Characterizing the transport properties of iodine in natural illite-rich clay barriers sampled from Cigar Lake uranium deposit

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is seeking qualified offerors to conduct detailed characterization studies on clay samples from the Cigar Lake uranium deposit in Saskatchewan, with the goal of evaluating the transport properties of iodine under conditions replicating in-situ environmental settings. The work involves acquiring clay-rich samples either from existing core stocks or through new collection, followed by comprehensive geotechnical and geochemical analysis including moisture content, saturation degree, dry density, porosity, mineralogy, redox conditions, pore fluid chemistry, specific surface area, grain size distribution, iodine leachability, and distribution proportion. An experimental program must be developed and executed to measure key solute transport parameters such as diffusion and partition coefficients for iodine in these natural illite-rich clay barriers. All findings must be documented and formally reported to the CNSC, with deliverables strictly adhering to a defined schedule that includes a start-up meeting within two weeks of award, a final work plan within six weeks, progress meetings every 30 days, three status reports by the 10-month mark, a final presentation at 13 months, and a comprehensive final report and abstract no later than 15 months after contract award. The contract is a firm price arrangement with an estimated value of $150,000 CAD, inclusive of all costs including travel, living expenses, and resource relocation, with no separate reimbursements permitted. Offers must be submitted exclusively via email to solicitation-demandedesoumission@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca by the deadline of July 23, 2026, in compliance with strict submission formatting rules such as a 15 MB email size limit, separation into three distinct sections (Technical Offer, Financial Offer, and Offer Submission Forms), and inclusion of mandatory identifying details in the email body. All pricing must appear only in the Financial Offer section, and offers exceeding $150,000 will be deemed non-compliant. Evaluation is based on a weighted scoring system: 70% for Technical Merit (maximum 22 points, with a minimum threshold of 15 required to be considered responsive) and 30% for Price, calculated relative to the lowest compliant bid. Mandatory compliance includes adherence to all solicitation requirements, submission of an Offeror Declaration Form and Resource Consent Forms for all proposed personnel, and explicit acknowledgment that no access to PROTECTED or classified CNSC information or facilities is permitted. Payment terms require invoices to be submitted only after full completion of the associated work, electronically