Provision of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Personal Protective Equipment

The Department seeks to engage a suitably qualified supplier to provide Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Personal Protective Equipment. The implementation of this capability is dependent on respiratory protection and skin protection. The CBRN protective ensemble includes CBRN protective garment, over-boots and gloves.

Law Enforcement units are required to undertake activities including tactical operations, search and render safe devices or persons within hazardous CBRN environments. These hazardous environments may range from enclosed and open spaces that include:
a.a chemical vapour hazard only, to a combination of a vapour hazard and liquid or solid contact hazard;
b.Biological hazard that may be aerosol, solid, or liquid; and
c.radiological or nuclear hazard that is vapour, liquid or solid.

The likely exposure of the operator is to low levels of vapour or liquid CBRN hazards, where concentrations are below the Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) permitting the use of Air Purifying Respirators (APR). However, direct contact with a liquid cannot be discounted. The CBRN protective ensembles will be used by operators to undertake a variety of activities within hazardous areas. These may include but are not limited to: search, rescue, assaults, breaching, or render safe of a device. The operator may be exposed to CBRN agents and these ensembles may be used in tactical operations within harsh environments.

The CBRN ensembles must be designed and constructed to withstand operations within the harsh CBRN tactical environment and is designed to protect the head, torso, hands and feet. This includes but is not limited to design, protection against CBRN agents, integrity including robustness against impact, puncture or tear, ease of use, and stealth.

The key capability enabler for these operational groups is CBRN protective garments. These garments include: over-boots, glove and CBRN protective garments. The garments can range from permeable carbon impregnated ensembles, to permeable GORTEX type ensembles, to impermeable garments. These garments are intended to protect officers who come into contact with CBRN agents that are dermal hazards