Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2021-06-11
Buyer: Aarhus Universitet
Country: DK
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Negotiated without a prior call for competition
CPV classification: 33000000 | 38000000
Estimated value: 205000 EUR
Award criteria: Lowest price

Technical requirements: Aarhus University intents to refurbish our aging STOE STADI P Powder X-Ray Diffractometer to bring it back to state-of-the-art performance. The STADI P has been a cornerstone workhorse instrument in both research and teaching in materials science at the Department of Chemistry for more than a decade. However, it is no longer living up to the expectations for a modern powder diffractometer and we thus intend to refurbish it to bring it back to state-of-the-art. After the refurbishment it will maintain its role in research and teaching, and will be used primarily for collection of powder X-ray diffraction data to high angle for pair distribution function analysis.
Department of chemistry is a world leading institution within X-Ray scattering. Our research is focused both on utilizing novel X-ray diffraction methodologies for characterizing materials as well as developing new strategies for data analysis. Our research has historically relied heavily on using advanced synchrotron facilities around the world. However, to maintain this role we also require state-of-the-art in-house instrumentation. Our STOE STADI P powder diffractometer no longer represents state-of-the-art, and we thus need to refurbish it to ensure our research and teaching is not dependent on outdated or underperforming experimental facilities. The STADI P will be refurbished with a new X-ray source, optics, detector array, and accompanying electronics. The STADI P currently measures diffraction data to high angles. After the refurbishment the data quality will have improved enough to be used for Pair Distribution Function (PDF) analysis.
We are very active within the emerging field of PDF analysis both by applying the techniques to real materials and developing new applications and data treatment strategies. By bringing PDF-quality data in-house we will be able to further develop our own methodologies to work with in-house instrumentation and apply PDF analysis to even more materials, where the research has not yet matured enough to warrant beam time at a synchrotron facility. Most importantly, we will be able to conduct hands-on teaching of PDF analysis without the need to travel to synchrotron facilities. It is of the utmost importance that our teaching is always based on the newest techniques to prepare our students for future challenges in industry.
The refurbishment of advanced research infrastructure is not a simple or routine task and only the original supplier of the instrument is expected to be able to perform the refurbishment. For X-ray instruments there is a particular challenge with interlocks and safety features for the radiation enclosure. Intricate knowledge of the system is required to make modifications without risking exposure to dangerous levels of X-ray radiation. We have been in contact with technicians with STOE to develop a plan to replace outdated parts of the system and modify the remaining parts to accommodate the replacements, while maintaining radiation safety standards. Only the original supplier can make these modifications without voiding the safety ratings for the radiation enclosure.
Due to technical reasons, including for radiation safety measures, only one supplier can perform the required refurbishment.
Following the notification, a standstill period of 10 calendar days will be held in accordance to paragraph 3 of Act No 593 of 2 June 2016 on the Danish Act on the Complaints Board for public Procurement. This implies that the Contracting Authority cannot sign the Contract with the winning Tenderer before the standstill period has expired.
In case of complaints about tenders or decisions, e.g. award of contracts covered by Section II or III in the Danish Public Procurement Act must be submitted to the Complaints Board for Public Procurement (Klagenævnet for Udbud) within 45 calendar days from the day after the contractor published a notice in the Official Journal on the conclusion of a contract. At the latest concurrently with submission of an appeal to the Complaints Board for Public Procurement, the complainant must inform the Contracting Authority of the alleged infringement, and whether the appeal is to be referred to the board.


Winner: Stoe & Cie GmbH
Award value: 205000