Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2024-06-20
Buyer: Københavns Universitet
Country: DK
Region: DK011
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Negotiated without a prior call for competition
CPV classification: 33111000: X-ray equipment
Award criteria: quality

Technical requirements: the instrument must contain a Cu sealed tube source, cross-beam optics module for easy switch between Bragg-Brentano and parallel beam without the need to change optics, and different sample stages, including a multiple position autochanger for both reflection and transmission measurements at ambient conditions (with spinning function and suitable for various sample holders, including anoxic sample holders), a X-Y-Z sample stage for micro XRD mapping, a SAXS sample holder and optics set with resolution around 1-100 nm, and a non-ambient sample stage for continuous XRD measurements of single samples up to 1200 °C. The instrument must also contain a 2D detector that enables seamless switch between 0D, 1D and 2D detection mode depending on application type, equipped with differential mode to suppress sample fluorescence. 
Critical mandatory features to enable the extremely high analytical performance, ease of operation and multipurpose application include:
1.  The supplier must guarantee a minimum goniometer radius of 300 mm applicable for all types of measurements, optical components and attachments, and with a goniometer measuring range of -10 ÷ 160° (2Theta) or wider.
2.  The instrument must be equipped with automatic optics and sample stage recognition (i.e., plug & play functionality by fully automatic, real-time component recognition), and automatic alignment function for all components of X-ray optics. This is of high importance as alignment of x-ray optics is affected by environment temperature (due to goniometer structural components thermal expansion), X-ray tube operation parameters as well as possible inaccurate handling of x-ray optical components (occurring in multi-user laboratories with various expertise level of users – students). Notably, aligned positions should be able to be restored readily even when optics are changed, no matter the expertise of the user. In addition, users should be able to create measurement flows according to their own needs. Basic functions can be combine to create users’ own recipes for measurement or automatic maintenance.
3.  The system must have easy switching between divergent beam for measurements in Bragg-Brentano geometry and parallel beam for transmission geometry formed by parabolic multilayer mirror without removal or replacement of the X-ray mirror. Moreover, computer controlled incident, anti-scattering and receiving slits (Variable Incident Slit: auto-controlled 0.05 – 7.0 mm, 0.01 mm step, Length-limiting Slits:  2.0, 5.0, 10.0 mm).
5.  2D detector with minimum number of pixels 36,500 size and active area not smaller than 365 mm2. Seamless switching from 0D, 1D and 2D measurement mode with a single detector with high energy resolution. With capability of working in both horizontal and vertical mode. Large size of the detector allows fast and snapshot mode of large 2theta ranges. The analytical receiver shall be equipped with attachable scattering protector on the receiving side of the goniometer that moves simultaneously with the detector without necessity for adjustments. This item on the receiving side reduces the background at low angles without a decrease of diffracted beam intensity, which often occurs when using a fixed knife edge. This solution gives extra space to sample mounting area, and simplifies sample mounting, is compatible with wider range of attachments and sample holders. 
6.  Attachment platform able to automatically adjust vertical (Z) position of sample in all configurations of diffractometer with height adjustment of 10 mm or wider allowing accommodation of widest possible sample sizes on the market and automatic sample surface alignment for all configurations and attachments. 
7. Network software licence provided for unlimited number of installations with not less than 10 simultaneous users at once. 
8. Automatic sample changer with reflection and transmission mode of operations, multiple samples of different thicknesses can be automatically aligned and measured without user intervention.
After an extensive market research, the only supplier capable of supplying such a high performance and multipurpose instruments with all the required features is Rigaku Europe SE, supplied and serviced in Denmark via Ramcon A/S.


Winner: Ramcon