20/02533 - Award of contract - expansion of the existing central operational and control system at the Institute of Marine Research's research station in Matre.

The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research has signed a contract with Normatic AS for the expansion of the existing central operational and control system at Matre Research Station. 

Matre

A central operational and control system with specially adapted functions to operate physical conditions for fish in fish research has been established at the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research’s Matre Research Station. The central operational and control system consists of a hatchery and 7 research departments where only two departments are currently fully automated. The hatchery consists of hatching channels that are supplied with water from three mixers. The seven research departments each consist of 16 fish tanks, divided into four groups, with four tanks in each group. Six different water qualities are supplied to each group, together in a mixer where the water is mixed to the required temperature and salinity. In the automated departments, this mixing takes places with the help of automated control valves, controlled by specially designed software adapted to the researcher’s need to adjust the water qualities for the relevant research. This contract is for the automation of 20 mixers with an option for a further 4 mixers.

Option for an expansion with an upgrade of additional 4 mixers.

The contracting authority believes that Normatic AS is the only supplier that can provide the services due to 'technical reasons', cf. section 13-4 letter b no. 2. The automation must have the same functionality as the existing mixers that are connected to the central operational and control system. The research station has continuous ongoing research, where each individual tank requires individually adapted variants of water quality and other physical conditions. Long-term research takes place and starts at different times. Therefore, it is essential that the expansion of the central operational and control system is implemented parallel to the ongoing research. With the expansion of the central operation and control system, established special functions in the PLC system must be continued and integrated in the operator interface for uniform operation in the existing central operational and control system. Based on Normatic AS’ existing knowledge of the existing central operational and control system, and the need for stable conditions during ongoing research, the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research considers Normatic AS to be the only supplier who can implement the full automation of an additional department in the existing central operational and control system at the station.