Direct award of Low temperature scanning tunnelling microscope - 2025-0897314

Aarhus University wishes to buy a closed-cycle low temperature scanning tunnelling microscope (LT-STM) for a new experiment that will be established for structural and optical studies of molecular ices. The LT-STM is specially customized to adopt optical components that are cooled to 4K and also adopts a 1K cooler for …

CPV: 38000000 Équipements de laboratoire, d'optique et de précision (excepté les lunettes)
Lieu d'exécution:
Direct award of Low temperature scanning tunnelling microscope - 2025-0897314
Service d'adjudication:
Aarhus Universitet
Numéro d'adjudication:
fac9a443-2c83-4c4e-96e5-83baa33b1bc9

1. Buyer

1.1 Buyer

Official name : Aarhus Universitet
Legal type of the buyer : Body governed by public law
Activity of the contracting authority : Education

2. Procedure

2.1 Procedure

Title : Direct award of Low temperature scanning tunnelling microscope - 2025-0897314
Description : Aarhus University wishes to buy a closed-cycle low temperature scanning tunnelling microscope (LT-STM) for a new experiment that will be established for structural and optical studies of molecular ices. The LT-STM is specially customized to adopt optical components that are cooled to 4K and also adopts a 1K cooler for cooling superconducting SNSPD detector - operating at 0.9K. The aim of the research is to investigate molecular ices formed at interstellar conditions, including measurements of their characteristic fingerprints by detection of infrared emission from vibrationally excited constituent molecules. The structure of polar molecular ices formed on e.g. graphitic surfaces are predominantly governed by the intermolecular interaction with a very weak interaction between the molecule and the substrate. Such weakly bound systems are known to be easily perturbed by the STM tip during the measurements. To avoid this, we demand a 4K STM setup with the capability to perform experiments with extremely small tunneling currents - down to 1pA. Another key requirement of the setup is the ability to provide a low temperature platform for detection of infrared (IR) light emission (down to 20um wavelength) from the tip-sample junction. The IR light is generated by deexcitation of vibrational modes in molecules primarily excited by the tunnelling current. Therefore, an extremely low count rate of photon emission is expected. It is thus of fundamental importance to have all optical components in the path from the tip to the detector cooled down to 4K. Consequently, the setup must accommodate and cool down to 4K a customized IR spectrometer as well as a separate 1K cooler for cooling superconducting SNSPD detector down to 0.9K. Considering high prices of liquid He a closed cycle system is needed to ensure continuous operation. The unique technical specifications of the systems are as follows: - closed cycle low temperature UHV STM system operating down to 4K - operation below 1pA tunnelling current - free volume space inside 4K shield for integration of customized spectrometer, SNSPD detector and a 1K cooling stage (minimum free space dimensions - 130 mm diameter, 195 mm height) - Adaptation of the 4K and 80K shields for the operation of a 1K coller down to 0.9K - two motorized parabolic mirrors maintaining focus to the tip-sample junction - o high frequency cabling (in GHz range) for the SNSPD detector - four separate ports for deposition of molecules into STM ScientaOmicron is the only commercial supplier on the market at the moment that can deliver a complete system with all parameters.
Procedure identifier : 2d503648-fe70-4024-9105-efbdf470cb66
Internal identifier : fac9a443-2c83-4c4e-96e5-83baa33b1bc9
Type of procedure : Negotiated without prior call for competition

2.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Supplies
Main classification ( cpv ): 38000000 Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

