Research Sites Restoration Ltd (RSRL) has issued a tender for the removal of the highly activated reactor core in the SGHWR (Steam Generating Heavy Water Reactor) at its Winfrith site in Dorset.

RSRL is looking for the skills and expertise in the supply chain to carry out the detailed design and build of plant and equipment to decommission the 250t reactor core. The opportunity is estimated to be in the region of £40-60M with contract award in July 2015.

The scheme design for the decommissioning of the reactor core involves a combination of lifting reactor core tanks and jacking the reactor core from below into a shielded segmentation cell for size reduction and sentencing into ILW boxes in an ILW Export Facility

RSRL requires a suitably qualified and experienced contractor (possibly in a consortium with others) to deliver a fully functioning facility. The scope of the contract includes both detailed design of the core segmentation cell and ILW export facility; design, build and testing of full scale mock-ups and remote handing techniques; procurement of materials; the manufacture, off-site testing, building installation and inactive commissioning of the core segmentation cell and ILW export facility; and finally, where appropriate support for active commissioning, maintenance, repair, training, and general operational support and warranty.

The SGHWR was a heavy water moderated reactor. Built in the 1960s, it was operational for 23 years. In that time, it not only demonstrated the reliability of the SGHWR system, it also supported a major experimental programme, providing data, information and experience on the operation and development of water-cooled reactors. Throughout its life as an experimental reactor, the SGHWR operated as a power station. The date set for decommissioning of the Winfrith site is now 2021.

For more information and to view the official advert please refer to: http://www.ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:110100-2014:TEXT:EN:HTML&src=0

Supplier briefing event

In support of this procurement opportunity, RSRL is hosting a Supplier Briefing Event on 24th April 2014 at Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester, Dorset. The day will consist of a briefing on the scope of the opportunity and will allow for feedback and interaction amongst all tiers of the supply chain.

To register for the Supplier Briefing Event, please email sghwrddb@research-sites.com by 14th April stating name and company.