CEFAS25-115 ITT for liquid scintillation counter for Cefas laboratory

The Radioanalytical team at Cefas Lowestoft has a requirement to replace some existing end-of-life equipment with a more efficient and reliable model. The Liquid Scintillation counter will be required to have an exceptionally low background count rate to enable necessary improvements to our already low Limits of Detection to support a range of programmes, including Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE), and to help Cefas develop systems approaches and tackle complex environmental challenges.

3. Scope of Requirements

The Supplier will provide an ultra-Low level Liquid Scintillation counter as follows:

3.1. with substantial passive shielding in addition to active methods of background count reduction (integral guard counter, electronic BGD reduction systems etc)

3.2. provide the lowest achievable background count rates for both alpha and beta determinations

3.3. be capable of alpha/beta discrimination and simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple radionuclides/ROI’s (e.g. Plutonium alphas and Pu-241 beta emissions) at low environmental levels as well as the typical H-3, C-14, U-234/238, Ra-226, Rn-222, Y-90, Sr-89 etc

3.4. be capable of detecting beta’s up to 2MeV and alpha’s up to 10MeV

3.5. have beta efficiencies of at least 35% for samples with significant quench although much higher efficiencies would be anticipated for unquenched samples

3.6. have alpha efficiencies of at least 95% and Cerenkov efficiency of at least 60%

3.7. have in-built cooling to maintain appropriate, stable temperature

3.8. have internal, radioactive standard for quench correction curves

3.9. Power supply to be UK socket compatible.

It is essential that delivery is made to Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory no later than week commencing 23 March 2026.

Please refrain from bidding if you are unable to guarantee delivery by this date.

If the awarded Supplier is unable to meet the delivery date agreed in the final Contract, Cefas reserves the right to terminate the Contract as per the Conditions of Contract.