Index

¡ÊProvisional Translation¡Ë

Invitation for Submission of Technology Proposal for the Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons

July 6th, 1998
Abandoned Chemical Weapons Coordination Division,
Councillors' Office on External Affairs,
Cabinet Secretariat

1. Purpose

The Government of Japan has been making efforts to solve the issue of chemical weapons abandoned in China by setting up the Abandoned Chemical Weapons Coordination Council (hereafter called the Coordination Council) in August 1997, following the Cabinet approval. As part of the efforts, the Technology Study Group for the Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons (hereafter called the Technology Study Group) was established to study various technologies for the destruction of abandoned chemical weapons from technological and professional viewpoints and present the Group's view to the Coordination Council. The Technology Study Group decided that prospective technologies should be solicited from domestic/foreign private enterprises and other entities, ensuring a fair and transparent process. For this purpose, proposals on prospective technologies for the destruction of abandoned chemical weapons are invited based on the instructions as specified hereafter.

2. Instructions

2.1 Conditions to be Satisfied
Proposed technologies shall meet all the conditions specified in the attached Appendix: "The Technical Requirements (the First Screening)".

2.2 Submission Closing Date August 31, Monday, 1998.

2.3 Inquiry and Submission Address
c/o Abandoned Chemical Weapons Coordination Division, Councillors' Office on External Affairs, Cabinet Secretariat
1-6-1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8914 JAPAN
Tel: 03-3581-9489
Fax: 03-3581-9486

2.4 Delivery Method
By mail or hand delivery

2.5 Documents to be Submitted
Following "Instructions for Preparation of Technology Proposal for the Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons", based on "Technology Proposal for the Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons (Form)", the Proposer shall prepare and submit in Japanese an explanatory document of his proposed disposal technology. In addition, the Proposer is requested to submit the document in English, if possible. The document in Japanese shall take precedence over that in English.

Further, in case the document is found not to have been prepared as instructed in "Technology Proposal for the Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons (Form)" and "Instructions for Preparation of Technology Proposal for the Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons", the Proposer may be requested to re-submit his document within a certain period to be specified.

Note: The document in Japanese can be prepared by translating from other languages.

The term "Proposer" means those who submit technology proposals.

2.6 Confidentiality of Document
The document submitted will not be returned to the Proposer. The information therein will be used by the government solely for the purpose of study of the disposal technologies, and will not be disclosed to any third parties without consent of the Proposer.

2.7 Notification
The Proposer whose Technology Proposal is assessed to satisfy "The Technical Requirements (the First Screening)" will be notified so in writing around the end of September 1998. The Proposer whose Technology Proposal is assessed not to satisfy will be notified so and of the reasons in writing around the end of September 1998.

2.8 Costs for Document Preparation
The Proposer shall bear all costs to be incurred by him for the preparation and submission of the Technology Proposal.

2.9 Liability for the Proposed Technology
The Proposer shall be fully liable for legal relations with third parties with regard to the proposed technology.

3. Schedule after Submission of Proposal

Note: The following schedule is tentative and subject to change.

3.1 The First Screening
Upon closing for submission of the proposals, the first screening will commence to confirm whether each proposal satisfies the Technical Requirements (the First Screening).

3.2 Interim Report
As a result of the first screening, the names and outlines of the technologies that have been confirmed to satisfy the Technical Requirements will be reported by the Technology Study Group to the Coordination Council around the end of September 1998. Further, the name and outlines will be made public with the consent of the Proposers.

3.3 The Second Screening
The Proposers of the technologies that are listed in the Interim Report will receive specified Technical Requirements (the Second Screening), and will be requested to submit detailed information and data on their proposed technologies after October 1998.

3.4 Schedule for Next Phase
It is scheduled that in the spring of 1999, the Technology Study Group will present the Group's view to the Coordination Council. Referring to the Group's view and in consultation with the Government of China, the Coordination Council will evaluate the technologies from a governmental policy standpoint.

Note: The scope of the study by the Technology Study Group is limited to study and review for prospective disposal technologies. With regard to the implementation of the chemical weapons destruction and plant procurement, a separate procedure will be set up by another entity (undecided) than the Technology Study Group in due course in accordance with related applicable international and domestic rules and laws. Therefore, it shall be noted that this Invitation for Submission of Technology Proposal, submission of the proposals, and the screening process set forth in the above 3: Schedule after Submission of Proposal do not constitute a public announcement on tender for government procurement, pre-qualification to tender or the like for the implementation of the chemical weapons destruction or plant procurement.

APPENDIX:

The Technical Requirements (the First Screening)

1. Efficacy/Integrity

The technology shall be such an effective disposal system that the Red and Yellow munitions and the Red canisters, at least, of abandoned chemical weapons can be disposed of under an integrated process. Further, pursuant to the requirements of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (hereafter called the Convention), the technology shall be able to make chemicals converted in an essentially irreversible way to a form unsuitable for production of chemical weapons, as well as munitions and other devices irreversibly unusable.

Such disposal methods as dumping in any body of water, land burial or open-pit burning, as prohibited under the Convention, shall not be used.

The proposal for part of a total disposal system will not be evaluated. Disposal technology to be proposed shall be a disposal system comprising Pre-treatment, Treatment and Post-treatment processes as defined hereafter. However, the disposal system is not necessarily required to divide its system into these three processes.

[ Definition ]
Pre-treatment: Preparatory process for Treatment such as munitions dismantling and separation
Treatment: Process consisting mainly of irreversible conversion of chemical agents extracted from pre-treated munitions
Post-treatment: Treatment process of residues and effluents after the Treatment so as to meet the environmental emission standards, and discharge or discard them

2. Schedule Requirements

The technology shall have the capability to complete the disposal of the estimated 700,000 munitions, conforming to the schedules as specified in the Convention.

3. Environmental Emission Standards

The technology shall satisfy the environmental regulations and emission standards (national standards) of China.

Note: In case any new regulations or emission standards for toxic materials are established later as a result of consultation with the Government of China, they may be included in the Technical Requirements (the Second Screening).

4. Safety

The technology shall be capable of effectively minimizing various risks and safely disposing of the chemical weapons.

Note: The outline of the safety measures will be addressed in the Technical Requirements (the Second Screening).

5. Maturity

The technology shall satisfy at least one of the following requirements:

(1) Destruction operation or proving testing has been implemented with chemical weapons, conventional munitions or toxic wastes.
(2) Proving testing is currently in the process of implementation with chemical weapons, conventional munitions or toxic wastes.

Contact point for relevant documentation ("Technology Proposal for the Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons (Form)" and "Instructions for Preparation of Technology Proposal for the Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons"):

Abandoned Chemical Weapons Coordination Division, Councillors' Office on External Affairs, Cabinet Secretariat