UK Research & Innovation: UKRI-4747 Cryogen-Free Bottom-Loading Dilution Refrigerator System

UK-Swindon: Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses).

Section I: Contracting Authority

   I.1) Name, Addresses and Contact Point(s):
       UK Research & Innovation, PDQJ-7126-JDHG
       Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1FL, United Kingdom
       Tel. +44 1793442000, Email: STFCProcurement@ukri.org
       Contact: STFC Procurement
       Main Address: www.ukri.org
       NUTS Code: UKK14

   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.4)Type of the contracting authority:
      Body governed by public law

   I.5) Main activity:
      Other activity: Research

Section II: Object Of The Contract

   II.1) Scope of the procurement

      II.1.1) Title: UKRI-4747 Cryogen-Free Bottom-Loading Dilution Refrigerator System            
      Reference number: Not Provided

      II.1.2) Main CPV code:
         38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses).


      II.1.3) Type of contract: SUPPLIES

      II.1.4) Short description: This procurement forms the basis for part of a research programme being undertaken at PPD and funded through a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, a prestigious funding opportunity designed to support exceptional researchers and innovators in the UK. Dedicated funds were awarded as part of this grant specifically for this procurement, since there is currently no such system within PPD for this research to take place.
The system delivered through this procurement will be used for dedicated photosensor R&D at ultra-low temperatures (~20 mK) for the QUEST-DMC dark matter experiment, one of many experiments that STFC PPD is involved in.
The system will be housed inside a larger, cryogenic laboratory (“cryolab”) currently being established within PPD. The cryolab will provide a dedicated cryogenic facility within PPD for liquid noble R&D in the context of low background rare-event searches, and is applicable to several different experiments that PPD is presently involved with. The cryolab is in the process of being refurbished to specifically satisfy the requirements for this system, therefore there should be no service conditions or environmental factors that should impact the operation or performance of this system.

      II.1.6) Information about lots
         This contract is divided into lots: No
            
      II.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
          Value: 203,990
                  
         Currency:GBP            

   II.2) Description

      II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s):
      Not Provided

      II.2.3) Place of performance
      Nuts code:
      UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
   
      Main site or place of performance:
      Oxfordshire
             

      II.2.4) Description of the procurement: This procurement forms the basis for part of a research programme being undertaken at PPD and funded through a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, a prestigious funding opportunity designed to support exceptional researchers and innovators in the UK. Dedicated funds were awarded as part of this grant specifically for this procurement, since there is currently no such system within PPD for this research to take place.The system delivered through this procurement will be used for dedicated photosensor R&D at ultra-low temperatures (~20 mK) for the QUEST-DMC dark matter experiment, one of many experiments that STFC PPD is involved in.
The system will be housed inside a larger, cryogenic laboratory (“cryolab”) currently being established within PPD. The cryolab will provide a dedicated cryogenic facility within PPD for liquid noble R&D in the context of low background rare-event searches, and is applicable to several different experiments that PPD is presently involved with. The cryolab is in the process of being refurbished to specifically satisfy the requirements for this system, therefore there should be no service conditions or environmental factors that should impact the operation or performance of this system.

      II.2.5) Award criteria:
      Quality criterion - Name: Technical Quality / Weighting: 75
                  
      Cost criterion - Name: Price / Weighting: 25
            

      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: Not Provided


Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Description

   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       
      

   IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction
      An electronic auction has been used: No

   IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
      The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

IV.2) Administrative information

   IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
       Notice number in the OJEU: 2025/S 000-006794
      
   

   IV.2.9) Information about termination of call for competition in the form of a prior information notice
      The contracting authority will not award any further contracts based on the above prior information notice: No

Section V: Award of contract

Award Of Contract (No.1)

   Contract No: Not Provided    
   Lot Number: Not Provided    
   Title: Not Provided

   A contract/lot is awarded: Yes


   V.2) Award of contract

      V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract: 14/05/2025

      V.2.2) Information about tenders
         Number of tenders received: 3
         Number of tenders received from SMEs: Not Provided          
         Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: Not Provided          
         Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: Not Provided          
         Number of tenders received by electronic means: Not Provided

      V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

      The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
         
         Contractor (No.1)
             ICE Oxford Ltd, 05224107
             Avenue 4 Station Lane, Witney, OX28 4BN, United Kingdom
             Tel. +44 1993706444
             Internet address: www.iceoxford.com
             NUTS Code: UKJ14
            The contractor is an SME: Yes

      V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
         Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: 203,990          
         Total value of the contract/lot: 203,990
         Currency: GBP

      V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
         The contract is likely to be subcontracted: No
         
Section VI: Complementary information

   VI.3) Additional information: To view this notice, please click here:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=953363435
   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.4.3) Review procedure
         Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures: Not Provided

      VI.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
         Not Provided

   VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice: 27/05/2025