The IUPC Gases group oversees the provision of contracts, and possible other systems, for the efficient procurement of those compressed, liquefied and solidified gases commonly used on behalf of all Institutions in the UK Higher Education sector, including those of the Research Councils.
Gases Tender
The present iteration of the IUPC Gases framework commenced on the 1st October 2008 and applies for a period of three years (with a potential one-year extension that was exercised with BOC, Air Liquide and Air Products).
The framework agreement was tendered in full accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (sometimes referred to as the ‘EU Directives’) and so, for call-off requirements, institutions do not need to go through the full procedural steps of these regulations again.
It has been awarded to six suppliers in eleven different ‘Lots’, giving a choice of supplier for those Lots where an economically advantageous offer (one giving value for money) was made by more than one supplier. However, for those institutions that spend over the Public Sector Threshold [£139,893] during the period of a contract, the way that the appropriate supplier should be chosen by the customer from the framework agreement is now regulated.
Award
The suppliers listed below have been awarded the various Lots on the agreement. Where a supplier’s name is shown in bold, this is the supplier giving clearly the best value for money for that Lot according to the tender evaluation against the award criteria.
These were amended on October 1st 2011 to reflect the non-extension of the agreement to Green Gases, Cryoservice and CK Gas.
|
Lots |
Suppliers Awarded |
|
Lot A – Industrial Gases |
BOC Gases
Air Liquide |
|
Lot B – Medical Gases |
Air Liquide
BOC Gases |
|
Lot C – Special Gases, Research Gases & Gas Mixtures |
BOC Gases
Air Liquide |
|
Lot D – Dry Ice (Solid CO2) |
BOC Gases
Air Liquide |
|
Lot E – Liquid Helium |
BOC Gases
Air Products |
|
Lot F – Liquid Nitrogen in Small Vessels |
BOC Gases |
|
Lot G – Liquid Nitrogen in Bulk |
BOC Gases
Air Liquide |
|
Lot H – Gas Handling Equipment |
BOC Gases
Air Products |
|
Lot I – Laboratory Gas Generators |
BOC Gases
Air Liquide |
|
Lot J – Laboratory Gas Purifiers |
BOC Gases
Air Liquide |
|
Lot K – Safety Training Courses |
BOC Gases
Air Liquide |