R&D robotised laser and hybrid welding of steel constructions

This prior information notice concerns signing a contract with Prodtex Industri AS. The delivery concerns the steel deck of a vehicle bridge, Elverhøy bridge in Sunndal kommune [Sunndal Municipality]. The work is part of the R&D work to develop an automated production process for construction of steel bridges based on laser and laser hybrid welding.

Prodtex Industri AS will produces steel decks for bridges for vehicles, Elverhøy bridge in Sunndal Municipality.

This R&D work will be a further development of the work done by Prodtex in connection with Ya bridge. It is technologically demanding to develop automated construction methods based on state-of-the-art welding methods, and there is a need for further technological development in order to achieve a level of maturity that provides the best product flow. Increased technological maturity through this project (steel box for Elverhøy bridge) will make it easier for other actors than Prodtex to use the production method, and contribute to reducing costs and environmental footprint.

Bridges for vehicles and heavy traffic set stricter requirements concerning the welded structure, in particular concerning fatigue, and that there is a need for more knowledge about the fatigue properties. In connection with the project Ya bridge project, fatigue tests of smaller samples are carried out for initial mapping of the properties of the welds. The aim of this is to be able to recommend a detail category according to Eurokode. In this project (Elverhøy), we want to test the fatigue properties of large bridge sections, in order to also be able to develop better knowledge about how the built-in stress affects the lifetime of the welded bridge structure. Therefore we need access to a steel bridge for vehicles in order to further develop methodology and competence for robotised laser and laser hybrid welding of steel structures.

The contracting authority has determined that the procurement is covered by PPR § 2-5.

The contracting authority considers the procurement is subject to PPR § 2-5 Exceptions for contracts for research and development services.

The first paragraph states that the regulation does not apply to ‘contracts for research and development services’. The purpose of the current case is research. An objective understanding of ‘contracts for research and development services’ indicates therefore that our case falls under this exception. The main purpose of the contract is not the purchase of steel decks.

The question then becomes whether the exception provision is nevertheless not applicable under the second paragraph of the provision. The second paragraph of the provision gives guidance on an assessment of whether the research and development part constitutes a main element, i.e. that a contract to produce steel decks for a bridge as a general service, with a minor element of development, can in principle not be considered to have a main element of research and development.

In the current case it is necessary for the research project to have access to an adequate steel structure. This project can offer this, and consequently serve as a collaborating partner for the research and development project.

The benefit of the research will not only be to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration as the recipient, but will be part of the research data for SINTEF, NTNU and other partners in SFI Physmet. This indicates that the second paragraph, letter a) is not applicable since the benefit (research) does not accrue to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration as the contracting authority, but to the named research institutions. This thus allows for exception to the regulation. The experience report from the work with steel decks for Elverhøy bridge will also be made publically available through publication on the Norwegian Public Roads Administration’s website.

In this instance, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration pays for the steel deck, but the research part etc. is not covered ‘completely’ by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. Consequently, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration does not pay ‘completely’ for the service, or the research, which means that the second paragraph letter b) applicable in our case, and thus allows for exception from the regulation.

Furthermore, the actual production of the steel deck for Elverhøy bridge is research work, where central research elements are development of fully automated construction methods, development of methodology for ongoing (online) quality control, and development of knowledge about the fatigue properties of laser-hybrid welded steel sandwich decks. The main component of the contract with Prodtex is therefore considered to be research and development.

R&D contract - Robotised laser and laser hybrid welding of steel structures