The requirement of this tender is to provide a framework of suitably skilled and qualified contractors capable of undertaking the cleaning of the depots oil storage tanks (with the option of Blasting) under the control of the OPA, therefore maintaining our current stock of F44 and F76 grade fuel and ship sullage water tanks.

The tenderer shall be required to provide all such safety precautions as would be required to undertake this operation.

The Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA) is a public corporation, formed in 1986 by virtue of the Oil and Pipelines Act 1985 to operate and maintain the Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS) on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

There are 6 Oil Fuel Depots (OFD's) in the UK owned by the MoD but operated and managed by OPA. The OFD's principle role is to receive, store and issue middle distillate fuels to support Naval Command.

The two OFD's located in Southern England at Gosport and Thanckes support the adjacent HM Naval Bases namely Portsmouth and Devonport. The Scottish site at Garelochhead supports Faslane Naval Base, whilst OFD's at Loch Striven, Loch Ewe and Campbeltown provide bulk storage and regional support to visiting Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers and warships. All sites are supplied by sea.

The requirement of this procurement exercise is to procure a suitable contractor to execute works required for bulk fuel tank cleaning

The tank cleaning service provider shall be required to ensure that all internal surfaces should be free from all loose rust, scale, deposits, damaged coatings or cement wash. The level of preparation should be comparable to brush off blast cleaning according to Swedish Standard SIS 055900 Class SA 1.

The services to be provided shall include, but limited to, the following:

— water/fuel bottoms removal,

— tank cleaning,

— lead sampling,

— tank hand over.