HEX Project (Previously warm X-Ray)

AWE Plc is seeking to work with a vendor or vendors for:

1. Purchase and or development of equipment and technologies to generate a high-intensity 2-3 MeV end point electron beam and x-ray generator
2. Purchase and or development of equipment and technologies to support operations and diagnose the generated electron beam

AWE seeks to purchase a high intensity, pulsed, electron-beam generator with associated diagnostics and ancillary support equipment. The key specifications are as follows:

• The Pulsed Power Machine shall provide the electrical equivalent of a 2.2 Ω Pulse Forming system charged to -5.0 MV
• The Pulsed Power Machine shall be tolerant of electrical loads from 1.5 Ω to 6.0 Ω
• The Pulsed Power Machine shall have an output pulse length of 58 ns ± 2 ns
• Pulsed Power Machine failure to fire rate shall be less than 1 in 10 shots
• Pulsed Power Machine voltage pulse repeatability at the selected operating voltage shall be ± 5%
• Pulsed Power Machine voltage prepulse shall be less than ±100 kV into an open circuit
• Pulsed Power Machine throughput shall be a minimum of 1 shot per 15 minutes into a load, based on nominally identical set-ups
• Pulsed Power Machine shall support a diode bounding mass of (current estimates anode 500 kg, cathode 20 kg) Additional information: AWE Plc ("AWE") is seeking to engage with the market for the HEX (Previously Warm X-Ray) Project. This notice is for market engagement only and is not a call for competition.

You can find out more information about AWE here: www.awe.co.uk ↗

AWE - Atomic Weapons Establishment

AWE is a high performing, streamlined business delivering extraordinary products.

If you are interested in this PIN please download the Supplier Proforma from Contracts Finder OR contact [email protected] to request the proforma.

The submission deadline is 03/11/2023

The nature of this PIN is such that AWE intends to operate restrictions within the relevant procurement regulations in order to protect essential national security interests. If an economic operator has connections with any hostile entity or foreign states which are deemed by AWE to pose a risk to the UK's national security interests or is otherwise considered not to possess the reliability necessary to exclude risks to the security of the United Kingdom, AWE reserves its right to exclude them from this exercise.

In issuing this PIN and engaging with the market, the AWE is not committing to conduct any procurement in relation to this Programme. Equally non-participation in this Market Engagement will not be taken into account in any future procurement activities and will not preclude any organisation from submitting a tender in any future competitions.

Note: The nature of this contract is such that the award will be subject to supplier's passing AWE's security requirements as dictated by its site licenses.