UK Research & Innovation: Cryocoolers for the ARIEL Cryogenic Test Rig

UK-Swindon: Refrigerating and freezing equipment.
Section I: Contracting Authority
      I.1) Name and addresses
             UK Research and Innovation
             Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1FL, United Kingdom
             Tel. +44 1235446100, Email: STFCprocurement@ukri.org
             Main Address: https://www.ukri.org/
             NUTS Code: UKJ1
      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: No.
      I.3) Communication
      The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Swindon:-Refrigerating-and-freezing-equipment./P4864ZKD4Y
      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: Cryocoolers for the ARIEL Cryogenic Test Rig       
      Reference Number: UKRI-1922
      II.1.2) Main CPV Code:
      42513000 - Refrigerating and freezing equipment.

      II.1.3) Type of contract: SUPPLIES
      II.1.4) Short description: RAL Space are designing the Cryogenic Test Rig (CTR) for the ARIEL payload module (PLM). It consists of a cryogenic shroud and a warm interface plate. Cooling is applied directly to the shroud using cryocoolers, attached via high purity aluminium thermal straps. The test rig requires up to 100 W of cooling at a cold head temperature of 20 K, which has been calculated based on extensive thermal modelling of the system. Margin on this heat lift would ideally be included to account for any modelling inaccuracies, with 50% assumed during the preliminary design phase. A single stage cooler would be preferred, and we expect that multiple coolers would be needed.       
      II.1.5) Estimated total value:
      Value excluding VAT: 125,000       
      Currency: GBP
      II.1.6) Information about lots:
      This contract is divided into lots: No       
   
II.2) Description
      
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      Not Provided       
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UKJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: UKRI wishes to establish a Contract for the provision of Cryocoolers for the ARIEL Cryogenic Test Rig. ARIEL (Atmospheric Remote-Sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey) is a project for RAL Space, part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council. ARIEL will study how planets and planetary systems form and evolve by surveying a large, diverse sample of approximately 1000 extrasolar planets, simultaneously in visible and infrared wavelengths.

RAL Space are designing the Cryogenic Test Rig (CTR) for the ARIEL payload module (PLM). It consists of a cryogenic shroud and a warm interface plate. Cooling is applied directly to the shroud using cryocoolers, attached via high purity aluminium thermal straps. The test rig requires up to 100 W of cooling at a cold head temperature of 20 K, which has been calculated based on extensive thermal modelling of the system. Margin on this heat lift would ideally be included to account for any modelling inaccuracies, with 50% assumed during the preliminary design phase. A single stage cooler would be preferred, and we expect that multiple coolers would be needed.

We would like to see a costing for all equipment necessary for the coolers to operate:
e.g. Coolers, compressors, any ancillary cables/power supplies and delivery.
      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: 125,000       
      Currency: GBP       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Duration in months: 9       
      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/P4864ZKD4Y       


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          
      Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents       
      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    
      Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
      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: Yes       
   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: 19/10/2022 Time: 12:00
            
      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: 20/10/2022
         Time: 09:00
      

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 Yes       
   Electronic invoicing will be accepted Yes       
   Electronic payment will be used Yes       
   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:-Refrigerating-and-freezing-equipment./P4864ZKD4Y

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/P4864ZKD4Y
   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: 14/09/2022

Annex A