Environmental monitoring other than for construction

Tender description

The contractor will be required to carry out laboratory based radiochemical and chemical analyses of effluent samples from designated sites and to provide associated services. There will also be a requirement to witness the taking of some samples at the nuclear licensed sites. The contractor will be required to provide analytical results to the Environment Agency in the form of quarterly reports. Lot 1 — Monitoring of the Environment: As part of its arrangements under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 (EPR 2016) the Environment Agency carries out a programme of independent monitoring of radioactivity in the environment, where the radioactivity could lead to exposure to the public from non-food pathways such as occupation of beaches, river banks or other areas. The programme consists of a fieldwork element: surveys from specified locations near nuclear sites and other industrial premises in England and Wales and an analytical element: analysing radionuclide concentrations in the samples taken. The results from the programme, which are summarised in the joint UK regulators annual report series ‘Radioactivity in Food and the Environment’, provide checks on the state of the environment and support regulation of the nuclear industry. As well as undertaking routine monitoring, sampling and analyses of environmental samples each calendar quarter, the Contractor will (or may) be required to provide additional services. These may include, reporting on significant findings, providing technical advice to the Environment Agency on matters related to environmental monitoring and analysis, providing non-routine sampling, monitoring or analysis capability in the event of an emergency or unforeseen event, and hold data in accordance with the requirements set down in the Data Protection Act. Monitoring of Effluent Samples As part of its arrangements under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 (EPR 2016), the Environment Agency carries out a programme of independent radiochemical analyses of liquid and gaseous effluents discharged from designated sites (mainly nuclear licensed sites)in England and Wales. The results from the programme provide checks on site operators discharge returns and insights in to their quality assurance procedures and analytical techniques. Most samples are collected by the site operators and transported at their expense to the contracted laboratory. However, the contractor will be required to perform additional services to ensure the sampling at the sites is carried out appropriately. Currently this is undertaken by the Contractor witnessing the taking of designated samples and checking site operators sampling arrangements. As well as undertaking routine witnessing, sample receipt and analysis of effluent samples each calendar quarter, the Contractor will be required to provide additional services. These will include, comparing results to sibling results provided by nuclear licensed sites, (significant discrepancies to be investigated with site analysts as directed by the environment agency, may include conducting inter-comparison exercises), and providing technical advice to the Environment Agency on matters related to effluent monitoring and analysis.