FM19239 Supply of Gaseous Nitrogen

To supply gaseous nitrogen to the South Teessite Company (STSC) from the BOC plant where it shall be compressed into the BOC pipeline for delivery.

The supply of gaseous nitrogen is required in order to maintain a nitrogen blanket within the coke oven gas main. Supply is required for a maximum of 2 years after which time no nitrogen will be needed as the main will be cleaned and unused.

The nitrogen is supplied by a single air separation unit (ASU) which is owned, operated and maintained by BOC. Competition is absent as the pipeline is purpose built to supply the site, and there are no other potential suppliers with such a facility. Nitrogen is needed in order to ensure that pyrophoric materials in the coke oven gas main remain safe and do not ignite.

This procurement is being awarded against the following regulations:

Regulation 32 (2)

• b)where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator for any of the following reasons:-
• ii)competition is absent for technical reasons,

and

Regulation 32 (2)

• b)where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator for any of the following reasons:-
• iii)the protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights but only, in the case of paragraphs (ii)and (iii), where no reasonable alternative or substitute exists and the