GB-swindon: The design, supply, delivery, and installation of laser safety equipment necessary to create a Laser Controlled Area (LCA)

1. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has a requirement for the design, supply, delivery, and installation of safety equipment necessary to create a Laser Controlled Area (LCA) within one of the laboratory spaces used by the Nuclear Department. 2. The Nuclear Department owns a Class 4 Laser which can be used to image water flowing in an acrylic channel. The laser will be operated in the ND Irradiation Facility in a room which is shared with other scientific equipment. To allow simultaneous use of the facility, which is a requirement, a Laser Controlled Area must be established in accordance with JSP 390 – Military Laser Safety. As this system will be operated in a laboratory environment, the most relevant section is JSP 390 Volume 1 Issue 3 Section 3. 3. The expected engineered solution is described in paragraph 4 however, other solutions that satisfy the requirements will also be considered. 4. It is expected that the most cost effective way to establish the LCA is to divide the room into two areas using a laser blocking material which must comply with IEC 60825-4:2006 in the pitched roof space and a curtain, complying to the same specification, hanging below the trusses. The curtain is to be attached at each end to walls by an interlocked connection. Above the curtain, a laser blocking material must be used to fill the spaces between trusses which support the roof. A new interlock system is also required to replace the existing obsolete system. The new system should allow for a short, timed, interlock override to allow safe ingress/egress from the area while the laser is functioning (often the laser will need to run continuously for hours at a time to generate data). In addition, the new interlock should be connected to external signs which indicate the state of the laser to anyone outside the laser controlled area. Personal Protective Equipment (Eyewear) is also required for 5 people (based on the instructor plus 4 students). 5. The MoD will require a full description and “rough” drawing to be submitted at the tender stage to identify the proposed solution and safety functionality. 6. The Authority envisages a need for a brief site survey to enable potential suppliers to inspect the facility and compile accurate measurements of the installation site. This is planned to take place on 15 Feb 16 13:30. 7. The Authority has the desire for delivery and installation by the end of Mar 2016 Full details of the requirements for the Supply, Delivery and Installation of Safety Equipment for a Laser Controlled Area (LCA) will be included in the tender documents. Please note it is MOD policy to make payment via Purchase to Payment (P2P).