2.1.2 Place of performance

Country subdivision (NUTS) : Østjylland ( DK042 )
Country : Denmark

2.1.4 General information

Legal basis :
Directive 2014/24/EU

5. Lot

5.1 Lot technical ID : LOT-0000

Title : Direct award of Low temperature scanning tunnelling microscope - 2025-0897314
Description : Aarhus University wishes to buy a closed-cycle low temperature scanning tunnelling microscope (LT-STM) for a new experiment that will be established for structural and optical studies of molecular ices. The LT-STM is specially customized to adopt optical components that are cooled to 4K and also adopts a 1K cooler for cooling superconducting SNSPD detector - operating at 0.9K. The aim of the research is to investigate molecular ices formed at interstellar conditions, including measurements of their characteristic fingerprints by detection of infrared emission from vibrationally excited constituent molecules. The structure of polar molecular ices formed on e.g. graphitic surfaces are predominantly governed by the intermolecular interaction with a very weak interaction between the molecule and the substrate. Such weakly bound systems are known to be easily perturbed by the STM tip during the measurements. To avoid this, we demand a 4K STM setup with the capability to perform experiments with extremely small tunneling currents - down to 1pA. Another key requirement of the setup is the ability to provide a low temperature platform for detection of infrared (IR) light emission (down to 20um wavelength) from the tip-sample junction. The IR light is generated by deexcitation of vibrational modes in molecules primarily excited by the tunnelling current. Therefore, an extremely low count rate of photon emission is expected. It is thus of fundamental importance to have all optical components in the path from the tip to the detector cooled down to 4K. Consequently, the setup must accommodate and cool down to 4K a customized IR spectrometer as well as a separate 1K cooler for cooling superconducting SNSPD detector down to 0.9K. Considering high prices of liquid He a closed cycle system is needed to ensure continuous operation. The unique technical specifications of the systems are as follows: - closed cycle low temperature UHV STM system operating down to 4K - operation below 1pA tunnelling current - free volume space inside 4K shield for integration of customized spectrometer, SNSPD detector and a 1K cooling stage (minimum free space dimensions - 130 mm diameter, 195 mm height) - Adaptation of the 4K and 80K shields for the operation of a 1K coller down to 0.9K - two motorized parabolic mirrors maintaining focus to the tip-sample junction - o high frequency cabling (in GHz range) for the SNSPD detector - four separate ports for deposition of molecules into STM ScientaOmicron is the only commercial supplier on the market at the moment that can deliver a complete system with all parameters.
Internal identifier : 362b1d63-0013-451d-b414-a6335070f9ba

5.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Supplies
Main classification ( cpv ): 38000000 Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
Quantity : 1

5.1.2 Place of performance

Country subdivision (NUTS) : Østjylland ( DK042 )
Country : Denmark
Additional information :

5.1.3 Estimated duration

Other duration : Unlimited

5.1.6 General information

Procurement Project not financed with EU Funds.
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) : yes

5.1.10 Award criteria

Justification for not indicating the weighting of the award criteria : There is only one supplier.

5.1.15 Techniques

Framework agreement :
No framework agreement
Information about the dynamic purchasing system :
No dynamic purchase system

5.1.16 Further information, mediation and review

Review organisation : Klagenævnet for udbud
Information about review deadlines : Please contact Aarhus University, if you have a comment about this notice - udbud@au.dk After the deployment of this notice, a standstill period of 10 calendar will begin. The contracting authority cannot sign the contract before the standstill period has expired. In case of complaints about tenders or decisions, e.g. award of contracts covered by Section II or III in the Danish Public Procurement Act must be submitted to the Complaints Board for Public Procurement (Klagenævnet for Udbud) within 45 calendar days from the day after the contractor published a notice in the Official Journal on the conclusion of a contract. At the latest concurrently with submission of an appeal to the Complaints Board for Public Procurement, the complainant must inform the Contracting Authority of the alleged infringement, and whether the appeal is to be referred to the board.
Organisation providing more information on the review procedures : Konkurrence- og Forbrugerstyrelsen
Organisation whose budget is used to pay for the contract : Aarhus Universitet
Organisation executing the payment : Aarhus Universitet
Organisation signing the contract : Aarhus Universitet

6. Results

Direct award :
Justification for direct award : The contract can be provided only by a particular economic operator because of an absence of competition for technical reasons
Other justification : The structure of polar molecular ices formed on e.g. graphitic surfaces are predominantly governed by the intermolecular interaction with a very weak interaction between the molecule and the substrate. Such weakly bound systems are known to be easily perturbed by the STM tip during the measurements. To avoid that, we demand a 4K STM setup with the capability to perform experiments with extremely small tunneling currents - down to 1pA. Another key requirement of the setup is the ability to provide a low temperature platform for detection of infrared (IR) light emission (down to 20um wavelength) from the tip-sample junction. The IR light is generated by deexcitation of vibrational modes in molecules primarily excited by the tunnelling current. Therefore, an extremely low count rate of photon emission is expected. It is thus of fundamental importance to have all optical components in the path from the tip to the detector cooled down to 4K. Consequently, the setup must accommodate and cool down to 4K a customized IR spectrometer as well as a separate 1K cooler for cooling superconducting SNSPD detector down to 0.9K. Considering high prices of liquid He a closed cycle system is needed to ensure continuous operation. The above-mentioned requirements are the essential requirements of the project enabling, for the first time, to study formation, structure and spectroscopic features of molecular ices with the high spatial resolution provided by STM. The ScientaOmicron is the only commercial supplier on the market at the moment that can deliver a complete system with all required parameters. The formation and study of molecular ices with this system will allow the Department of Physics and Astronomy to maintain it's leading position in astrochemistry. A basic setup consists of a UHV compatible closed cycle LT-STM with integrated 1K cooler, free space for integration of spectrometer under the 4K shield and integrated UHV chambers for cleaning and loading samples. The necessary technical requirements are as follows: 1. closed cycle low temperature UHV STM system with o coarse motion up to mm range o piezo scanner up to um range at cryogenic temperatures o operation down to 4 K o operation below 1pA tunnelling current o free volume space inside 4K shield for integration of customized spectrometer with SC detector o space inside the shield to integrate 1K cooler operating down to 0.9K o two motorized parabolic mirrors maintaining focus to the tip-sample junction o high frequency cabling (in GHz range) o ports for in-situ deposition of molecules 2. Anti-vibrational system 3. Integrated UHV chamber for standard cleaning of samples before transferring to STM o Ability to anneal samples up to 1300 K o Ability to anneal samples by direct and indirect heating (semiconductor and metal samples, respectively) 4. Load lock for fast loading samples into UHV from air side and sample transfer to preparation chamber. 5. System design must enable sample transfer between all chambers without necessity to break ultra-high vacuum The overall system is custom designed by the supplier as a single UHV system; therefore, it is necessary that 2), 3), 4) and 5) are included as a part of the system. The proprietary sample holders used in STM additionally require that all parts dealing with manipulation and positioning of samples such as xyz manipulators, sample garage, heating stages, cooling stages and transfer arms must be delivered by ScientaOmicron. Various suppliers on the market offer closed cycle STM systems that go to moderately low temperatures (such as 6-8 K) and can fulfil a portion of the requirements specified above. ScientaOmicron is the only commercial supplier that can deliver a complete LT-STM that can fulfill all the essential requirements of the project.

