Provision of Preliminary Civil Engineering Consultancy Services for FCC Study

This Market Survey concerns the provision of civil engineering consultancy services for studies to be undertaken for the civil engineering design of the Future Circular Collider (FCC) at CERN in the Pre Technical Design Review (Pre-TDR) phase. The services will be awarded to a firm or a group of firms, who will be responsible for executing the analysis, design and studies specified in the contract.

This Market Survey will be followed by an Invitation to Tender foreseen to be sent to qualified and selected firms and groups of firms in Q4 2025 for a contract to commence in Q2 2026. The future Invitation to Tender will be adjudicated on a best-value-for-money basis.

Description of the Procurement: The required Services consist of, but are not limited to, the following activities: 1. Numerical analysis of subsurface structures such as caverns, pre-cast lined tunnels, and shafts.

Analysis to be carried out using the latest geotechnical data. Results to be presented in a report, along with drawings, showing optimised geometries and material properties; 2.

Assessment of the risk of TBM entrapment during excavation of the tunnels. Means of reducing the entrapment risk through the specification of TBM requirements shall be presented; 3.

Technical feasibility of using a permanentshotcrete lining to replace the insitu concrete lining of subsurface structures. Report to summarise the feasibility of permanent shotcrete lining with benefits and risks presented; 4.

Risks and mitigation measures arising from tunnelling through water bearing molasse (faulted zones beneath watercourses). To include an assessment of the tunnel drainage requirements, use of waterproof linings and drainage weep holes.

Report to summarise potential case studies, tunnelling methods, and application to the FCC project; 5. Feasibility of using a single TBM to drive through both molasse and limestone geology.

Report to cover TBM specifications, case studies where possible, and project requirements, risks and benefits; 6. Risk and mitigation measures for tunnelling through karstic limestone with a TBM.

Reporting on case studies, TBM requirements, risks and mitigations; 7. Review of the FCC feasibility study construction schedule and associated costs.

Analysis of the existing cost and construction schedule and a report to present the analysis, findings and recommendations; 8. Assessment of the interactions between the FCC tunnel and existing surface infrastructure (for example highways, railways and bridges).

Report to conclude assessment and recommendations for risks and mitigation measures. 9. Desktop study of existing Swiss tunnelling projects through molasse geology.

Report to summarise a selection of case studies and to discuss the lessons learned from any difficulties encountered during construction. Additional information: Please note that even after the ‘official’ stated deadline on the market survey has passed, the contract remains open until the Invitation to Tender is issued.

A Market Survey is merely an expression of interest and does not in any way constitute a commitment to bid. If you are interested in this contract, we encourage you to submit the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire and you are welcome to later