Award

Thermo 7,8 and 9 Radiometric IPM Upgrade Kits

  • SELLAFIELD LIMITED

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-039447

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04c30f

Published 6 December 2024, 2:15pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

SELLAFIELD LIMITED

HINTON HOUSE, BIRCHWOOD PARK AVENUE

WARRINGTON

WA36GR

Contact

Steven Macilwaine

Email

steven.macilwaine@sellafieldsites.com

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKD61 - Warrington

Companies House

01002607

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/sellafield-ltd

Buyer's address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/sellafield-ltd

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Other activity

Nuclear Decommissioning


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Thermo 7,8 and 9 Radiometric IPM Upgrade Kits

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 38940000 - Nuclear evaluation instruments

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

IPMs provide a key radiation defence through monitoring the workforce and keeping them free from contamination, thereby protecting the public and environment.

IPMs on the Sellafield site are becoming increasingly difficult to service and maintain due to obsolescence issues with the PC and software. A trial is near completion to upgrade Thermo IPM 7,8 and 9 with the Ludlum IPM upgrade kits. If the trial is successful, Sellafield Ltd is looking to purchase a further 100 upgrade kits to roll out across the Sellafield site on Thermo 7, 8 and 9 IPMs.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £4,500,000

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 38341600 - Radiation monitors

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKD11 - West Cumbria
Main site or place of performance

Sellafield site

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

There are approximately 150 operational IPMs across the Sellafield site serving the value streams which are currently experiencing obsolescence issues with the PC and software and as such are becoming increasingly difficult to service and maintain. The Thermo IPM 7, 8 and 9 have now been marked as obsolete by the manufacturer exasperating the above issue.

IPMs provide a key radiation defence through monitoring our workforce and keeping them free of contamination, thereby protecting the public and environment.

A trial is near completion on 6 Ludlum Systems Ltd upgrade kits for the Thermo IPMs 7, 8 and 9 and if the trial is successful, Sellafield Ltd is looking to purchase a further 100 upgrade kits to roll out across the Sellafield site on Thermo 7, 8 and 9 IPMs. As the main body of the system remains in place and the rebuild is designed to be easily installed on site with no need for specialist tools or excessive downtime of the system or area, this is the most cost effective and expedient solution, removing the need to carry out expensive remedial work which would be required to remove and replace the existing units. Additionally the spares for the upgrade kit are guaranteed for 15 years therefore addressing spares and obsolescence issues.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below

  • The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations

Explanation:

Installed Personnel Monitors ("IPMs") provide a key radiological defence through monitoring any contamination of the Sellafield Ltd workforce, protecting both the public and environment, essential for operating the Sellafield nuclear site safely.

Sellafield Ltd has almost 150 IPMs operational across the Sellafield site. One particular make of IPM are the Thermo IPMs, specifically Sellafield has the Thermo 7, 8 and 9 IPMs installed in multiple and sub change room facilities for at least 30 years. These particular IPMs are no longer supported by the original equipment manufacturer. In order to maintain operational capacity, the IPMs require either replacement or upgrading.

Currently available replacement IPMs are of a different size and specification to the currently installed IPMs. This size and specification difference has significant implications for the Sellafield site. To install such replacement IPMs would entail an entire redesign and construction of the change room facilities across the Sellafield site. As an alternative, upgrading the internals with digital electronics and software whilst retaining the original chassis of the Thermo 7,8 and 9 IPMs mitigates the disproportionate and unnecessary costs, disruption, and risk of a construction project on the Sellafield site.

It has been determined that in the current circumstances competition to supply the goods is absent for technical reasons and that, pursuant to Article 32(2)(b)(ii) of Directive 2014/24/EU and Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Sellafield Ltd has assessed the market and confirmed that Ludlum Systems upgrade kits are the only technical solution available that is compatible with the Thermo installed IPMs. These upgrade kits will significantly prolong the lifetime of the existing assets by a further 15 years hrough reducing obsolescence issues, require no consequential works as well as contribute to the site sustainability target.

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

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section five. Award of contract/concession

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

3 January 2023

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Ludlum Systems Ltd

Cowley

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKI - London
Companies House

13025528

The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £4,500,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Sellafield Ltd

Hinton House, Birchwood Park Avenue

Warrington

WA36GR

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures

High Court

Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Country

United Kingdom