6.1 Result lot ldentifier : LOT-0000

6.1.2 Information about winners

Winner :
Official name : Scienta Omicron GmbH
Tender :
Tender identifier : 2025-0897314
Identifier of lot or group of lots : LOT-0000
Value of the tender : 1 000 000 Euro
Subcontracting : No
Contract information :
Identifier of the contract : 2025-0897314
Date on which the winner was chosen : 22/09/2025
Organisation signing the contract : Aarhus Universitet

8. Organisations

8.1 ORG-0001

Official name : Aarhus Universitet
Registration number : 31119103
Postal address : Nordre Ringgade 1
Town : Aarhus C
Postcode : 8000
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Østjylland ( DK042 )
Country : Denmark
Contact point : Jens August Aastrup Munch
Email : aumu@au.dk
Telephone : 20765769
Internet address : https://www.au.dk/
Roles of this organisation :
Buyer
Organisation signing the contract
Organisation whose budget is used to pay for the contract
Organisation executing the payment

8.1 ORG-0002

Official name : Klagenævnet for udbud
Registration number : 37795526
Postal address : Toldboden 2
Town : Viborg
Postcode : 8800
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Vestjylland ( DK041 )
Country : Denmark
Contact point : Klagenævnet for udbud
Telephone : +45 72405708
Information exchange endpoint (URL) : https://erhvervsstyrelsen.dk/klagenaevnet-for-udbud
Roles of this organisation :
Review organisation

8.1 ORG-0003

Official name : Konkurrence- og Forbrugerstyrelsen
Registration number : 10294819
Postal address : Carl Jacobsens Vej 35
Town : Valby
Postcode : 2500
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Byen København ( DK011 )
Country : Denmark
Contact point : Konkurrence- og Forbrugerstyrelsen
Telephone : +45 41715000
Information exchange endpoint (URL) : https://www.kfst.dk
Roles of this organisation :
Organisation providing more information on the review procedures

8.1 ORG-0004

Official name : Scienta Omicron GmbH
Postal address : Limburger Strasse 75
Town : Taunusstein
Postcode : 65232
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Limburg-Weilburg ( DE723 )
Country : Germany
Roles of this organisation :
Tenderer
Winner of these lots : LOT-0000

8.1 ORG-0005

Official name : Mercell Holding ASA
Registration number : 980921565
Postal address : Askekroken 11
Town : Oslo
Postcode : 0277
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Oslo ( NO081 )
Country : Norway
Contact point : eSender
Telephone : +47 21018800
Fax : +47 21018801
Internet address : http://mercell.com/
Roles of this organisation :
TED eSender

Notice information

Notice identifier/version : 6be3bf0c-b657-469a-809e-f16a518c3e93 - 01
Form type : Direct award preannouncement
Notice type : Voluntary ex-ante transparency notice
Notice dispatch date : 23/10/2025 10:45 +00:00
Notice dispatch date (eSender) : 23/10/2025 10:47 +00:00
Languages in which this notice is officially available : English
Notice publication number : 00704075-2025
OJ S issue number : 205/2025
Publication date : 24/10/2025