To acquire the services of a highly qualified consultant, who has significant experience in the conduct of commissioning activities for nuclear power plants both in Canada and abroad, for assisting CNSC staff to document regulatory expectations on this activity, and on how compliance activities should be conducted.
Period of Proposed Contract
June 24, 2009 – January 15, 2010
Estimate Cost of Proposed Contract
$60,000.00 Canadian
Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services/goods described herein, may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this Notice on or before the closing date of this Notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.
Contact:
Paul Morin
Contracting Officer
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
P.O. Box 1046, Station B
280 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5S9
Tel.: (613) 990-3364
Fax: (613) 995-5086
Email: paul.morin@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
1.0 Background
A number of nuclear power reactors are expected to undergo significant construction and commissioning activities in Canada, both in the near future and for several years to come. These include new Nuclear Power Plants, and existing facilities undergoing refurbishments for the purposes of life extensions.
CNSC staff expectations regarding these new projects have been or are being documented in a series of formal documents taking the form of regulatory documents (such as RD-360 for refurbishments), or regulatory applications guides for new builds. Associated documents are being written for guidance to CNSC technical staff, and taking the form of staff review guides.
Development of expectations regarding commissioning activities for construction licence applications for new build, and associated staff review guides are currently part of a formal initiative. However, this activity does not address some of the current compliance activities related to refurbishments for life extension. Notably:
i) Scope:
The current expectations and guides being developed are limited to the non-nuclear commissioning phase (i.e., all steps leading to, but not including, fuel load). Some facilities undergoing refurbishment are expected to undergo in the near future nuclear commissioning (i.e., after fuel load).
ii) Approach to commissioning:
Although the final objective remains, the approach for commissioning of a facility that has undergone refurbishment is subject to different considerations than those expected for new reactors, for instance considerations relating to the conditions of the systems during the facility outage, or whether they were subject to repairs/modifications.
In a context of openness and transparency, a need is raised to ensure expectations regarding commissioning activities are defined and known to licensees, and that licensees are informed on how CNSC technical staff will conduct related compliance activities.
Assistance is needed to:
• Document regulatory expectations regarding non-nuclear commissioning of refurbished plants
• Document regulatory expectations regarding nuclear commissioning of new and refurbished nuclear power plants
• Assist in the development of review guides for the conduct of CNSC staff compliance activities for new nuclear power plants – non-nuclear commissioning
• Develop staff review guides for the conduct of CNSC staff compliance activities for the nuclear commissioning of both new and refurbished nuclear power plants
The conduct of this work is critical to the CNSC mandate and poses a significant challenge in view of the short timeframe, the significant workload and competing priorities at the CNSC. In this context, CNSC staff is seeking a qualified contractor to assist in the completion of these tasks.
2.0 Objectives
To acquire the services of a highly qualified consultant, who has significant experience in the conduct of commissioning activities for nuclear power plants both in Canada and abroad, for assisting CNSC staff to document regulatory expectations on this activity, and on how compliance activities should be conducted.
3.0 Scope of Work
To assist the CNSC staff in:
• Developing review guides for the conduct of CNSC staff compliance activities for the commissioning of refurbished plants – non-nuclear commissioning
• Assisting in the development of review guides for the conduct of CNSC staff compliance activities for new nuclear power plants – non-nuclear commissioning
• Documenting regulatory expectations regarding nuclear commissioning of new and refurbished nuclear power plants
• Developing review guides for the conduct of CNSC staff compliance activities for the nuclear commissioning of both new and refurbished nuclear power plants
4.0 Tasks to be Performed
Task # 1: Review practices from past commissioning activities in Canada for the first generation of Nuclear Power Plants, international support activities (e.g., Romania, Argentina, China, Korea,), and for re-start and current life extension projects
• Review CNSC staff compliance strategies, documented processes and documented lessons learned
• Review Licensees commissioning programs and lessons learned
• Review any CNSC training material developed in the past
• Review relevant international codes and standards relating to commissioning
Task # 2: Document CNSC expectations for commissioning programs
• For nuclear commissioning for new build
• For nuclear commissioning for nuclear power plants undergoing refurbishment
• For non-nuclear commissioning for nuclear power plant undergoing refurbishments
• Liaise with CNSC staff currently working on Bruce and Point Lepreau refurbishments
Task # 3: Document review guides for CNSC conduct of compliance review:
• For nuclear commissioning for new build
• For nuclear commissioning for nuclear power plants undergoing refurbishment
• For non-nuclear commissioning for nuclear power plant undergoing refurbishments
• Liaise with other CNSC staff in the preparation of Staff Review Guides where appropriate
Task #4: Provide general assistance and guidance for the conduct of compliance activities related to commissioning for nuclear power plants undergoing refurbishments
5.0 Deliverables
5.1 List of documents identified under task #1
5.2 Expectation documents identified under task #2
5.3 Review guides identified under task #3
Format & style requirements: Electronic copies must be provided in a format readable by Word XP with minor formatting changes. Any electronic files that cannot be read or require major formatting changes when opened are not acceptable and may be returned to the contractor for correction. The CNSC reserves the right, at its own discretion, to have the final report printed under CNSC cover, and to distribute it publicly.
Trade Agreements
This requirement is below the trade agreement thresholds (AIT, NAFTA or WTO-AGP), is in support of safeguarding of nuclear materials, and is therefore not applicable to AIT, NAFTA or WTO-AGP.
Exceptions to Government Contract Regulations
Unique Capability (Only One Supplier Can do the Work):
Dr. Alikhan, has over 40 years experience in the nuclear industry, including various aspects of the design, safety analysis, commissioning and operation of CANDU nuclear reactors in Canada and abroad. His commissioning, operating and management experience includes 6 years with Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, KANUPP; 16 years with New Brunswick Power, Point Lepreau GS; 6 years with AECL, Cernavoda-1, Romania; and 5 years with AECL Qinshan, China. Since his retirement in 2005, he has worked on several consulting assignments with AECL and with the CNSC in 2006. He has also contributed to the drafting of IAEA Safety Guides and participated in IAEA’s OSART missions. His broad experience in commissioning of nuclear facilities makes both valuable and unique addition to CNSC staff to ensure success of this project within the limited timeframe.
Name and Address of Proposed Contractor
Dr. Sardar Alikhan, President
ALIKHAN CONSULTING, INC.
129 Granite Court
Kanata, Ontario
K2M 0A3
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