Official UK procurement notice
Awarded ITT - Supply of Frequency Comb Systems
Authority: National Physical Laboratory
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe combs will be part of future national time scale infrastructure, as well as test and evaluation facilities and services being set up as part of the UK quantum technologies programme. For this reason, they must be able to operate independently and continuously (24/7) with minimal downtime for maintenance.
The purpose is to enable greater flexibility and agility in NPL’s frequency measurement and characterisation services, while simultaneously developing the new infrastructure required to support a future redefinition of the second.
The setups need to work in tandem with ultrastable laser systems, optical lattice clocks and fibre networking capability in the AQML to support international collaborations and so must be compatible with these technologies. A full and detailed specification of our requirements for each individual comb is provided in separate lots as outlined in the ITT documents.
CPV: Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is seeking to procure 4 separate frequency comb…Awarded
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is seeking to procure 4 separate frequency comb systems for our recently constructed Advanced Quantum Metrology Laboratory (AQML), where they will sit at the heart of a new optical frequency metrology capability.
The individual combs will be used to perform different tasks. The requirements for each therefore differ, and they should be quoted separately as a result. A general overview of the purpose and requirements for each of these systems are:
- Synthesizer comb: The first frequency comb shall be appropriate for transferring the stability of a state-of-the-art ultrastable laser at 1542 nm to lasers operating at other wavelengths. These lasers include probe lasers for Yb and Sr optical lattice clocks as well as lasers used for frequency transfer over optical fibre links. It shall also be appropriate for measuring the absolute frequencies of these lasers and the optical frequency ratios between them.
- Flexible measurement comb: The second frequency comb shall be more flexible, and appropriate for measuring optical frequencies (and the ratios between them) anywhere in the range from 500 nm to 2000 nm. It shall be possible to stabilise this comb to the same ultrastable laser at 1542 nm.
- Backup comb: The third frequency comb will be used to provide continuous monitoring of the performance of the first two combs. As such it shall combine the capabilities of both these combs.
- Microwave comb: The fourth frequency comb will be used in the near infrared for the generation of ultra-stable microwave signals. Comb light should be generated in the C-band.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (1)
- Technical: 80
Published award criteria (1)
- Technical: 80%
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 5 Feb 2021, 22:56 GMT
- Last source update
- 7 Apr 2021, 22:56 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 5 Mar 2021 – …
- FTS notice number
2021/S 000-007162- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0290e2Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 5 Mar 2021, 13:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission","written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 90 days from the deadline
- Bids opened
- 5 Mar 2021, 13:00 GMT
Timeline
5 Mar 2021 → 7 Apr 2021 · 4 dates- Submission deadline5 Mar 2021, 13:00 GMT
- Bids opened5 Mar 2021, 13:00 GMT
- Contract starts31 Mar 2021, 00:00 BST
- Notice published7 Apr 2021, 22:56 BST
Notice history
1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender- Status changed to complete7 Apr 2021, 22:56 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menlo Systems GmbH | £941,770 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 007162-2021-1 · Menlo Systems GmbH
- Signed
- 16 Mar 2021
- Value
- £941,770
- Period
- … – 31 Mar 2022
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11bids | — | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- NPL Management LtdReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Menlo Systems GmbHAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.