Dedicated solid sample Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyser

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1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) requires the supply of a dedicated solid-sample Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyser. The system is intended for peatland restoration research and long-term soil carbon monitoring. The analyser must be capable of processing organic-rich environmental solid matrices, including peat, restored and degraded peatland soils, upland organic soils, mineral soils, and wetland and catchment sediments.

The core functionality of the system involves the determination of specific carbon fractions:

• Total Carbon (TC)
• Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
• Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC)
• Residual Oxidisable Carbon (ROC)
• TOC₄₀₀
• TIC₉₀₀

These capabilities are essential for peatland carbon stock assessment, comparative analysis of peat materials, differentiation of carbon sources, and tracking carbon changes over time.

The system must support temperature-programmed carbon fractionation, adhering to recognised methods such as EN 17505 and/or DIN 19539. This includes configurable heating rates and hold times for precise analysis across different sample types. Additionally, it must support classical dry-combustion TOC determination as per EN 15936, ISO 10694, and EN 13137 standards.

The analyser must accommodate heterogeneous samples, including fibrous and organic-rich materials. It should allow for the analysis of gram-scale solid samples, ideally up to approximately 3g, to enhance sample representativeness.

Key operational features include:

• Non-stacked, automated sample handling with sufficient autosampler capacity for unattended batch analysis.
• Sample prioritisation capabilities.
• Automated or low-maintenance ash/residue handling.
• Active furnace cooling to ensure high throughput.
• Integrated software for instrument control, calibration, data processing, quality control, and reporting.
• Operation using Oxygen and Nitrogen, avoiding Helium.

The contract scope includes installation, commissioning, user training, application support for peat/soil/sediment carbon analysis, and after-sales technical support. A minimum one-year warranty is mandatory, with clear options for ongoing maintenance and technical support.

3. Background & buyer context

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) was formed in April 2022 through the merger of GMIT, LYIT, and IT Sligo, with the integration of St Angela’s College in 2023. It is a multi-campus university serving a large geographical region in the west and north-west of Ireland. ATU is committed to sustainable economic, social, and cultural development.

This procurement is part of the PEAT+ Project, which is funded under the PEACEPLUS programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUBP). The project focuses on peatland restoration research and long-term soil carbon monitoring, necessitating the acquisition of specialised analytical equipment. ATU aims to support innovation and collaboration in sustainability research through this initiative. The estimated maximum spend under this contract is €42,000 excluding VAT, though this figure is indicative and does not guarantee expenditure.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered eligible:

• Turnover requirement: The tendering party's turnover must have exceeded €84,000 per annum in each of the last three financial years, or pro-rata for more recently established firms. The firm must have been in existence for at least 6 months.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Product Liability: €6.5 million
• Certifications: Tenderers must provide information demonstrating a commitment to quality assurance, including details of quality assurance policies and systems, and whether they are externally certified. Compliance with relevant Safety, Health & Welfare at Work legislation is also required.
• Past experience: Tenderers must demonstrate successful delivery, installation, and commissioning of two comparable items of equipment within the previous three years.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Tenderers may rely on the resources of other entities to meet these requirements, provided they can prove these resources will be at their disposal.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the most economically advantageous tender, considering the following criteria and weightings:

A minimum score of 60% is required for each of the qualitative criteria (A-D) to remain eligible. The lowest cost tender that meets all minimum qualitative requirements will receive the maximum score for the cost criterion.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit their responses electronically via the eTenders postbox facility on www.etenders.gov.ie. The following documentation is required:

• Tender Response Document (TRD): This mandatory template must be used for the submission. Tenderers are prohibited from amending its text or content.
• Declarations:
• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) (optional, but accepted as evidence of compliance).
• Declaration of Bona Fides.
• Declaration regarding compliance with relevant statutory obligations.
• Financial and Economic Standing:
• Confirmation of tax compliance.
• Confirmation of turnover exceeding €84,000 per annum for the last three years (or pro-rata).
• Confirmation of financial standing.
• Insurance: Confirmation of required Employer's Liability, Public Liability, and Product Liability insurance.
• Technical Capacity:
• Information demonstrating successful delivery, installation, and commissioning of two comparable items of equipment within the last three years.
• Information on Health & Safety Management Systems.
• Information on Quality Assurance Management Systems.
• Pricing Schedule: Must be submitted using the specified template.
• Case studies: Not specified for this tender.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Method Statement: To be provided within the TRD.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.

Submissions must be uploaded as a ZIP file.

7. Key dates & process

The tender validity period is 6 months from the closing date.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Contract Length: The contract will be for a maximum of one year, with the possibility of extension at ATU's discretion, subject to performance, budget, and business needs.
• Payment Terms: ATU's payment terms are 30 days from the date of receipt of invoice.
• Warranty: A minimum of one year warranty is required.
• After Sales Support: A minimum of ten years of after-sales technical support, including parts and materials, with indicative response times, must be provided.
• Termination: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to terminate the contract with 14 days' notice.
• Award to Runner-Up: If the successful tenderer cannot deliver services to ATU's satisfaction, ATU reserves the right to award the contract to the next highest scoring tenderer.
• Confidentiality: Tenderers must treat all documents as private and confidential.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Indicative Value vs. Contract Length: The estimated maximum spend of €42,000 excluding VAT for a one-year contract, coupled with a 10-year after-sales support requirement, suggests a focus on the total cost of ownership and long-term serviceability rather than just the initial capital outlay.
• Tender Validity: A 6-month tender validity period is required, commencing from the closing date, which is standard but requires bidders to commit to pricing for an extended evaluation period.
• No Guaranteed Expenditure: The document explicitly states that the €42,000 figure is indicative and there is no guaranteed expenditure under the contract, meaning the actual spend could be significantly lower.
• Open Procedure: While an open procedure is used, the specific technical requirements for the analyser may naturally limit the pool of eligible bidders to specialists in this field.
• Award to Runner-Up Clause: This clause provides ATU with flexibility if the primary awardee fails to perform, which is a common but important contractual provision.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely best suited for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that specialise in the supply and servicing of analytical laboratory equipment, specifically TOC analysers. A viable bidder would need:

• Specialised Product Knowledge: Deep understanding of TOC analysis, peatland research applications, and relevant international standards (EN, ISO, DIN).
• Technical Support Infrastructure: The requirement for 10 years of after-sales support indicates a need for a stable company with a long-term service commitment, potentially including local or easily accessible technical personnel.
• Financial Capacity: While the estimated value is modest, the turnover requirement of €84,000 per annum over three years is a baseline.
• Quality and Safety Systems: Demonstrated quality assurance and health & safety management systems are mandatory.

Consortium or sub-contracting is permitted, allowing SMEs to partner with other entities to meet capacity requirements. The bid preparation effort is moderate, primarily involving the completion of the TRD and gathering evidence for technical and financial capacity. The "Pwin" signal is neutral; there is no clear indication of an incumbent, and the open procedure suggests a competitive market. The primary challenge for an SME would be demonstrating the 10-year after-sales support capability.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: Request for Tender Soli TOC Cube Analysis Instrument.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided text.
• Contact Email / Clarification Portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Most Important Attachments:
• Request for Tender Soli TOC Cube Analysis Instrument.pdf
• Tender Response Document (TRD) (provided as a separate document)