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Electron Microscopy Equipment (DLSITT0354).

Contract notice

Supplies

Directive 2004/18/EC

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1)Name, addresses and contact point(s)

Diamond Light Source Ltd
Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
Contact point(s): DLS Procurement
For the attention of: Sue Blake, Alison Roblin
OX11 0DE Didcot
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1235778167
E-mail:
Fax: +44 1235778212

Internet address(es):

General address of the contracting authority: www.diamond.ac.uk

Further information can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)

Specifications and additional documents (including documents for competitive dialogue and a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)

Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: The above mentioned contact point(s)

I.2)Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.3)Main activity
Other: Scientific Research Facility
I.4)Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities
The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: no

Section II: Object of the contract

II.1)Description
II.1.1)Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority:
Electron Microscopy Equipment (DLSITT0354).
II.1.2)Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance
Supplies
Purchase

NUTS code UKJ14

II.1.3)Information about a public contract, a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system (DPS)
The notice involves a public contract
II.1.4)Information on framework agreement
II.1.5)Short description of the contract or purchase(s)
DLS is building a new National Facility for biological cryo electron microscopy for single particle analysis and tomography. For this we require two state of the art reliable 300 keV transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) for cryo electron microscopy and tomography of biological specimens. They should be equipped for energy filtering and with direct electron detectors and one system should include energy filtering. Automated data acquisition capability is required.
Further we seek a feeder instrument (120/200keV) and a FIB-SEM microscope for cryo-specimen preparation for electron cryo tomography including dedicated specimen cryo transfer.
The feeder TEM should be equipped with two high-tilt cryotomography holders and a 4x4k highly sensitive high-speed multi-port readout CCD capable of acquiring cryo images at minimal dose conditions. As a multi-user system the microscope is intended to serve a wide range of purposes ranging from efficient sample checking to data acquisition of (i) negatively stained specimens and particularly (ii) cryo specimens for single particle analysis and tomography. Automated data acquisition capability is desired. Additionally, the microscope will serve as a training instrument for the existing high-resolution 300keV facility microscopes.
II.1.6)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

38510000

II.1.7)Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): yes
II.1.8)Lots
This contract is divided into lots: yes
Tenders may be submitted for one or more lots
II.1.9)Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: yes
II.2)Quantity or scope of the contract
II.2.1)Total quantity or scope:
Lots A and B describe a combined (high-voltage and energy-filtered) cryo-EM instrument for use in a wide range of different research projects from single particle EM to dual-axis cryo-tomography, using the best state-of-the-art technology. It has been divided into Lots A and B to allow for possible offers of different technologies for the energy filtering, for example an in-column or a post-column energy filter. As a result, Lot A describes the microscope specifications and Lot B the energy filter specifications.
Lot C describes an accompanying feeder instrument to increase the available specimen-examination time. It will be used for less demanding cryo-EM including development of specimen-preparation conditions, training of new cryo-EM users, medium-resolution cryo-EM projects or rapid examination of biochemical preparations during protocol development.
Lot D describes the direct electron detector for use with Lot A
Lot E describes the second 300kv TEM to be delivered to DLS 12 months after Lot A. The specifications of Lot E will be adjusted to take into account any improvements or advances that have been made after installation and initial operation of the Lot A instrument.
Lot F describes the direct electron detector for use with Lot E
Lot G describes the dual beam cryo Focussed Ion Beam scanning electron microscope required for guided preparation of thin lamellae from plunge frozen or high pressure frozen samples for cryo electron tomography.
II.2.2)Information about options
Options: no
II.2.3)Information about renewals
This contract is subject to renewal: no
II.3)Duration of the contract or time limit for completion
Duration in months: 24 (from the award of the contract)

Information about lots

Lot No: 1 Lot title: LOT A and E - 300keV High resolution Cryo-TEM
1)Short description
The Supplier will manufacture, supply, deliver, position, install, test and commission one Transmission Electron Cryo-Microscope (Cryo-TEM) to be delivered to Diamond Light Source (DLS) in Oxfordshire.
2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

