Request for Information (RFI) - Replacement Radioactive Sources

The UKHSA Instrument Testing Service (ITS) carries out regulatory examination, testing, and calibration on a variety of ionising radiation monitoring instruments under commercial contract to the instrument owners and manufacturers. Routine tests are carried out in accordance with the SRP/NPL Measurement Good Practice Guide No 14 (The examination, testing, and calibration or portable radiation protection instruments). Type-Tests and instrument development projects are also carried out. One category of instrument regularly tested is a "radiation contamination monitor", for which a range of calibrated (traceable to national standards) alpha and beta radioactive contamination sources are required. In addition, "radiation dose-rate monitors" are also tested using a range of calibrated dose-rate sources including Am-241, Cs-137, and Co-60.

The large-area planar (active area of typically 100 mm x 150mm, or 100mm x 100m) radioactive contamination sources are intended for the calibration and testing of survey probes used for area and personnel monitoring. The planchet (active area of typically 16mm diameter) radioactive sources are intended for the calibration of sample drawer counters, and for performing uniformity measurements on radiation survey probes.

These reference radioactive sources are used daily and are fundamental and integral to the ITS, which currently operates from two UK sites; based in Oxfordshire and Leeds. The existing reference sources at both sites have exceeded their recommended working lives and have been significantly reduced in radioactive intensity due to natural radioactive decay. These reference sources all now need to be replaced at both sites to restore and retain operational efficiency and to maintain full traceability to national standards.

The purpose of this RFI is to improve the Authority's understanding of the marketplace and its options for sourcing for a potential future requirement.

The issuance of this RFI does not constitute a sourcing exercise nor will the Authority pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a response to this RFI.

Should you wish to respond to this Request for Information, please complete the response questionnaire which is found at the following link: https://atamis-1928.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_ContractPage?SearchType=Projects&uid=a078d000004zRmNAAU&searchStr=&sortStr=Recently+Published&page=1&filters=&County=