Soft Market Testing Exercise (SMTE) Questionnaire for a Virtual Control Room (VCR) and PC-Based Process Simulation Software (PSS) for Chemical Engineering

The University of Southampton is establishing a new Department of Chemical Engineering which builds on the University's significant strengths in Engineering and Chemistry. One of the main aims of the department is to deliver world-class, research-led education to students, with a significant impact on a global scale and an emphasis on sustainability. As part of this new offering, there will be provision of facilities and infrastructure to provide training in Chemical Engineering. This includes a new chemical engineering laboratory, a computational and simulation suite, and a virtual control room. These are part of a £12M investment in new laboratories and facilities in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Within the scope of course design, budget and space available, two process control requirements have been identified. The University is seeking a single provider who has experience with the provision of Virtual Laboratory Software and Virtual Control Rooms in professional and educational settings to provide the following solutions: (1) PC-Based Process Simulation Software (PSS). (2) Virtual Control Room (VCR). High level requirements for both solutions are as follows: • The Virtual Control Room must allow for single or multi-user simulations of complex industrial processes that contain multiple process operations, integrating the different software packages listed as follows: Heat and mass transfer - heat exchangers (shell and tube, co-current, counter-current) / Separation systems - absorption columns, distillation columns, separation trains, adsorption columns, extraction systems / Process control - level control, temperature control, feedback control, flow control / Reaction engineering - reactor design for batch, CSTR, PFR, and catalytic reactors / Generic chemical engineering processes such as filling and emptying tanks, condensers, pumps, compressors. • Design, manufacture, delivery, installation and commissioning for both solutions must be completed by early 2021. The University does require a copy of the PC-Based Process Simulation Software (PSS) must be available for use by the department on a single laptop, PC to enable demonstration of basic systems to prospective students at University Open Days in February 2021. • A list of pre installation requirements to enable installation and commissioning. • A comprehensive Training package that must include training materials and enable University of Southampton Staff to train users of both solutions. • A minimum 1year warranty and options for warranty extension. • Support and Maintenance options. • Availability of spare parts to ensure future proofing for the next five years. • Compatibility with Microsoft Windows 10 operating system plus 1.

Additional information: The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool (In-Tend: https://intendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton) to manage this soft market testing exercise and to communicate with participating organisations.

All documentation in relation to this tender can be downloaded from InTend.

Participating organisations are advised that there will be no hard copy documents issued to organisations and all communications with the University including the submission of Soft market testing questionnaires will be conducted via In-Tend.

Regular monitoring of In-Tend is the responsibility of the participating organisation.

If you are not already registered as a supplier with the University of Southampton, you will need to register in In-Tend in order to access the soft market testing documentation.

Once you have logged in: click on 'Tenders'; locate the relevant project; and click 'View details'. Once you are in the project screen, you will be able to register your company against the project and access all documentation by clicking 'Express interest'.

Further instructions for the submission of soft market testing questionnaires are below.

To submit your return, please follow the instructions below: 1. Log In 2. Click 'Tenders' 3. Locate the relevant project 4. View Details 5. Click on the tab relating to the relevant project stage (e.g. 'Soft Market Testing') 6. Click on the 'Attach documents' button and upload your return. 7. Check ALL your response documents are uploaded and displayed in the "My tender return" panel. The system will only permit your organisation to make one return. 8. Click the red "Submit return" button. Please note that, to preserve the integrity of the soft market testing exercise, all queries must made be via the correspondence function within In-Tend.

The deadline for the return of completed Soft market testing questionnaires is 24th November 2020 (12.00 noon).

Please Note:

This early engagement notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-procurement market engagement and does not constitute any commitment to undertake any procurement in the future.

Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to the soft market testing exercise and a response to this notice does not guarantee any invitation to participate in this exercise or any future procurement.

This notice does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, supplies or works mentioned in this notice and the University will not accept any proposals offered in response to this notice.

The University of Southampton is not liable for any costs, fees, or expenses incurred by any party in replying to this early engagement notice and/or providing a soft market testing exercise response.