Stockholms Universitet Chromatography system

Chromatography system

Stockholms universitet, Stockholm

Administrative officer

Charlotta Andersson

Institution / equivalent

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics (DBB)

Inquiry

About Stockholm University

Stockholm University is characterized by openness and an innovative and cross-border activity in Sweden´s capital. Ranked as one of the world´s top 100 HEIs, Stockholm University is one of Europe´s leading institutions for higher education and research in human sciences and natural sciences.

Stockholm University was founded in 1878 with the ambition to renew the traditional universities in Sweden. Close contacts and an active exchange of experience and knowledge with the outside world characterize the business since its inception.

33,000 students, 1,600 doctoral students and 5,500 employees are active at Stockholm University. Within the science areas of science and human sciences, 190 study programs and 1,700 courses are offered. The university has a total turnover of SEK 4.93 billion.

Stockholm University contributes to knowledge development in a global perspective and in collaboration with others. This is done through education and research in the international front line, as well as in cross-border and multidisciplinary studies. In collaboration with the surrounding society, knowledge is made available to everyone through dialogue and participation in debate and social development.

About the contracting institution

The department of Biochemistry and Biophysics (DBB) is mainly located at the Arrhenius laboratory in Frescati, close to the other Chemistry and Life Sciences departments. The department also has a strong connection to the Science for Life Laboratory, where some research groups are also located. More than 200 people, including ~80 PhD students, are currently working at the department. The research at DBB spans a wide range of fields; including cell biology, biochemistry, neurochemistry, biophysics, bioinformatics and computational chemistry. Many of the research projects conducted here are of the highest international class. For more information about our business, see our website www.dbb.su.se.

Goals and purpose

The department needs to buy a chromatography system for protein purification; the purified proteins will be used for various types of activity studies and structural studies. The purpose of the research project is to study protein complexes that perform the process of cellular respiration in Actinobacteria. The results will be important for our understanding of how these respiratory complexes work and why they differ so much from the equivalent protein complexes in other organisms. The results may also be used for development of drugs designed to interfere with the respiratory process (the clade of Actinobacteria encompasses several pathogens; including the species causing tuberculosis and lepracy).

We have recently been awarded a grant from the KAW foundation for this project, and need to expand our protein purification capacity to perform the experiments. In the future, the instrument may also be used for protein purification in various other research projects at the department.

Requirement specification

General requirements

The instrument;

must be CE labelled.

must be compatible with the Swedish electrical system. (230 V, 50 Hz).

must be able to operate at cold room temperature (4 °C).

must have the following dimensions (excluding computer and screen w. accessories but including all system modules; e.g. fraction collector): Width ≤100 cm; height ≤75 cm; depth ≤50 cm.

must weigh <70 kg (excluding computer and screen w. accessories).

must allow for the future addition/exchange of functional modules (e.g. detectors, valves).

Technical requirements

Specifically, the instrument;

must have a high performance pump that can handle at least 0,001-25 ml/min flow rate and ≥20 MPa pressure.

must have an inlet valve for switching between multiple (≥4) mobile phases.

must have a gradient mixer.

must tolerate acetonitrile (for reverse phase chromatography).

must have an in-line filter.

must have the option to bypass the gradient mixer without replumbing (for application of large volumes of sample using the system pump).

must have a sample injection valve with easy access to the sample loop for replumbing (e.g. to switch between different loop sizes).

must have the option to bypass the column without replumbing.

must have some kind of end-of-program default bypass/home position (for column protection)

must allow for reverse flow of the mobile phase over the column without replumbing (for sharper affinity chromatography elution peaks; and reverse flow cleaning).

must have a column selection valve with ≥5 column positions.

must allow for reinjection of the eluate from one column, onto a second column attached to the same column selection valve (for automatic two-step purification programs).

must have a conductivity sensor (for verification of mobile phase gradients)

must have an air sensor, that allows for automatic pausing of the run upon detection of air in the system (i.e. upon depletion of mobile phase solution)

must have multiple pressure sensors (for monitoring of system pressure; and pressure over the column).

must allow for automatic pressure-based flow rate adjustment during runs (i.e. to stay below a preset maximum pressure limit)

must include a 280 nm UV detector (but allow for future exchange to a multi-wavelength UV/Vis detector).

must have a UV detector lamp with no warm-up time and minimal sample heating.

must have an outlet valve for switching between at least 3 outlets; collection, waste and fraction collector.

must have a fraction collector for ≥150 fractions (in separate tubes).

must have some kind of ”drop timing” functionality (or similar), to decrease spillage and cross-contamination between fractions.

must allow for the collection of fractions based on pre-selected criteria (at least; volume, level, slope, peak recognition).

Computer and software requirements

The instrument must be delivered complete with all necessary hardware (computer, screen, cables etc.) and software required for running the instrument and its accessories.

Specifically, the software;

must include a complete license for using the software with the instrument (i.e. no compulsory yearly subscription fees etc.).

must have a graphical user interface.

must include basic tools for chromatography data analysis.

must allow for automatic running of pre-programmed purification protocols; including sample injection and collection of fractions.

must allow for setting up some kind of basic remote control and monitoring of the instrument.

Documentation requirements:

The delivered system must include documentation in English for the handling and daily maintenance of the equipment. Specifically, this documentation must include;

a complete user manual for the instrument, its accessories and the accompanying software.

Instructions for the proper maintenance of the instrument; cleaning advice, information about which spare parts can be replaced etc.

Delivery, installation and warranty requirements:

The offer must include all costs for delivery and installation.

The product must be delivered and installed no later than December 2020.

The supplier must take full responsibility for the installation, final adjustment, acceptance testing and commissioning of the instrument and its accessories, and assist in adapting it to the laboratory environment in the existing premises.

The offer must include on-site user training for up to 4 users.

The warranty period of the equipment must be at least one year after successfully performed final acceptance test.

The availability of spare parts must be guaranteed by the supplier for at least 5 years after delivery.

The supplier must have a support organization (service engineers, service technicians etc.) with English-speaking staff, that can answer technical questions via e-mail and/or telephone during Swedish business hours.

Quotation

We expect quotation regarding the above and wish the following to be stated in the quotation:

Price; state the total price for delivery including service and installation. No other costs may be added for the commission´s implementation.

Answer in the tender how the offered product meets the requirement specifications.

The quotation will be submitted no later than 2020-10-12

The quotation must be binding with 2020-12-31

Evaluation and award (supplier selection)

The supplier offering the most advantageous solution to the contract is awarded the contract. SU evaluates the tenders in accordance with the above requirements.

The instrument must fulfill the requirements listed in the requirement specifications (3). If more than one quotation fulfills all of those requirements, the contract shall be awarded to the supplier offering the lowest price.

Sista anbudsdag
Anbudstiden utgått

(2020-10-12)

Förfarande

Direktupphandling

Publicerad

2020-09-28

Dokumenttyp

Direktupphandling

Leveransorter

Stockholms län

Diarie-/referensnummer

SU-431-0048-20