Provision of Helium BiPS

Concepts

• belfast
• gas cylinders
• high purity helium
• helium gas
• bips
• helium bips
• helium
• unnecessary maintenance
• purification system
• repair

Location

Forensic Science Northern Ireland, Seapark, Carrickfergus, County Antrim

Description

This Direct Award Contract is to cover expenditure for the supply of cylinders of helium gas with a Built In Purification System (BIPS) for use with an instrumentation set up in a number of labs across FSNI which demands high purity helium in order to avoid unnecessary maintenance, repair and down time.

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 44612100 - Gas cylinders

Legal Justification

FSNI tested the market for Helium with BIPS in 2013 when they tendered for the Supply & Delivery of Gases, this product had to be removed from the tender specification as no other supplier was permitted to supply Helium BIPS which only the appointed contractor can supply. Horizon scanning has continued since then to understand whether there may be an alternative in provision that could provide the same level of purity required and recent market sounding has confirmed that there remains no alternative to the patented product offered by the appointed contractor. BIPS cylinders are exclusive to the appointed contractor, who developed and own the Built In Purification System. The appointed contractor have this system patented, therefore no other supplier can offer the same or similar products in UK or Ireland. Further research (2023/24) in the market has confirmed that the appointed contractor remains the only provider capable of providing high purity helium.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. ** Please note that information relating to contractors engaged by the Northern Ireland Department of Justice,and associated bodies, is not published in any publicly accessible forum or publication. This is to protect such contractors, whose security and safety could be threatened by dissident terrorist organisations still active in Northern Ireland if their details became known. This is consistent with Regulation 50(6)(a). The estimated contract value is a broad estimate only and includes additional quantum for unforeseen demand and to future proof. There is no guarantee of any level of business under this contract. The estimate is not deemed to be a condition of contract nor a guarantee of minimum demand or uptake. No compensation will be payable to a contractor should the actual demand be less than that stated.