Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Tender description

The University of Southampton has a requirement for the procurement of a system capable of GC x GC high resolution mass spectrometry with multiple inlets. Full requirements can be found in the File 4 Specification tender document. The purpose of this procurement is to obtain strategic equipment, in the form of multi-inlet gas chromatography and high resolution mass spectrometry, with an aim to deliver qualitative and quantitative analysis of novel and strategically important chemistries which will be a unique capability within the UK academic sector. A multi-institutional team has been assembled to enable the vision for a regional then national Centre of Excellence (CoE) for multi-inlet gas chromatography and high resolution mass spectrometry. The team has considerable scientific prestige and esteem, facility management expertise and training, established interdisciplinary and industrial collaborations and many links to EPSRC and RSC networks. A unique suite of high specification instrumentation is requested to fulfil the aim of the vision of a CoE as described above. Advanced automated sample introduction techniques, multi-dimensional chromatography (for separation of complex mixtures) and advanced high resolution mass spectrometry (for compound identification) will deliver the required new capability. The new strategic equipment will support research across the region, starting with UoS and expanding once the equipment is established. The science from the regional universities will form the development experiments for the equipment and will then be extended to other academic and industry researchers and form an expert hub capability to enable high-priority EPSRC research. This procurement process is being conducted as an open procedure; consisting of an invitation to tender stage only. The University proposes to enter into a contract for 5 years — this will be the maximum contract period, including any potential extensions with the successful tenderer(s). This will comprise of an initial contract period of 5 years for the provision of the equipment including a 5 year warranty and service agreement. The contract will be effective on signing. The initial term of the warranty of 5 years will run from the date of delivery of the equipment with extensions if so agreed by the University, running from the expiry of the initial contract period. The estimated value of the initial 5 year contract period is within the range of 650 000 GBP to 710 000 GBP, excluding VAT. This value includes all related components, services and maintenance for the initial contract period. The total estimated value of this contract is 710 000 GBP this value takes into account the estimated value of extending the service and maintenance contract up to an additional 5 years.