Notice for the supply, installation and maintenance of a dielectric spectrometer

Tender 456

The Pharmaceutical Technologies Research Group is based within De Montfort University in Leicester, UK. This Research Group has key research foci in the characterization of pharmaceutical materials and drug delivery systems, the biopharmaceutical evaluation of drug therapies and the industrial process control of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.

The Group now requires a high resolution broadband dielectric spectrometer for use in the measurement of pharmaceutical materials (powders, liquids and solids, e.g. polymers) across a wide range of temperatures.
 This tender is for the provision of a broadband dielectric spectrometer with high precision temperature control, over a wide range of temperatures:
- Dielectric spectrometer with frequency range 10-5 Hz ... 20 MHz
- Computer with interface card and TFT monitor
- Software package for measurement and analysis of data (laser printer: optional)
- Sample cell(s) with gold plated electrodes (one of the sample cells supplied must be hermetically sealed to allow for the measurement of low moisture content powders (|1%) without affecting the moisture content.
- Cryostat (to include a 2-stage vacuum pump, digital vacuum gauge, complete set of vacuum lines and electrical cables).
- Temperature control Cryostat.
o Temperature range -160 °C ... +400 °C (± 0.01° C)
- Mounting rack to position all items in the system
- Fast measurement rate (please specify)
- System installation, acceptance tests on site, introduction and training by a qualified engineer on customer site

The supply and installation of the machinery must take be completed within three (3) months from contract award.
Service, repair and maintenance of the machinery is required for a period of 36 months following acceptance of installation.

The award criteria for this procurement will be conformance to the specification: capability to supply, install and maintain the equipment and the estimated whole-life cost of the equipment.

 The weighting for each criteria range is : 
 Conformance to the specification  40% 
 Ease of transposition between modes of operation 10% 
 Delivery period 20% 
 After sales service and support 20% 
 Whole life cost of the equipment 10%

Specifications and additional documents can be obtained at: Tender Reference 456, Director of Finance, Finance Department, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK. URL: http://www.tenders.ac.uk.

Time limit for return of tenders: 18 February 2009 - 12:00 noon.

For all enquiries please contact the Procurement Services Section who will manage and coordinate responses.  The contact details are:

Procurement Services, Finance Department   
Telephone:  + 44 (0)116 2577328 
Fax:   + 44 (0) 116 2506069 
Email:  purchasing@dmu.ac.uk
 
Please refer to tender reference number 456 in your enquiry.     

De Montfort University has a legal duty to comply with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. Accordingly, information in relation to this contract and any prior related tender may be made available on demand in accordance with the legislation. You should state if any of the information supplied by you as part of the contract is either confidential or commercially sensitive, or should not be disclosed to third parties in response to a request for information under the Act. The reason for such sensitivity must be specified. In such cases, the relevant material will be examined in the light of the exemptions provided in the Freedom of information Act or Environmental Information Regulations, although the University cannot guarantee that an exemption will apply.

Notice publication date:  12 February 2009.