UK SBS PR20056 Large Aperture Yb:YAG Gain Media for EPAC Pump Laser

***This tender requirement was abandoned prior to a Contract award decision*** The final date and time for the submission of bids is 09/09/2020 at 11:00 BST. DO NOT apply directly to the buyer.

All tender information MUST be submitted through the Delta eSourcing Portal. Brief Description of Requirement Building work is currently underway at the Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) site for the EPAC facility.

EPAC will be applied to short pulse high power applications with its 10 Hertz Petawatt Laser. EPAC will provide a step-change in capabilities for laser-driven accelerator research in the UK, enabling a plasma wakefield accelerator facility with multi-GeV electron beams and spatially coherent x-ray and gamma-ray beams for cutting edge experiments in plasma physics, laboratory astrophysics and condensed matter and material science.

EPAC will bring together world-leading interdisciplinary expertise to develop and apply novel, laser based, non-conventional accelerators and particle sources which have unique properties. UKRI, The Contracting Authority, wishes to purchase a minimum of one set of large aperture, uncoated, yterrbium-doped (Yb:YAG) ceramic gain media for use in a high energy laser amplifier system as part of the EPAC Project.

The minimum scope of the contract is for the manufacture, polishing, optical testing, certification and delivery of a single set of gain media, comprising a total of six slabs, to the specifications detailed, with the ability to purchase up to an additional 3 sets at a later date. The estimated value for one set of gain media is £165,000 - £220,000 excl.

VAT. Please note, the Contracting Authority have a maximum available budget of £280,000 excl.

VAT for one set of gain media. Including the options for up to an additional three sets of gain media, the total estimated value of the opportunity is £660,000 - £880,000 excl.

VAT. Please ensure you review all attached information to ensure a full understanding of this requirement.

All attachments can be found with the Document Uploads tab within the Delta eSourcing Portal. This contract will be awarded based on the evaluation criteria set out in the RFP document.

How to Apply UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) will be using the Delta eSourcing Portal for this procurement. To register on the Delta eSourcing portal please use the link https://uksbs.delta-esourcing.com and follow the instructions to register.

If you are already registered on the Delta eSourcing Portal and wish to participate in this procurement, please use the link: https://uksbs.delta-esourcing.com and the follow the instructions to 'Login' Once you are logged into the system you will be able to link yourself into this procurement using the Access Code: AZZVYS327Q Additional information: DO NOT APPLY DIRECTLY TO BUYER All submissions will be assessed in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, for procurement values that exceed Regulation 5 (Threshold amounts) Responses must be received by the date in the tender documentation; responses received outside of the deadline or not sent via the Delta eSourcing portal will not be accepted or considered further for this opportunity. As a user of the Delta eSourcing Portal you will have access to the Delta messaging service which facilitates all messages sent to you and from you in relation to any specific tender event.

Please note it is your responsibility to access these messages on a regular basis to ensure you have sight of all relevant information applicable to this opportunity. The contracting authority expressly reserves the right: i. not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice;and ii. to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the procurement; and in no circumstances will the contracting authority be liable for any costs incurred by any supplier.

If the contracting authority decides to enter into a contract with the successful supplier, this does not mean that there is any guarantee of subsequent contracts being awarded. Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken prior to contract award is accordingly a matter solely for the commercial judgement of bidders.

About UK Shared Business Services UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) brings a commercial attitude to the public sector; helping our contracting authorities to improve efficiency, generate savings and modernise. Where UK SBS is not named as the Contracting Authority within the documentation, UK SBS will be acting as an agent on behalf of the Contracting Authority.

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