Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
AWE PLC
MOD Aldermaston
READING
RG74PR
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ11 - Berkshire
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Defence
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
HEX Project (Previously warm X-Ray)
Reference number
50000241
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 98300000 - Miscellaneous services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
HEX Project Provision of technologies for providing an intense, pulsed electron beam source.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 31712000 - Microelectronic machinery and apparatus and microsystems
- 33111000 - X-ray devices
- 33124000 - Diagnostics and radiodiagnostic devices and supplies
- 73111000 - Research laboratory services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ - South East (England)
Main site or place of performance
MOD Aldermaston
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
AWE Plc is seeking to work with a vendor or vendors for:
1. Purchase and or development of equipment and technologies to generate a high-intensity 2-3 MeV end point electron beam and x-ray generator
2. Purchase and or development of equipment and technologies to support operations and diagnose the generated electron beam
AWE seeks to purchase a high intensity, pulsed, electron-beam generator with associated diagnostics and ancillary support equipment. The key specifications are as follows:
• The Pulsed Power Machine shall provide the electrical equivalent of a 2.2 Ω Pulse Forming system charged to -5.0 MV
• The Pulsed Power Machine shall be tolerant of electrical loads from 1.5 Ω to 6.0 Ω
• The Pulsed Power Machine shall have an output pulse length of 58 ns ± 2 ns
• Pulsed Power Machine failure to fire rate shall be less than 1 in 10 shots
• Pulsed Power Machine voltage pulse repeatability at the selected operating voltage shall be ± 5%
• Pulsed Power Machine voltage prepulse shall be less than ±100 kV into an open circuit
• Pulsed Power Machine throughput shall be a minimum of 1 shot per 15 minutes into a load, based on nominally identical set-ups
• Pulsed Power Machine shall support a diode bounding mass of (current estimates anode 500 kg, cathode 20 kg)
two.2.14) Additional information
AWE Plc ("AWE") is seeking to engage with the market for the HEX (Previously Warm X-Ray) Project. This notice is for market engagement only and is not a call for competition.
You can find out more information about AWE here: https://www.awe.co.uk/
AWE - Atomic Weapons Establishment
AWE is a high performing, streamlined business delivering extraordinary products.
If you are interested in this PIN please download the Supplier Proforma from Contracts Finder OR contact CapitalSCM@awe.co.uk to request the proforma.
The submission deadline is 03/11/2023
The nature of this PIN is such that AWE intends to operate restrictions within the relevant procurement regulations in order to protect essential national security interests. If an economic operator has connections with any hostile entity or foreign states which are deemed by AWE to pose a risk to the UK's national security interests or is otherwise considered not to possess the reliability necessary to exclude risks to the security of the United Kingdom, AWE reserves its right to exclude them from this exercise.
In issuing this PIN and engaging with the market, the AWE is not committing to conduct any procurement in relation to this Programme. Equally non-participation in this Market Engagement will not be taken into account in any future procurement activities and will not preclude any organisation from submitting a tender in any future competitions.
Note: The nature of this contract is such that the award will be subject to supplier's passing AWE's security requirements as dictated by its site licenses.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
7 October 2023
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
If you wish to respond to this PIN please download the proforma from the Contracts Finder Webpage or contact CapitalSCM@awe.co.uk to request one.
The deadline for submission is 03.11.2023