38510000

3)Quantity or scope
The Cryo-TEM covered by the specification will provide a state-of-the-art, high-resolution electron cryo-microscope for a wide variety of research applications, optimized for automated single particle analysis and dual-axis electron-tomography.
The microscope will be used to conduct research in the areas of structural biology and cell biology, and will involve the recording of images of unstained, rapidly-frozen thin films or high-pressure frozen and sectioned biological material, with specimen thicknesses up to 1 µm (one micrometer).
The microscope will be operated at up to 300kV (three hundred kilovolts)
The Cryo-TEM (Lot A) will be operated in conjunction with the electron energy filter described in Lot B, so that it is possible to use the combined instrument to record energy-filtered images.
The expectation is that a Contract will be placed in March 2014 for delivery in March 2015 into a room in the new building currently under construction.
4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion
5)Additional information about lots
Lot No: 2 Lot title: Lot B: High resolution energy filter with high DQE (detective quantum efficiency) direct electron detector for use in conjunction with lot A
1)Short description
The Supplier will manufacture, supply, deliver, position, install, test and commission one electron energy filter at Diamond Light Source (DLS) in Oxfordshire as part of a new cryo-EM instrument.
2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

38510000

3)Quantity or scope
The energy-filter (Lot B) will be operated in conjunction with the Cryo-EM described in Lot A, so that it is possible to use the combined instrument to record energy-filtered images and energy-loss spectra.
The combined instrument (Lot A + Lot B) will provide DLS with a state-of-the-art, high-resolution cryo-EM for a wide variety of research applications, including dual-axis electron-cryotomography on thick specimens.
The energy filter will be used to conduct research in the areas of structural biology and cell biology, and will involve the recording of images on unstained, rapidly-frozen specimens or high-pressure frozen and thinned biological material, with specimen thicknesses up to 1 µm (one micrometer).
The energy filter may be designed either for in-column or for post-column use. In the case of a post-column energy filter, a high DQE (detective quantum efficiency) camera with at least 50 % (fifty percent) DQE at half Nyquist frequency and at least 4Kx4K (four thousand by four thousand) pixels will be required. For an in-column energy filter, the direct electron detector described in Lot D will be used for all images.
In the case of a post-column energy filter it should not impair the performance of the direct electron detector described in Lot D.
The expectation is that a Contract will be placed in March 2014 for delivery in March 2015 into a room in the new building currently under construction.
4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion
5)Additional information about lots
Lot No: 3 Lot title: Lot C: Feeder cryo electron microscope (120keV or 200keV) with 4x4K camera
1)Short description
The Supplier will manufacture, supply, deliver, position, install, test and commission one Transmission Electron cryo-Microscope (cryo-TEM) at Diamond Light Source (DLS) in Oxfordshire.
2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

38510000

3)Quantity or scope
The cryo-TEM covered by the specification will provide DLS with a basic, easy-to-use electron cryo-microscope for a wide variety of research applications.
The microscope will be used to conduct research in the areas of structural biology and cell biology, and will involve the recording of images on unstained, rapidly-frozen thin films or high-pressure frozen and sectioned biological material, as well as negatively stained samples or plastic sections.
The cryo-TEM will be an instrument to accompany the state-of-the-art high-resolution cryo-TEM described in Lot A to increase the available specimen-examination time. It will be used for less demanding cryo-EM including development of specimen-preparation conditions, training of new cryo-EM users, medium-resolution cryo-EM projects, automated electron tomography, and rapid examination of biochemical preparations during protocol development. Ideally it should have the same sample holder as the high end microscopes.
The expectation is that a Contract will be placed in March 2014 for delivery in March 2015 into a room in the new building currently under construction.
4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion
5)Additional information about lots
Lot No: 4 Lot title: Lots D and F - Direct Electron Detector (to be read in conjunction with Lots A and E respectively)
1)Short description
The Supplier will manufacture, supply, deliver, position, install, test and commission one direct electron detector at Diamond Light Source (DLS) in Oxfordshire as part of a new cryo-EM instrument.
2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

