Official UK procurement notice
Whole head OPM-MEG System
Authority: THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Education)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe HEDscan system is a non-invasive, wearable magnetoencephalography (MEG) system based on optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) sensor technology. OPM sensors are placed directly on the participant's head and allow to record brain activity with very high fidelity. The system will be complementary to MEG facilities located at the Centre for Human Brain Health at the University of Birmingham. It will be based in the OPM Lab facility and will be made available to other research groups at CHBH and UoB. The system comprises of a smart helmet that fits all head sizes and number of OPM sensors.
To ensure compatibility of the system we require that additional OPM sensors will be purchased with the original equipment manufacturer (FieldLine Inc). The purchase is for the smart helmet, reclining chair with fixtures to secure the helmet, OPM sensors and controllers as a bundle, as well as service contracts and any additional peripheral equipment that is complementary to the existing equipment. The purchase will be for a period of 2 years.
CPV: Instruments for checking physical characteristics · Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedProcedure 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
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 4 May 2022, 12:58 BST
- Last source update
- 9 May 2022, 15:46 BST
- Authority reference
FRAM542/22- FTS notice number
2022/S 000-012028- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-033378Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
- Published justification
The equipment specified is manufactured by the original supplier only. No other OPM supplier can supply smart helmets that allows sensors positioning directly on the subject's head and at the same tine provide accurate and automatic readout about the positions of each sensor. Furthermore, the sensors positioning information as well as data recorded with FieldLine OPMs can be stored in a file format that is comparable to traditional MEG systems. The helmet can accommodate people of all ages (above 5 years old) and head sizes and can fit up ~126 sensors. Finally, the system has scalable design (can be expanded to 512 sensors) and is fully integrated. OPM sensors manufactured by the supplier have dynamic range of +/-10nT and operate under negative feedback which is an additional advantage for experiments planned in the magnetically shielded room at OPM lab facility. Only sensors supplied by the manufacturer are compatible with the helmet. No other supplier has the appropriate expertise to service the equipment.
Notice history
2 releases on Find a TenderPublished amendments (1)
The University has made the decision to abandon this VEAT and go out to Open Tender for the requirement.
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FieldLine Incorportated | £1,000,000 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Whole head OPM-MEG System · FieldLine Incorportated
- Signed
- 4 May 2022
- Value
- £1,000,000
- Status
- active
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- FieldLine IncorportatedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.