Tender

(NU/1820) Decommissioning of the Gammacell 1000 Elite and Disposal of Sealed Sources

  • Newcastle University

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-032149

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-038406

Published 14 November 2022, 10:57am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Newcastle University

Newcastle University, Procurement Services, Kingsgate

Newcastle

NE1 7RU

Contact

Dr Emma Barksby

Email

emma.barksby@ncl.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 1912086298

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKC22 - Tyneside

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.ncl.ac.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.ncl.ac.uk

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://procontract.due-north.com/

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://procontract.due-north.com/

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

(NU/1820) Decommissioning of the Gammacell 1000 Elite and Disposal of Sealed Sources

Reference number

DN641959

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 90520000 - Radioactive-, toxic-, medical- and hazardous waste services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The University seeks a contractor to decommission the irradiator described in Section 2.2 of the ITT, the disposal or recycling of the associated HASS of Cs-137 described in Section 2.3.2 of the ITT, and the disposal or recycling of other sealed sources described in Section 2.3.3. In this respect, the University expects the contractor to remove of the irradiator and the HASS from the University site and take full ownership and responsibility of the HASS thereafter. Similarly, the contractor is expected to remove and take full ownership and responsibility of all sealed sources listed in Appendix 1.

The University has a gamma irradiator that was procured in 1994 for various applications in the field of biological sciences. With the advent of x-ray irradiators becoming more effective and flexible, they are now more popular and affordable alternatives than gamma irradiators. Indeed, coupled with inherently lower radiation risks and better safety profiles, several governments around the world, including the UK, have been encouraging the replacement of gamma irradiators with x-ray irradiators.

The model of the gamma irradiator is Gammacell 1000 Elite, identified by the serial number 259, and was manufactured by Nordion International Inc. The irradiator was procured by the University in February 1994, and a copy of the Certificate of Measurement is available if required. The irradiator comprises a fire-resistant plastic cabinet surrounding a steel frame, on which a stator and rotor sit. The dimensions of the irradiator are 84 cm wide by 81 cm deep and 160 cm high. It is anticipated that the whole irradiator unit weighs over 1100 kg.

The stator contains the radiation source, and the rotor contains the sample chamber. From the control panel, a direct current can be applied to the rotor to rotate the sample chamber into the radiation field in the stator for a prescribed time and return to the “load/unload” position. Access to the sample chamber is gained by opening a door in the cabinet. However, an interlock system prevents operation of the unit when the door is open. A battery backup has been added, which in the event of power lost will return the rotor to the “load/unload” position.

Both the rotor and stator are made from lead alloy encased in steel jackets, which also act as the radiation shields. Measured external radiation dose rates in the operating condition showed no greater than 10 µSv/h at 10 cm from the accessible surfaces of the unit. Dose rate measurements are carried out every 6 months.

The irradiator is located within the University’s Medical School in a secure ground floor room. The full address can be provided to the contractor. The entirety of the irradiator, including the electrical component of the rotor and stator, as well as the HASS, is to be considered in this tender for decommissioning.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 90521000 - Radioactive waste treatment services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKC22 - Tyneside

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This contract is for the decommissioning of a Gammacell 1000 Elite and disposal of sealed sources. The model of the gamma irradiator is Gammacell 1000 Elite, identified by the serial number 259, and was manufactured by Nordion International Inc. The irradiator was procured by the University in February 1994, and a copy of the Certificate of Measurement is available if required. The irradiator comprises a fire-resistant plastic cabinet surrounding a steel frame, on which a stator and rotor sit. The dimensions of the irradiator are 84 cm wide by 81 cm deep and 160 cm high. It is anticipated that the whole irradiator unit weighs over 1100 kg.

The stator contains the radiation source, and the rotor contains the sample chamber. From the control panel, a direct current can be applied to the rotor to rotate the sample chamber into the radiation field in the stator for a prescribed time and return to the “load/unload” position. Access to the sample chamber is gained by opening a door in the cabinet. However, an interlock system prevents operation of the unit when the door is open. A battery backup has been added, which in the event of power lost will return the rotor to the “load/unload” position.

Both the rotor and stator are made from lead alloy encased in steel jackets, which also act as the radiation shields. Measured external radiation dose rates in the operating condition showed no greater than 10 µSv/h at 10 cm from the accessible surfaces of the unit. Dose rate measurements are carried out every 6 months.

The irradiator is located within the University’s Medical School in a secure ground floor room. The full address can be provided to the contractor. The entirety of the irradiator, including the electrical component of the rotor and stator, as well as the HASS, is to be considered in this tender for decommissioning.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £200,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

6

This contract is subject to renewal

No

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Open procedure

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

15 December 2022

Local time

12:00pm

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

15 December 2022

Local time

2:00pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Newcastle University

Newcastle upon Tyne

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.ncl.ac.uk

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

Newcastle University will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to seek further debriefing before the contract is entered into. Applicants have 2 working days from notification of the award decision to request additional debriefing and 4 / 4 that information has to be provided a minimum of 3 working days before expiry of the standstill period. Such additional information should be requested from the address referred to in part 1.1 above. If an appeal regarding the award of a contract has not been successfully resolved, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Any such action must be brought promptly. Where a contract has not been entered into the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the Court may only award damages.