Nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological protection equipment

Tender description

Casks and Associated Handling Devices. The European Spallation Source is a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) committed to the goal of building and operating the world leading facility for research using neutrons. Once constructed in Lund, Sweden, it will provide new opportunities for researchers in a broad range of scientific areas including life sciences, energy, environmental technology, cultural heritage and fundamental physics. It will be an accelerator-based facility producing neutrons for a large array of advanced instruments. Construction started in July 2014, aiming at the source producing first neutrons around 2020. The UK is a partner in construction of the ESS alongside 15 other European countries, and has committed significant funding for construction. STFC is managing the UK contribution to ESS, which includes in-kind contributions to construction of the facility. The Casks and Associated Handling Device Systems is one such contribution under consideration to be delivered by RACE — a department of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. The casks have the main function of safe and robust maintenance of the monolith components, in terms of hoisting from the monolith, safe storage in the high bay, transport in the high bay and also to introduce radiated components and systems from the high bay area into the Active Cells Facility. The systems will also be used to introduce new components into the monolith as part of the monolith installation and maintenance procedures. The scope of supply includes shielding casks/hoods/covers for monolith shielding blocks, transport casks for highly radioactive components from the monolith, floor valves for safe handling as well as complementary shielding (to minimize exposure to workers), support structures for handling and shielded adaptor plates associated with transportation and lifting/hoisting interfaces. Also included in the delivery are systems and structures to decontaminate the casks after use as well as lifting beams to enable the lifting of the casks themselves via the high-bay crane. This market enquiry relates to the manufacturing of the shielding casks. RACE is seeking suppliers with experience of design and manufacture such components to advise on suitable manufacturing processes and associated costs and lead times. To download the market enquiry pack please follow the link below: http://www.ccfe.ac.uk/TenderDocs.aspx?DocName=Cask.zip