--- title: "RSSB2751 - T1167 - WP2 - Testing the effectiveness of detonators - Tender Deadline Extended to January 4th 2019 12:00 Mid-Day" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-e31511ac-3224-45c6-bdb8-801de839c37b" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-e31511ac-3224-45c6-bdb8-801de839c37b" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e31511ac-3224-45c6-bdb8-801de839c37b.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e31511ac-3224-45c6-bdb8-801de839c37b.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD LIMITED" published: "2018-12-20" --- # RSSB2751 - T1167 - WP2 - Testing the effectiveness of detonators - Tender Deadline Extended to January 4th 2019 12:00 Mid-Day Buyer: RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD LIMITED Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-e31511ac-3224-45c6-bdb8-801de839c37b [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-e31511ac-3224-45c6-bdb8-801de839c37b) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e31511ac-3224-45c6-bdb8-801de839c37b.json) ## Summary The Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited (RSSB) is presently undertaking a competitive tender process titled "RSSB2751 - T1167 - WP2 - Testing the effectiveness of detonators." This tender falls within the services industry category, specifically focusing on research and development services related to safety equipment for railways. The procurement is currently at the tender stage with a deadline for submissions extended to 12:00 midday on 4th January 2019. The project entails a contract period starting from 21st January 2019 to 31st May 2019, with a total estimated value of £80,000, and a minimum value requirement of £70,000. This procurement follows an open procedure below the threshold regulations, with the delivery expected at the address located in London, EC2M 2RB. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the research and development sector, particularly those with expertise in safety systems for the railway industry. Companies that specialise in developing and testing safety devices, acoustics, and environmental assessments would be particularly suited to participate in this tender. By engaging in this project, successful bidders may enhance their industry reputation, expand their portfolio within the rail sector, and contribute to vital safety improvements that can lead to broader business growth opportunities in the transportation industry. ## 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). During track possessions, detonators are intended to provide a safety protection method if for example a train has been incorrectly signalled into a worksite or to mitigate unauthorised engineering trains exiting the worksite. For detonators to be effective, they must be clearly audible so necessary precaution and mitigation action can be taken. The Rail Group Standard GM/RT2160 (RSSB, 2010) mandates the requirements for the audibility of detonators in driving cabs, and states that: "Driving cabs shall have acoustic characteristics that ensure that exploding detonators, as specified in BR 0640A, can be heard inside the cab at any vehicle speed and readily distinguished from background noise" (p. 5). In a live running railway, it is expected there are a variety of circumstances that will affect the audibility of detonators. T315 workstream 1: noise exposure of staff in driving cabs (RSSB, 2004) suggest sources of driving cab noise include rolling noise, traction and ancillary equipment noise, aerodynamic noise, warning horns, in-cab audible warnings, air-conditioning equipment and heater fans. These, and other factors such as environmental conditions (e.g. weather), insulation of the cab, and subjective comfort, may influence the extent in which detonators are audible to the driver. Detonators that are not clearly audible to the driver may exacerbate safety risks, if they are not alerted to a hazard or possession on the line ahead. T326 Good Practice Guide for the design of alarms and alerts (RSSB, 2008) note that warning alarms must be heard against background noise but should not exceed noise tolerance limits. Ambient noise should be no greater than 85dB(A) for any length of time, and alarms should be between 15 and 25dB(A) above the ambient noise, which in total, should not generally exceed about 110dB(A). As detonators provide a warning alert that is activated externally to the cab, given variable factors that may influence the audibility of detonators, it is unknown in what conditions detonators are clearly audible to the driver. It is also possible that audibility of detonator activation may alert track workers of an approaching train. The extent in which detonators may be audible to track workers is likely to vary depending on conditions such as distance of working from detonator placement, weather, personal protective equipment (ear protection) and machinery in use. However, little evidence is currently available to determine whether detonators provide such secondary function, and what, if any, conditions may influence their effectiveness in being audible to track workers. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8a15db09-d121-420a-bd62-ad8c3bc69b08 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 20 Dec 2018 | | Submission deadline | 4 Jan 2019 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 21 Jan 2019 - 31 May 2019 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £80,000 | | 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 - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 24615000 - Fuses, caps, igniters and electric detonators - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ## Release History - 20 Dec 2018 at 11:38 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8a15db09-d121-420a-bd62-ad8c3bc69b08 - 20 Nov 2018 at 09:59 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8a15db09-d121-420a-bd62-ad8c3bc69b08 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8a15db09-d121-420a-bd62-ad8c3bc69b08 20th December 2018 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/1384a539-6bdc-4e68-b8dc-c6b9cdf124c5 RSSB2751 - T1167 - WP2 - Testing the effectiveness of detonators - I.T.T - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/dff65ca3-c1f1-4cfa-b74d-b0e16f02ddf5 RSSB2751 - T1167 - WP2 - Testing the effectiveness of detonators - Terms and Conditions - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/3f9f18bc-363e-4bc5-b570-460d4f93ee21 Commercial Pricing Schedule ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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