Characterizing the transport properties of iodine in natural illite-rich clay barriers sampled from Cigar Lake uranium deposit

PROCUREMENT OVERVIEW

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) is seeking proposals to conduct a study on the transport properties of iodine in illite-rich clay barriers sourced from the Cigar Lake uranium deposit in Saskatchewan, Canada. The project aims to achieve several objectives: acquiring clay samples from the ore-body's overlying clay-rich zones, characterizing key geotechnical and geochemical properties of these samples, developing an experimental program to measure iodine's solute transport properties under in-situ conditions, and reporting the findings to the CNSC. The work is detailed in the attached Statement of Work.

ISSUING ORGANIZATION

The issuing organization is the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Proposals should be submitted via email to the procurement team at [email protected].

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

Bidders must meet the following mandatory requirements:

• Relevant experience in geotechnical and geochemical analysis, particularly in the context of clay samples and iodine transport.
• Ability to acquire clay samples from the specified region, either from existing core stocks or through new acquisition.
• Capability to conduct experimental programs to measure solute transport properties.
• Compliance with any applicable Canadian regulations related to nuclear safety and environmental assessments.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

Bidders should possess expertise in:

• Geotechnical and geochemical characterization techniques.
• Experimental design for solute transport studies, including measuring diffusion and partition coefficients.
• Familiarity with methods for assessing moisture content, porosity, mineralogy, and iodine leachability in clay samples.

DELIVERABLES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Key deliverables include:

• Acquisition and characterization reports of clay samples.
• A detailed experimental program outlining the methods for measuring iodine transport properties.
• A comprehensive report of experimental findings to be submitted to the CNSC.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

While not mandatory, bidders with the following qualifications may have a competitive advantage:

• Previous experience with projects involving nuclear materials or similar geochemical studies.
• Advanced certifications in relevant scientific or engineering disciplines.
• Established relationships with suppliers or stakeholders in the Canadian nuclear sector.

This summary provides essential information for potential bidders to assess their fit for the CNSC's RFP regarding iodine transport properties in clay barriers from the Cigar Lake uranium deposit.