UK SBS PR16164 Cargo Sledges

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CLOSING TIME FOR BIDS IS 04/08/2016 14:00 HOURS. DO NOT APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE BUYER. To express your interest in this opportunity email ExpressionOfInterest@crowncommercial.gov.uk. To register on our e-sourcing portal click on https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk and follow the link "Register for CCS eSourcing" British Antarctic Survey has a requirement for a number of heavy duty cargo sledges to supports its operations in the Antarctic, in particular to be utilised in the pending move of its Halley VI Research Station. Halley VI Research Station is a £50m state of the art facility operated by the British Antarctic Survey on behalf of the National Environment Research Council. It is located on the edge of the British Antarctic Territory on the Brunt Ice Shelf and conducts word-leading research on issues of global importance. Due to recent movement of the ice shelf it has become apparent that it is now necessary to move Halley VI station, as a crack has appeared in the ice; the tip of the crack is approximately five kilometres from the station and lies between the station and the mainland. Halley VI was specifically designed to be relocatable in order to cope with the vagaries of the weather and climatic conditions, which include extreme temperature, wind, prolonged darkness and snow accumulation. To move the station work must be conducted simultaneously in two locations. The current site (dismantling) and the new position (building the associated infrastructure). The operation is complex, highly specialised and extremely challenging, often pushing people, equipment and processes to the limit. The work will involve approximately 100 people on site and a large support team in the UK. This planning work has already commenced and will take three years in total. A key piece of equipment required to support the move both safely and effectively is an Antarctic cargo sledge. It is anticipated that 3-4 newly acquired cargo sledges will initially be deployed for this. Due to the complexity of operations and the environmental challenges the sledges are required to highly reliable and safe to operate in Antarctic conditions, hence should be designed for extreme cold weather and manufactured to a very high standard.