--- title: "RSSB2734 - T1155 PERFORM Reviewing the risks and benefits of detonator usage" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-9105baea-db7f-4652-8dde-79be1c1da4f3" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-9105baea-db7f-4652-8dde-79be1c1da4f3" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9105baea-db7f-4652-8dde-79be1c1da4f3.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9105baea-db7f-4652-8dde-79be1c1da4f3.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD LIMITED" published: "2018-10-09" --- # RSSB2734 - T1155 PERFORM Reviewing the risks and benefits of detonator usage Buyer: RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD LIMITED Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-9105baea-db7f-4652-8dde-79be1c1da4f3 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-9105baea-db7f-4652-8dde-79be1c1da4f3) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9105baea-db7f-4652-8dde-79be1c1da4f3.json) ## Summary The Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited (RSSB) has initiated a tender for the project titled "RSSB2734 - T1155 PERFORM Reviewing the risks and benefits of detonator usage." This procurement process is currently in the Tender stage and is set to conclude on 12th October 2018. The project, categorised under the industry type of "services," specifically focuses on analysing the risks related to detonators used in railway safety operations. The contract is valued at £210,000 and will commence on 29th October 2018, running until 31st October 2019. The delivery address for submissions is located in London at postal code EC2M 2RB. This tender presents significant business opportunities particularly for companies specialising in analysis services, research and development, and related consultancy services. Given the project’s focus on enhancing safety measures in the railway sector, businesses with experience in safety equipment, risk assessment, and explosives management could find this opportunity well-suited to their capabilities. Additionally, firms able to demonstrate innovative solutions to modernising the use of detonators in railway settings may have a competitive edge in this tender process. ## Notice Detonators are small metal devices that contain a small quantity of explosives, that are placed on the railhead to cause a loud sound, activated by the wheel-rail interface of a passing train to alert the driver they are approaching a hazard on the line ahead (RSSB GE/GN8532, 2015). They were first invented by Edward Alfred Cowper in 1837, to be used as warning or caution devices during fog conditions when signals were difficult to see. The use of detonators has largely remained unchanged since its introduction, over 180 years ago. Detonators are classified as explosives under the 1875 Explosives Act, and the storage of large quantities of more than 5 kgs (approx. 600 detonators) require a licence under the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations (2004). The use and placement of railway detonators as a warning and protection method for railway planned and emergency working, has not evolved since they were first introduced. Detonators have a variety of uses, in which the rule book has around 113 references to 'detonator'. Typical uses of detonators include an added layer of protection during the assistance to failed trains, emergency protection arrangements, engineering possessions, protection of isolated sections and during degraded operations. As such, driving cabs are required to have acoustic characteristics that ensure the exploding of detonators is audible to the driver (GM/RT2160), which may inhibit innovative designs and materials. The placement, handling, storage and transportation of detonators require specific processes, training and competence management. The placement and handling of detonators requires personnel to access the track to place and remove detonators in a systematic and careful manner, adding time to the management and control of a possession. This also exposes staff to risks of trackside working, such as from train movements, electrification hazards, hazardous materials, and slips, trips and falls. As noted in research by RSSB (2007) , although the placement/removal of detonators presents a low risk, the placement/removal of detonators in the wrong place is a medium/high risk, with 36% of the events involving handsignalling identified as high risk. There have been reports of possession support staff placing detonators on the wrong lines or in the wrong places, exacerbating risks to the placer, working group or activity that require protection. Consequently, safety incidents involving the use of detonators have been reported. In 2008, following a T3 possession, a track worker was stuck by a train and killed when removing detonators and possession limit boards from the line . Although a number of casual and contributor factors were reported, one underlying factor was the requirement for staff the access the track to place and remove protection, including detonators. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f5f95c9b-f76e-4735-8545-f0690fc2d431 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 9 Oct 2018 | | Submission deadline | 12 Oct 2018 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 29 Oct 2018 - 31 Oct 2019 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £210,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD LIMITED | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | Central London | | Postcode | EC2M 2RB | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East | | ITL 3 | TLI43 Haringey and Islington | | Local authority | Islington | | Electoral ward | Bunhill | | Westminster constituency | Islington South and Finsbury | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 24 - Chemical products - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 24615000 - Fuses, caps, igniters and electric detonators - 71620000 - Analysis services - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ## Release History - 9 Oct 2018 at 10:37 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f5f95c9b-f76e-4735-8545-f0690fc2d431 - 25 Sep 2018 at 14:04 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f5f95c9b-f76e-4735-8545-f0690fc2d431 - 20 Sep 2018 at 14:29 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f5f95c9b-f76e-4735-8545-f0690fc2d431 - 7 Sep 2018 at 14:28 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f5f95c9b-f76e-4735-8545-f0690fc2d431 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f5f95c9b-f76e-4735-8545-f0690fc2d431 9th October 2018 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/517399fb-ce6f-44e6-a212-322785eb2728 Commercial Pricing Schedule - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/3413dafe-4f87-4b40-920a-3aaaf7000fdb RSSB2734 - T1155 PERFORM Reviewing the risks and benefits of detonator usage - Invitation To Tender - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/46bbe2e0-2d0a-4b42-a16a-55fbc38087f6 RSSB2734 - T1155 PERFORM Reviewing the risks and benefits of detonator usage - Supplier Dial In Details for Q&A Engagement Opportunity - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/3a56dd82-25bf-4a13-a05b-7403f9660e48 RSSB2734 - T1155 PERFORM Reviewing the risks and benefits of detonator usage - T and C's - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/d1d97883-d19b-42d7-a8da-1d3ca0eb66ec RSSB2734 - T1155 PERFORM Reviewing the risks and benefits of detonator usage - Minutes of Supplier Q&A - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/e2317b60-21d8-4ee4-b832-7e7024d5a68f RSSB2734 - Overview of T1155 Reviewing the risks and benefits of detonator use v1.0 - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/287a3dcf-75dc-4a29-9396-529bd0ab3037 RSSB2734 - T1155 PERFORM Reviewing the risks and benefits of detonator usage - Tender Question and Answer - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/e6f808b8-e55e-452d-bf39-3d9b4c1e77b1 RSSB2734 - T1155 PERFORM Reviewing the risks and benefits of detonator usage - Tender Question and Answer - 9th October 2018 ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-9105baea-db7f-4652-8dde-79be1c1da4f3. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9105baea-db7f-4652-8dde-79be1c1da4f3.json.