38510000

3)Quantity or scope
The combined instruments (Lot A + Lot D and Lot E + Lot F) will provide DLS with a state-of-the-art, high-resolution cryo-EM for a wide variety of research applications, optimized for automated single particle analysis and dual-axis electron-tomography.
If the combined instrument (Lot A + Lot B + Lot D) has a post-column energy filter, the detector in Lot D needs to be retractable to allow full functionality of the energy filter and its detector (Lot B).
The expectation is that a Contract will be placed in March 2014 for delivery in March 2015 into a room in the new building currently under construction
4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion
5)Additional information about lots
Lot No: 5 Lot title: Lot G - Focused Ion Beam Scanning EM System
1)Short description
The Supplier will manufacture, supply, deliver, position, install, test and commission one Focused Ion Beam Scanning EM System (FIB-SEM) to be delivered to Diamond Light Source (DLS) in Oxfordshire.
2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

38510000

3)Quantity or scope
The FIB-SEM covered by this specification will provide a state-of-the-art microscope for the purpose of guided preparation of thin lamellae from plunge frozen or high pressure frozen samples for cryo electron tomography.
The microscope will be used to conduct research in the areas of structural biology and cell biology, and will need to be equipped with a dedicated cryo transfer system enabling sample transfer to the instruments described in Lots A, C, E.
The expectation is that a Contract will be placed in March 2014 for delivery in June 2014, into a room in an existing building.
4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion
5)Additional information about lots

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1)Conditions relating to the contract
III.1.1)Deposits and guarantees required:
III.1.2)Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them:
III.1.3)Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded:
III.1.4)Other particular conditions
The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: no
III.2)Conditions for participation
III.2.1)Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
III.2.2)Economic and financial ability
III.2.3)Technical capacity
III.2.4)Information about reserved contracts
III.3)Conditions specific to services contracts
III.3.1)Information about a particular profession
Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession: no
III.3.2)Staff responsible for the execution of the service
Legal persons should indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the execution of the service: no

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)Type of procedure
IV.1.1)Type of procedure
Open
IV.1.2)Limitations on the number of operators who will be invited to tender or to participate
IV.1.3)Reduction of the number of operators during the negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated no
IV.2)Award criteria
IV.2.1)Award criteria

The most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated below

1. Price. Weighting 40

2. Technical Quality. Weighting 30

3. Experience and Capacity. Weighting 20

4. Commercial. Weighting 5

5. Delivery. Weighting 3

6. DLS Support effort. Weighting 2

IV.2.2)Information about electronic auction
An electronic auction will be used: no
IV.3)Administrative information
IV.3.1)File reference number attributed by the contracting authority:
DLSITT0354
IV.3.2)Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract

Prior information notice

Notice number in the OJEU: 2013/S 222-386135 of 15.11.2013

IV.3.3)Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents or descriptive document
Time limit for receipt of requests for documents or for accessing documents: 11.3.2014
IV.3.4)Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
11.3.2014
IV.3.5)Date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
IV.3.6)Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up
English.
IV.3.7)Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.3.8)Conditions for opening of tenders
Date: 11.3.2014 - 00:00
Persons authorised to be present at the opening of tenders: yes
Additional information about authorised persons and opening procedure: Members of the DLS Procurement Team.

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1)Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: no
VI.2)Information about European Union funds
The contract is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no
VI.3)Additional information
To request the tender documents please complete our Registration Form (quoting the reference number DLSITT0354) on the following website location:

http://www.diamond.ac.uk/Home/Procurement/

In order to be considered, your response should arrive no later than midnight on Tuesday 11.3.2014. This can be emailed to before the tender deadline. An original plus two certified copies of your tender should also be sent to: Sue Blake at the address in I.1.

IV.3.3) Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents or descriptive document:
Payable documents: yes
VI.4)Procedures for appeal
VI.4.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures

Diamond Light Source Ltd
UNITED KINGDOM

VI.4.2)Lodging of appeals
Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals: Diamond Light Source 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 tendererst to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into. The Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (SI 2006 No 5) 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).
VI.4.3)Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained
VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:
4.2.2014