INVITATION TO TENDER FOR XRF Spectrometer

The University has identified a need for an X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer. This is to replace the 20 years old PANalytical MagiX PRO wavelength dispersive XRF spectrometer which is currently in the X-ray laboratory within the Harmer building room 2019, part of the Materials and Engineering Research Institute (MERI). The replacement instrument will be sited in the X-ray laboratory, Harmer building room number 2019. There is already suitable power, cooling water and gas connections in this laboratory which were used for the MagiX PRO. The replacement instrument will be able to use these connections. No extra building work will be required to accommodate any potential replacement instrument. XRF uses X-rays as a chemical analysis tool, usually on solid samples. When X-rays of an appropriate energy interact with a particular element in a sample this causes electrons in the sample to be excited to a higher energy state. When the electron returns to its original electronic state an X-ray photon is emitted, this photon has an energy corresponding to the difference between the two electronic states. Each electronic transition has a different X-ray energy; therefore, by detecting the energy of the emitted photons from XRF the elements present can be detected. The proportions of different elements can then be determined from the intensities of the detected X-ray photons. The technical specification tables of requirements below detail the essential and highly desirable performance or functional requirements of the machine identified by the University. We also require information about Warranty, Documentation, Maintenance, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Acceptance Testing, Training, Health and Safety (H&S) and Technical Support within the Quality Criteria (Reply Form 3) section of the tender pack. The equipment needs to be delivered and installed including training by 31st May 2022. Three members of university staff will require full training on the machine, and this will need to be completed over the period between 15th February 2022 - 31st May 2022.