Skip to main content

MOD release radiation detection contract

Written by Contract Watch on .

The Authority has a requirement to provide a replacement for its gamma radiation monitoring capability, fitted in the Manoeuvring Room on board its nuclear powered submarines, plus 10 years support and maintenance. A gamma radiation detection capability and incorporated alarm is required that will be capable of the detection and display of the levels of gamma radiation present in room, from a fixed position. The equipment will also incorporate multiple preset, and adjustable, audible and visual alarms. The requirement is for 20 units. The equipment is used to aid operator knowledge regarding habitability of the manoeuvring room during a reactor incident and to give confidence in the integrity of shielding during normal operation. The in-service support solution shall be for an initial 10 year contract with options for a further 5 years support. The Authority invites expressions of interest from industry for the supply and support of a Gamma Alarm that will meet the capability. Interested parties will be provided with a detailed Statement of Technical Requirements once Expressions of Interest have been received. Suppliers wishing to bid for the supply of this equipment will be asked to provide sample/prototype equipment, at no cost to the crown, for testing against MoD requirements as part of the ITT process. It is anticipated that the technology for this capability is readily available but the packaging of the final solution may require development. Bidders will be expected to detail development costs and timescales as part of the ITT.

Estimated value excluding VAT: 300 000 GBP

Detection, Equipment, Chemical, Protection, Biological, Nuclear, Radiation, Radiological, Contract

Read more …MOD release radiation detection contract

Emergent BioSolutions to Acquire Healthcare Protective Products Division of Bracco Diagnostics Inc.

Written by Emergent BioSolutions, Inc. on .

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. announced that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire the Healthcare Protective Products Division (HPPD) of Bracco Diagnostics Inc.

Chemical, Protection, Defense, Decontamination, Warfare

Read more …Emergent BioSolutions to Acquire Healthcare Protective Products Division of Bracco Diagnostics Inc.

UN's Carla Del Ponte massively undermines investigation with 'Syrian rebels used Sarin' claim

Written by S Johnson on .

Just a quick note for now - Carla Del Ponte, part of one of many investigations in to Syria, and not as was claimed by some press the head of the CW investigation (who is in fact Ake Sellstrom - an extremely competent investigator, who would not have made such a ridiculous statement), has made the headlines with her claims that Syrian Rebels have used Sarin gas and there is no evidence of state use.

The UN appears equally surprised and issued a terse statement:

\"Geneva, 6 May 2013 -- The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic wishes to clarify that it has not reached conclusive findings as to the use of chemical weapons in Syria by any parties to the conflict. As a result, the Commission is not in a position to further comment on the allegations at this time.

The Chair of the Commission of Inquiry, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, reminds all parties to the conflict that the use of chemical weapons is prohibited in all circumstances under customary international humanitarian law.\"

Del Ponte was basing her view off apparent reports from investigations and interviews in neighbouring countries. The sum total of her evidence? Some witness statements. Well that's nice and reliable.

Really not what we need at the moment, and frankly calls her position in to serious question. If her judgement is so out of kilter on what will be a key aspect of Syrian investigations she should be replaced with someone less prone to making unsubstantiated claims that have huge repercussions and potential for causing international interventions.

Chemical, Weapons

Read more …UN's Carla Del Ponte massively undermines investigation with 'Syrian rebels used Sarin' claim

CBR Mass Casualty/Patient Decontamination RFI

Written by S Johnson on .

The U.S. Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity (USAMSSA), in conjunction with the Joint Requirements Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (JRO-CBRND), is seeking information on products, technologies, and approaches that support the mass casualty/patient decontamination of individuals who have been injured or are experiencing symptoms, from exposure to traditional chemical warfare agents, biological warfare agents, non-traditional agents, toxic industrial materials and radiological particles.

Although the focus is on products and/or technologies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 (as listed by the Chemical Biological Defense Program (CBDP) Technology Transition Handbook; 20 July 2005), we will consider technologies at lower TRLs if appropriate.

Specific information requested on each of the products or technologies includes:

Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Test Data to include efficacy, ability to contain agent contamination, and permeability resistivity)

Material Compatibility to include decontamination solutions including but not limited to caustic 1 to 18%, HTH, and bleach

Detector Compatibility (i.e., are there any known interferences with monitoring technologies?)

Equipment, Chemical, Detector, Military, Army, Biological, Nuclear, Radiological, Contract, Defense, Decontamination, Warfare

Read more …CBR Mass Casualty/Patient Decontamination RFI

US Next Generation Chemical Detector program gathers speed

Written by S Johnson on .

Despite the effects of budget cuts in the US they still press on at the forefront of CBRN research and procurement with the evolution of a request for proposals and draft specifications for their Next Generation Chemical Detector (NGCD) program. Planned for release in 3rd quarter 2013 it plans to award contracts to multiple vendors for system prototypes.

Although this phase if for technology development it will see procurement in 2016 for what will be one of the largest CBRN contracts, certainly for chemical detection, in the world.

The question other countries must ask is if they don't bring forward their own activities will they end up only having the option of variants of US research as their own procurement options?

Further details here

Detection, Chemical, Detector, Contract

Read more …US Next Generation Chemical Detector program gathers speed

The psychology of the fake explosive detection racket

Written by S Johnson on .

Following on from Jim McCormick's prosecution this week in the UK questions still remain unanswered. They start with how is could take so many years before such an obvious fake was caught. More bruising though is the way in which agencies that should have known better behaved including:

Support from the British Military at export shows, helping convince people of its bona fides

The lack of action till years after the US had already closed the door on such scams

The limited ban of export, once the BBC exposed the scam, to prohibiting exports to Iraq and Afghanistan. Not only making no sense but actually suggesting a liability to the UK government by knowing the system was not safe (hence the ban) but not bothering to extend it to all exports.

The trialling of the system by the Royal Engineers at their search school

The inclusion of the system at a Nato Counter IED workshop

What on earth happened to the monitoring of the Iraqi Police by coalition forces?

All of these organisations can, and should have known better and unfortunately while it may not have been their intention, through omission of effort or thought they lent credence to a system that has undermined the security of many of the hardest struck countries around the world.

It certainly means that they and others need to take a fresh approach to activities in future and at the very least exercise a cursory examination of products they endorse, support or exhibit.

Security, Military

Read more …The psychology of the fake explosive detection racket

Our Current Partners