The Environment Agency has gone out to tender with a contract for the monitoring of radioactivity in in airborne particulates, total deposition and rainwater worth an estimated £640,000.

The monitoring programme was established by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) in the 1950s and has produced one of the world’s longest running and most comprehensive data sets on atmospheric concentrations of artificial radionuclides. The programme was formed as part of the UK Government’s arrangements for meeting its obligations under Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty to monitor radioactivity in air, soil and water.

Since withdrawal from the Euratom Treaty the UK’s position is that it will maintain standards of radioactivity monitoring - the programme is therefore still required. The programme also provides information to be published in the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment report and provides supplementary data to the UK’s Environment Agencies on the exposure of the public to radiation.

Initial contract term is 4 years and 6 months with the option to extend twice for 2 years each, taking the total potential contract length to 8 years and 6 months. The contract covers sampling and analysis for calendar years (2024-2027 in the initial period and potentially to the end of 2031).

Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is 27 September 2023 – click here to access the tender documentation.