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Published 23 Jun 2022, 10:05 BST

Official UK procurement notice

UKRI-2121 LISA Optical Bench Baseplate

Official notice

Authority: UK Research and Innovation (Central government)

GoodsOpen procedure
Published estimate£2,500,000exc. VAT
Submissions closed 28 Jul 2022

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The LISA concept for directly detecting the oscillating strain in spacetime caused by gravitational waves shares the scheme used in all laser interferometer-based gravitational wave detectors: The passage of the wave is detected by measuring the time-varying changes of optical pathlength between test masses isolated from all forces other than gravitational waves.

The project draws on experience gleaned from the LISA Pathfinder (LPF) mission, a pioneering mission to test the LISA concept and demonstrate key concepts and technologies. A key technology to the LISA mission is performing interferometry with hydroxide catalysis bonded optics and this was demonstrated on LPF.

CPV: Astronomical and optical instruments · Optical instruments

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1The optical bench will host the optical components that enable the LISA…Published value£2,500,000

The optical bench will host the optical components that enable the LISA interferometers to function. Components will be mounted on both sides – as shown below – using a silicate bonding process proven on the LISA Pathfinder experiment. To ensure stability the Optical Bench Baseplate will be manufactured from Zerodur, acid etched to maximise strength and polished to allow the mounting process and to enable tight alignment tolerances to be met.

The LISA Optical Bench will be produced at several model stages over a number of years, starting with a Structural Model and ending with Flight Models. Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/9P5885Y52V ↗

Delivery: UK · UNITED KINGDOM
Variant bids: not allowed

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Goods
Notice status
Closed
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
23 Jun 2022, 10:05 BST
Last source update
23 Jun 2022, 10:05 BST
Award evaluation window
28 Jul 2022 – …
Authority reference
UKRI-2121
FTS notice number
2022/S 000-017138
Classification (CPV)
Astronomical and optical instrumentsOptical instruments
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-034997 Find a Tender

Publisher note: 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:-Optical-instruments./9P5885Y52V To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/9P5885Y52V GO Reference: GO-2022623-PRO-20482656

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
28 Jul 2022, 11:00 BST
Submission channel
{"written"}
Accepted languages
en
Bids opened
28 Jul 2022, 14:00 BST

Timeline

23 Jun 2022 → 28 Jul 2022 · 3 dates
  1. Notice published
    23 Jun 2022, 10:05 BST
  2. Submission deadline
    28 Jul 2022, 11:00 BST
  3. Bids opened
    28 Jul 2022, 14:00 BST

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

UK Research & Innovation

Contracting authorityCentral GovernmentBody governed by public lawResearch https://www.ukri.org/, North Star Avenue, Swindon, UK, SN2 1FLContact name, email, phone Published organisation website ↗

Dispute resolution & review bodies

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.