Short description: The LISA concept for directly detecting the oscillating strain in spacetime caused by gravitational waves shares the scheme used in all laser interferometer-based gravitational wave detectors: The passage of the wave is detected by measuring the time-varying changes of optical pathlength between test masses isolated from all forces other than gravitational waves.

The project draws on experience gleaned from the LISA Pathfinder (LPF) mission, a pioneering mission to test the LISA concept and demonstrate key concepts and technologies. A key technology to the LISA mission is performing interferometry with hydroxide catalysis bonded optics and this was demonstrated on LPF.       
      II.1.5) Estimated total value:
      Value excluding VAT: 2,500,000       
      Currency: GBP
      II.1.6) Information about lots:
      This contract is divided into lots: No       
   
II.2) Description
      
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      38630000 - Astronomical and optical instruments.
      
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UK UNITED KINGDOM
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: The optical bench will host the optical components that enable the LISA interferometers to function. Components will be mounted on both sides – as shown below – using a silicate bonding process proven on the LISA Pathfinder experiment. To ensure stability the Optical Bench Baseplate will be manufactured from Zerodur, acid etched to maximise strength and polished to allow the mounting process and to enable tight alignment tolerances to be met.

The LISA Optical Bench will be produced at several model stages over a number of years, starting with a Structural Model and ending with Flight Models.
      II.2.5) Award criteria:
            Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents            
      II.2.6) Estimated value:
      Value excluding VAT: 2,500,000       
      Currency: GBP       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Duration in months: 108       
      This contract is subject to renewal: No       
      Description of renewals: Not provided
      
      II.2.10) Information about variants:
      Variants will be accepted: No
      II.2.11) Information about options:
      Options:       No             
      Description of options: Not provided
      II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
      Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: 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       
      Identification of the project: Not provided             
      II.2.14) Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/9P5885Y52V       


Section III: Legal, Economic, Financial And Technical Information
   III.1) Conditions for participation
      III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
      List and brief description of conditions:          
      Not Provided       
      III.1.2) Economic and financial standing       
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      Not Provided    
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :       
      Not Provided    
      III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      Not Provided      
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :          
      Not Provided   
      III.1.5) Information about reserved contracts (if applicable)   
      The contract is reserved to sheltered workshops and economic operators aiming at the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons: No       
      The execution of the contract is restricted to the framework of sheltered employment programmes: No    
      
   III.2) Conditions related to the contract
         
      III.2.2) Contract performance conditions          
      Not Provided          
      III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
      Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract: No

Section IV: Procedure
   IV.1) Description OPEN
      IV.1.1) Type of procedure: Open   
   
   IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system    
         The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement - NO    
         In the case of framework agreements justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: Not Provided    
   
   
   IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction:
      An electronic auction will be used: No
      Additional information about electronic auction: Not provided
   IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
      The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No       
   IV.2) Administrative information
      IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure:
         Notice number in the OJ S: Not provided       
      IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
       Date: 28/07/2022 Time: 11:00
            
      IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English,       
      IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender: Not Provided      
      IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders:
         Date: 28/07/2022
         Time: 14:00
      

Section VI: Complementary Information
   VI.1) Information about recurrence
   This is a recurrent procurement: No    
   Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Not provided
   VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
   Electronic ordering will be used No       
   Electronic invoicing will be accepted No       
   Electronic payment will be used No       
   VI.3) Additional Information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Swindon:-Optical-instruments./9P5885Y52V

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/9P5885Y52V
   VI.4) Procedures for review
   VI.4.1) Review body:
             UK Research and Innovation
       Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1FL, United Kingdom
   VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures:
Not provided
   VI.4.3) Review procedure
   Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:    
    Not Provided    
   VI.4.4) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained:
Not provided
   VI.5) Date Of Dispatch Of This Notice: 23/06/2022

Annex A