Nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological protection equipment

Tender description

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is a non departmental government body. UKAEA is involved in the design and provision of the Active Cells remote handling facility within the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden. The purpose of the facility is to process and store spent activated target station components. Work on handling processes and in-cell equipment/facilities are progressing towards the detailed design phase. For individual processes and items of equipment, options need to be identified, assessed against the requirements, and developed towards a suitable design ready for manufacture. This market enquiry relates to the Floor Valves (also called Gamma Gates or Access Ports) that are fitted in 2 places on the floor of a High Bay area to facilitate component transfer into the Active Cells facility. The exact duties and tasks for this system have not been fully defined as Active Cell operations are still being developed, however, the main functions are described below. — Cover a 2.7m diameter opening to ensure the confinement and shielding requirements of the Active Cells facility are met. — Interface with a component transfer cask. — Allow the passage of activated components from the component transfer cask into the active cells facility. The solution will require design, manufacture and installation into the Active Cells facility. This PIN has been published to enable market research to commence to asses the reaction of the market to the requirement and to review available technologies. UKAEA will conduct a dialogue with the marketplace and this may result in a call for competition based on the scope of the requirement developed through the dialogue.