Tender: Supply of Ultra-Low Level Liquid Scintillation Counter – Cefas Lowestoft

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Cefas Radioanalytical team at Lowestoft is seeking a supplier to provide an ultra-low level liquid scintillation counter to replace end-of-life equipment and improve limits of detection for programmes including Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE). The instrument must deliver exceptionally low background count rates for alpha and beta determinations via substantial passive shielding plus active background reduction (integral guard counter, electronic background reduction systems), support alpha/beta discrimination and simultaneous detection/quantification of multiple radionuclides/ROIs (e.g., Plutonium alphas and Pu-241 beta emissions) at low environmental levels, detect betas up to 2 MeV and alphas up to 10 MeV, achieve beta efficiencies of at least 35% for significantly quenched samples, alpha efficiencies of at least 95% and Cerenkov efficiency of at least 60%, include in-built cooling and an internal radioactive standard for quench correction curves, and use a UK-compatible power supply. Delivery to Cefas Lowestoft laboratory is required no later than the week commencing 23 March 2026; bidders unable to guarantee this date should not bid.