This 1500L fermenter is required for research projects in the new Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL) facility. It is a critical part of scaling up industrial processes from the laboratory to industry. IBRL has fermenters up to 300L, but requires capacity through 1500L to successfully scale to industrial sizes. We have contracted research projects in our 300L fementer and require the larger size (1500L) to continue this work.

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for performing sponsored research and other sponsored activities under grants and contracts funded by the sponsor or by sources other than State appropriations. (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b)(8)) This purchase is exempt under (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b)(9)).