ID 6612871 - DAERA - AFBI - Comprehensive Radiological Monitoring Survey for Radionuclide Decommissioning Project

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) (Buyer) have a requirement for the provision of a Comprehensive Radiological Monitoring Survey and Report (Contract). AFBI is a leading provider of scientific research and services to government, nongovernmental organisations and commercial organisations. AFBI is sponsored by its key stakeholder, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). AFBI has historically provided the radiological monitoring and emergency response service for DAERA, but DAERA has confirmed that they will no longer require this capability from AFBI. DAERA have also determined that much of the equipment used by AFBI for this service has reached end of life and would cost significant sums to replace. Therefore, the decommissioning of AFBI’s defunct facilities is now required. AFBI wish to commence the decommissioning of these facilities in a prompt and controlled manner, ensuring that any radiological contamination is appropriately identified, assessed and managed.

To address this, AFBI will engage external Suppliers to undertake a planned three-stage decommissioning process of the defunct facilities. This procurement competition is for stage 2 - 'Monitoring', which requires the carrying out of a Comprehensive Radiological Monitoring Survey (both direct and indirect when required) of the facilities, and provision of a detailed Survey Report of the survey’s findings, including;

• the identification of any areas with above background levels, or clearance levels of contamination
• a set of recommendation pathways for decontamination and/or disposal in relation to the findings.
• Delivery of a presentation of their report and findings to AFBI following the Monitoring exercise.

As outlined in this Instructions to Tenderers document, a Supplier for the completion of Stage 2 will be identified by the Competitive Flexible Procedure. This will include an initial Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) and Conditions of Participation (COP) Stage which will be used to identify a shortlist of experienced and qualified Suppliers, who will then be invited to participate in a following Tender Stage. Further detail on this Stage 2 procurement is available in ID 6612871 - Draft Specification - PSQ Stage.

This procurement is for the award of a public contract through a competitive flexible procedure in accordance with section 20(1) and (2)(b) of the PA 2023.