Engineering Feasibility Studies

Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) is responsible for delivery of a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) and providing waste management solutions for Higher Activity Waste (HAW).As part of this mission, RWM maintains a generic Disposal System Safety Case (generic DSSC), which is based on illustrative concepts and designs adopted from a range of international programmes. Developing illustrative designs has helped to understand how HAW disposal could be carried out in different geological environments, how safety can be addressed in all phases of development, how long it might take to develop a GDF, and what a GDF is likely to cost. As the process for siting a GDF advances, RWM will need to develop site-specific conceptual designs, integrating nuclear, environmental and conventional safety, as well as requirements management, technical research and many of the other key disciplines at RWM. Development of site-specific conceptual designs is a key step in the GDF programme, and it will be important to deliver work to the required technical standard, on time and on budget in order to maintain and enhance stakeholder confidence. In preparation for this phase of the GDF programme, RWM is planning to undertake multi-disciplinary Engineering feasibility studies on aspects of the geological disposal system, to build and support our capability. This invitation to tender (ITT) is for the delivery of two such Engineering feasibility studies, relating to the following aspects of the GDF:•Accessways; the Shaft(s) or Drift(s) (an Inclined Tunnel or Ramp) that would be used to access the underground environment at the GDF, transfer waste packages underground, as well as personnel, construction materials, spoil, waste materials and provision of utilities and services.• High Heat Generating Waste (HHGW) Disposal Concept; the systems required for the handling, emplacement and backfill of HHGW, including engineered barriers, disposal vaults/tunnels, handling & emplacement systems and deployment of buffer and backfill. (HHGW is used to describe all materials for which heat needs to be considered in the design of the disposal facilities, eg High Level Waste (HLW), spent fuel.) These two studies will be separate Lots under this contract.