Industrial Involvement in the Construction of Synchrotron Light Sources

The design, construction and commissioning of a modern third-generation synchrotron light source facility is a major project, costing hundreds of millions of dollars. The delivery of these new facilities, usually on a fixed budget and schedule, requires an effective working relationship with all suppliers providing equipment and services to the project. This paper will examine some of the key issues in developing and maintaining such a relationship with industry during the construction of a third-generation synchrotron light facility. These issues include project planning, the contract specification, the tendering process, communication techniques over the contract term, and other aspects of contract control. Examples, primarily from our experience constructing the Canadian Light Source but also from other new facilities planned or under construction, will be used to examine the effectiveness of various approaches to working with industry.