Plowright and Brooksby CETP BETP Calibrations Service Contract

Introduction

The Pirbright Institute (Pirbright) is a world-leading centre of excellence in research and surveillance of virus diseases of farm animals and viruses that spread from animals to humans, working to enhance capability to contain, control and eliminate these economically and clinically important viral diseases (such as foot-and-mouth diseases virus (FMDV)) through highly innovative fundamental and applied bioscience. The facility also plays a crucial role in predicting which viruses are circulating globally and assessing their potential impact. This capability is essential for preparing and responding to outbreaks, ensuring rapid diagnostics can be deployed in the UK.

The Pirbright Institute is inviting tenders for Plowright and Brooksby CETP/BETP Calibrations Service Contract at The Pirbright Institute.

Contract Scope

The Pirbright Institute is seeking a qualified contractor to provide comprehensive calibration services for all critical instruments associated with three Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) systems across its research facilities.

This includes:

• Scheduled calibration of all sensors and instruments, split between critical (6-monthly) and non-critical (12-monthly) frequencies.
• Provision of calibrated, UKAS-traceable test equipment by the contractor.
• Provision of calibration certificates, registers, and documentation for all instruments.
• Compliance with biosecurity, quarantine, and barrier shower entry/exit procedures while working under escort in high-containment environments.
• Attendance at site for planned visits totalling approximately 27 days per year (18 days for Plowright CETP and BETP, 9 days for Brooksby BETP).
• Any additional days required to complete calibration will be billed separately under the contractor’s standard fee rates.
• Replacement of faulty or non-calibratable equipment will be costed and sourced separately under independent Purchase Orders.

Equipment Covered

The following systems are included in this contract:

• Plowright Building
• Continuous Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP)
• Batch Effluent Treatment Plant (BETP)
• Approx. 239 instruments across both systems.
• Brooksby Building
• Batch Effluent Treatment Plant (BETP)
• Approx. 131 instruments.

Total: 370 instruments across all systems.

Service Frequency

• Every 6 months:
• Calibration of all critical instruments essential for containment and process control (e.g., temperature probes, pressure transmitters, flow meters critical to biosecurity performance).
• Every 12 months:
• Calibration of all non-critical instruments (e.g., ancillary monitoring devices, level sensors, general process indicators).

This results in two calibration visits per year per building:

• Visit 1: Calibration of all instruments.
• Visit 2 (six months later): Calibration of critical instruments only.

Points to note:

• A reasonable number of spare parts are to be held ready for call outs.
• All engineers should be directly employed.
• Location of proposed engineers to be provided.