Doing business with CERN

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CERN is the world’s largest centre for research in particle physics, hosting several interlinked

accelerators that supply many kinds of particles to many different experiments. Our flagship

accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider, is installed in a tunnel that measures 27 kilometres in

circumference, located 100 metres below ground. Covering some 500,000 square metres

on either side of the border between Switzerland and France, our site is vast and complex.

Around 10,000 physicists and engineers from around the world come to CERN to study

the building blocks of matter and the forces that hold them together.

Science facilities of

unique scale

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The Large Hadron Collider and its surrounding facilities require a constant stream of supplies

and services. These include civil engineering work and the systems and equipment needed to

build and operate the particle accelerators and detectors: power distribution, superconducting

magnets, cryogenics, ultra-high vacuum, electronics, mechanical engineering, radiofrequency

equipment, and more. We also require computing infrastructure to support the data analysis

associated with our experiments. In addition, our site incorporates offices and service facilities,

such as libraries, conference rooms, cafeterias, hostels, stores and other infrastructures –

all of which require constant maintenance. We need to collaborate with many kinds of

businesses in order to pursue our goals.

From basic science to

business opportunities

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The privilege of being part of scientific discoveries and technological advancements is shared

with all our Member States, and with the many businesses that work with us. Industry helps

keep our research facilities running, supplying us with everything from simple day-to-day items

to highly technical components. Interest is encouraged from any firms that can provide evidence

of good performance and ethical business practices, whether they be major companies or small

businesses. With our wide range of activities and variety and volume of purchases, there is

a very good chance your products or expertise could be useful to our work here.

A broad range of activity means

opportunities for all kinds of businesses

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Our Member States make CERN’s scientific endeavours possible. In return for their investment,

CERN’s constant objective is to achieve a balanced industrial return by being open for business

with firms in all the Member States. With more than 60 years of experience of doing business

in this way, CERN has developed its own procurement procedures, which comply with the

principles of transparency and impartiality. Contracts and orders are awarded to the firms whose

bids meet our technical, financial and delivery requirements at the lowest possible overall price

or, in the case of services and some supplies, on the basis of the best value for money.

Procurement processes designed to

attract business from all Member States

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The first step in the process is to visit our website: cern.ch/procurement

There, you will find regular updates regarding upcoming requirements. You will also find details

of our procurement policy, contact people at CERN and in your country, information on how

to register on our supplier database and details on a range of other topics. Even if we do not

currently require the type of products or services that your firm provides, that may change

in the future. We therefore encourage you to keep revisiting our website.

Learn more about

how to express your interest

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We look forward to doingbusiness with youcern.ch/procurement

Member States

• Austria • Belgium • Bulgaria • The Czech Republic • Denmark • Finland • France

• Germany • Greece • Hungary • Italy • The Netherlands • Norway • Poland • Portugal

• Romania* • The Slovak Republic • Spain • Sweden • Switzerland • The United Kingdom

* candidate for accession

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building work, road works, pipes, heating and

air conditioning equipment, hoisting gear,

pumps, cooling plants, fire fighting equipment,

fireproofing materials, switch gear, switchboards,

power transformers, power cables, conductors,

cables, power supplies and converters, magnets,

measuring instruments, motors, electrical

engineering components, electronic components

and measuring instruments, circuit boards,

electronics, fans, heat exchangers, power

supplies, transformers, computers, storage

systems, data processing peripherals, software,

consumables, hardware, fibre-optics, transmission

equipment, raw materials, machine tools,< >

workshop equipment, precision machining

work, specialised manufacturing techniques,

vacuum pumps, refrigeration equipment, gas

handling equipment, storage and transport of

cryogens, tanks, vacuum and low temperature

materials, components and technology, special

detector components, wires, calorimeter

elements, scintillators, optical and X-ray

equipment, photographic equipment, gases,

chemicals, tooling, furniture, stationery, infirmary

supplies, clothing, restaurant supplies,

publications, books, databases, transport-

related supplies, radio-protection equipment,

industrial support on site, consulting services< >

c e r n . c h / p ro c u re m e n t

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