ANSTO is a corporate Commonwealth entity and Australia’s nuclear research and technology organisation. ANSTO is responsible for delivering specialised advice, scientific services and products to government, industry, academia and other research organisations. One of ANSTO's core missions, as the centre of Australian nuclear expertise, is to manufacture and advance the use of radiopharmaceuticals which will improve the health of Australians. This is undertaken by the ANSTO Health division.

ANSTO and the Australian Government are working to secure the long-term supply of nuclear medicines for Australia. ANSTO’s building 23 facility is coming to the end of its operational life and has been deemed by regulators and independent experts to be in need of replacement. On 9 May 2023, the Government announced as part of its financial year 2023/24 budget that it would, “support the resilience of nuclear medicine supply chains through the design and construction of a new, safe and reliable nuclear medicine manufacturing facility and sustainment of existing capabilities.” This new facility will be located at the ANSTO site Lucas Heights, NSW.

To give effect to this support, “The Government will provide funding over 10 years from 2023–24 to support the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in its provision of nuclear medicines to Australians, including full funding to construct a new nuclear medicine manufacturing building, as well as ongoing maintenance of the current ageing facility”.

The general purpose of the Requirement is to design, manufacture, supply, install and commissioning the product manufacturing process equipment for the Program. The replacement facility will need to manufacture three ‘core’ products in sufficient quantities to meet demand. This section identifies the products and volumes before specifying the infrastructure required.

The core product requirements are described below:

a) Technetium: Production of between 200 and 400 generators per week;

b) Lutetium: Production capacity of 20TBq per week; and

c) Iodine: Production capacity of 25TBq per week.