Helium-4 Optically Pumped Magnetometer (OPM-MEG) Supply, Installation, Service and Maintenance

Official notice

Authority: ASTON UNIVERSITY (Education)

GoodsAward procedure without prior publication of a call for competition

Sectors: Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) (38) Delivery: West Midlands (UKG31)

Awarded value£1,600,000published contract · exc. VAT

Awarded 8 Dec 2023no call for competition

Awarded to Mag4Health2 awards

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Aston University has awarded a 5-year contract for the supply, installation, service and maintenance of a Helium-4 Optically Pumped Magnetometer MEG system (OPM-MEG) to Mag4Health from February 2024 to January 2029.

Aston University has awarded the contract without a call for competition in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ((32.2(b) ii.

The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
absence of competition for technical reasons

Aston University will carry out extensive clinical trials during this period and requires an OPM-MEG that can be operated up to 8 hours a day, with examinations lasting up to 2 hours on a subject. The Helium OPM-MEG technology dissipates 20 mW per sensor, unlike the Rubidium OPM-MEG, which dissipates about 500 mW to heat the Rubidium at 150°C. The absence of heating will make it simpler for us to operate the system for long periods without the need to actively remove heat. Helium OPM technology is being used in space (e.g. satellites) at the moment and has been proven to work continuously for 10 years.

Although other manufacturers of OPM-MEG systems exist, they do not supply Helium OPM-MEG and for this reason, we have determined that Mag4Health are the only available supplier in the market.

The negotiated contract value estimate reflects a long-term collaboration between Mag4Health and Aston University.

CPV: Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Lot #1Awarded

Delivery: West Midlands

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record

Procedure method: Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Legal basis: CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category: Goods
Notice status: Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold: Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime: Standard
Commercial structure: Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type: Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered: Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement: Unspecified in notice
First published: 18 Oct 2023, 12:23 BST
Last source update: 8 Dec 2023, 16:30 GMT
Authority reference: 868
FTS notice number: 2023/S 000-036282
Classification (CPV): Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
Delivery area: West Midlands (UKG31)
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-040cfa Find a Tender

Why no open competition: The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons
Published justification: Aston University will carry out extensive clinical trials during this period and requires an OPM-MEG that can be operated up to 8 hours a day, with examinations lasting up to 2 hours on a subject. The Helium OPM-MEG technology dissipates 20 mW per sensor, unlike the Rubidium OPM-MEG, which dissipates about 500 mW to heat the Rubidium at 150°C. The absence of heating will make it simpler for us to operate the system for long periods without the need to actively remove heat. Helium OPM technology is being used in space (e.g. satellites) at the moment and has been proven to work continuously for 10 years.
Although other manufacturers of OPM-MEG systems exist, they do not supply Helium OPM-MEG and for this reason, we have determined that Mag4Health are the only available supplier in the market.

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Awards 2

Awarded value £1,600,0001 contract exc. VAT · 1 repeated publication of the same award counted once

Bids received 1

Contracts signed 2latest 8 Dec 2023

Awarded to	Value	Date	Status
Mag4HealthSME	£1,600,000 †same award published again · counted once	—	Awarded
Mag4HealthSME	£1,600,000 †	—	Awarded

Contracts

Contract 036282-2023-1 · Mag4HealthSME
Signed
8 Dec 2023
Value
£1,600,000
Status
active
Contract 030743-2023-1 · Mag4HealthSME
Signed
18 Oct 2023
Value
£1,600,000
Status
active

Bid statistics published by the authority

Bids	SME	VCSE	Valid bid range
1bids	—	—	—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Aston University

Contracting authorityEducationBody governed by public lawEducation GB-COH: RC000904 Aston Triangle, BIRMINGHAM, West Midlands, B47ETContact name, email, phone

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Mag4HealthAwarded supplierFR36438330 Grenoble, FRK24

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.