Independent Monitoring of Radioactivity in the Environment and Radiochemical Analysis of Sources of Drinking Water

Tender description

The Environment Agency is looking to issue a tender for a contract to cover two of its independent radiological monitoring programmes: <br/>• Independent monitoring of radioactivity in the environment<br/>• Chemical and radiochemical analysis of sources of drinking water<br/>These programmes are being integrated to allow for more sustainable and efficient sample collection. <br/>The programme of independent monitoring of radioactivity in the environment, looks at where radioactivity could lead to exposure to the public from non-food pathways such as the occupation of beaches, river banks or other areas. The programme mainly consists of sampling, dose rates measurements and laboratory analysis of radionuclide concentrations on samples taken from specified locations near nuclear sites in England and Wales.<br/>The programme for chemical and radiochemical analysis of sources of drinking water provides an understanding of background radioactivity levels and enables the Environment Agency to provide information to Water Companies on the activity concentrations of radionuclides in raw water sources and provides supplementary data to the Environment Agency on the exposure of the public to radiation. The programme mainly consists of the contractor taking raw water samples from Water Company premises/assets (in England and Wales), thus requires liaison with Water Companies, and undertaking laboratory based chemical and radiochemical analyses of the water samples. Lot 1: The Environment Agency is looking to issue a tender for a contract to cover two of its independent radiological monitoring programmes: <br/>• Independent monitoring of radioactivity in the environment<br/>• Chemical and radiochemical analysis of sources of drinking water<br/>These programmes are being integrated to allow for more sustainable and efficient sample collection. <br/>For both of these programmes we will require sampling to be undertaken by contractor staff at specified locations, throughout England and Wales, on a frequency ranging from quarterly to annually depending on the location. For the sources of drinking water programme, the samples are all taken quarterly, and will come from Water Company premises and so good relations and efficient liaison will need to be maintained. Samples are to be handled and transported appropriately to the contractor’s analytical laboratory.<br/>For the environmental monitoring programme we also require in-situ monitoring of gamma dose rates and a small number of beta dose rates (including fishing nets) on a quarterly basis.<br/>The samples are to be analysed for a range of radionuclides, again these are specified depending on sample type and location and are predominantly those associated with nuclear power generation and fuel manufacture and reprocessing. A few stable chemical analyses are also required on the sources of drinking water samples. All analytical results are to be reported to the Environment Agency in the form of quarterly reports. Electronic reporting systems are used.<br/>The Supplier may also be called up on to provide general advice and support to the Environment Agency on environmental monitoring, sampling and radiochemical analysis. Also, in order to maximise the effectiveness and resource available for a response to a nuclear incident, the Environment Agency would call on the supplier to be available to carry out emergency sampling, monitoring and analysis.