The U.K. Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has opened bidding for £3 million ($3.7 million) in development contracts for decommissioning work at Sellafield’s Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (Thorp) and Magnox Reprocessing plant.
The NDA on Monday requested applications by April 26 for projects that will focus on the development of robots and remotely operated equipment. The purpose of the work is to reduce risks to workers, shorten project timelines, reduce costs, and develop waste cleanup approaches.
Both facilities are slated for cleanup under the Sellafield decommissioning project, a 100-year, 55-building effort that has an overall cost estimate of £70 billion. Thorp is a reprocessing facility for U.K. and international spent oxide fuel, while Magnox reprocesses spent nuclear fuel from Magnox nuclear power stations across the U.K.
The NDA has scheduled a Feb. 14 briefing in London, which will be webcast. The NDA has outlined the initial bidding process through March 9 here.
“We are particularly interested in robotics, other autonomous systems, sensors and detectors, imaging and virtual reality,” NDA technical innovation manager Chris Hope said in a statement. “These will ensure a safer environment for the workforce and support planning.”
Companies will compete for the work in stages, with NDA offering initial funding to develop a business plan and demonstrations in a nonradioactive environment. Successful demonstration opens the possibility for deployment and demonstration of technologies at a radioactive facility at Sellafield. The first brokering is scheduled for Feb. 28.
