COVID-19 Relief: Op MOONSHOT

Operation MOONSHOT was a Government initiative to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 through the implementation of mass testing to enable maximum precision of future lockdowns.

The ambition was to eventually deliver over ten million tests per day, which was to be achieved using new testing technologies.

REME Stood Up for MOONSHOT SEP 20. By the time the team finished, we had been on task eight months and 20 members of the Corps contributed to Op MOONSHOT.

REME Led the Design or Build of Four Different

Mobile Laboratories. With the team of 20 spread across all ranks and most trade groups of the Corps and the competence of REME Engineering Officers, we had the capability to Design, Build or Project Manage multiple specialist mobile laboratory projects.

20ft Articulated Lorries Converted into

Laboratories. The biggest of the builds the team assisted with the conversion of 20ft lorries capable of processing thousands of samples a shift.

30 Vans Converted into High Readiness, Fast

Reaction, Mini Mobile Laboratories. The longest of the builds with the most REME input, 30 vans were designed and built to provide a national quick reaction force able to operate nationally throughout the UK.

Mini Laboratories in Small Trailers. The biggest of the engineering challenges, a whole laboratory was squeezed into a small 2.5 ton trailer and is the next generation to Mobile Testing Units (MTUs). REME Provide Engineering Support to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Mobile Processing Units (MPU).

REME Support Op MOONSHOT

Service personnel from across the REME have been helping the UK government retrofit civilian vehicles with all the necessary equipment to turn them into mobile laboratories. Their herculean effort has made a huge difference in projecting the NHS’s testing programme.

The team

With REME involvement in the first iteration of Mobile Testing Units (MTUs) for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in April 2020, the Corps were the best choice to support the next generation of capability; Mobile Processing Units (MPU).

Mobile Processing Units provide a laboratory function to process COVID swab samples at source. Designed and built with high sensitivity and specificity processing technology, they provide results back to the public within two and a half hours of swab. The solution; a direct targeting, mobile capability for outbreak response during the SARs pandemic.

With a REME Engineering Officer embedded in the DHSC since September 2020, the Corps has been able to surge, a mix of engineering capabilities when required to Design, Build and Deliver a number of these processing laboratories ahead of schedule to support the unlocking of national lockdowns.

MACA 20/350: 20 Oct 20 – 23 Nov 20

Capt Fionidi Parker 4Bn REME and Capt Ian Taylor 6Bn REME Design and Build of Small PCR Trailer Laboratory.

The first of the Engineering Military Aid to Civil Authority (MACA) tasks to DHSC, Captains Fionidi Parker and Ian Taylor embedded directly into the Blizard Institute, at Bart’s Hospital, London. With a tight schedule to deliver a concept demonstrator laboratory, their first week entrenched them in the Blizard laboratory understanding the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) process and how they could reduce the eight processing steps and deliver within a mobile setting. Producing a neat set of Key User Requirements (KURs), their solution was a small 2.5 Ton trailer, which could work directly with MTUs and by week two they had purchased the trailer and designed a layout. By the end of the four weeks they had a fully operational laboratory, had

designed a small evaluation, overcome numerous engineering challenges and worked directly with industry to produce a fantastic capability.

On viewing their platform, Head of DHSC Laboratories, Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak DBE quoted it as; the best small laboratory she had ever seen - on three continents. We therefore knew we were on a winner and decided to push mobile processing as the new game changer, in the fight against COVID.

MACA 20/375: 6 Nov 20 – 27 Nov 20

Sgt Parsons, Cpl O’Toole, LCpl Gaskell, Cfns Gurung, Harrison, Small, Yates 5 Bn REME Build of 20ft LamPORE Trailer Laboratory.

In conjunction with the small trailer, a team, under the direction of Sgt Parsons, were stood up to support the build of larger laboratories to ensure we could process the mass. An amalgamation of DIY SOS and Scrapheap Challenge, this MACA saw a team from 5 Battalion REME embed seamlessly into the vehicle fabricator SES Events, in Northamptonshire, to assist the build of Large Mobile Processing Laboratories. The team were given clear direction, they were to provide TEMPO, RESILIENCE and REPUTATION and they delivered in spades. With the timing of the MACA critical, prior to a second national lock down, the Prime Minister was looking at every option to prevent imposing any further restrictions of the nation, hence the quick mobilisation of the team was key. They had a clear date to complete the build of the platforms by the 23 Nov, to coincide with the whole city testing of Liverpool and this was critical to the TEMPO the military were able to deliver. With a civilian firm leading the build who were experts in their field, a platform of this type usually takes six months to construct, we were creating four laboratories in less than 23 days. This tested the RESILIENCE of the team, never questioning what was required of them they worked late into the night every

Attaching the steps to the Mobile Testing Unit night, never baulked at a task presented at them, from painting to welding, to fabricating and even using the Battalion specialist capability to 3D print; they got it all done. Cfn Shannon Yates said: “It’s been a fantastic experience which I have thoroughly enjoyed, taking me back to foundation skills; filing, drilling, hand-skills. Not just spannering.” Most importantly within that short space of time they had to build the trust of the civilians they worked with. With a range of trades, they seamlessly integrated into the civilian workforce, the confidence that their training provided them, gave them the foundation to conquer these new engineering challenges; they all gain invaluable engineering experience and left a striking REPUTATION of the Corps.

MACA 20/375 Extension: 27 Nov 20 – 30 Dec 20

Capt Maling and Lt Saunders 5 Bn REME Design and Build a High Functioning Automation Trailer for Basingstoke Hospital.

With the success of the LamPORE trailer, the REME were asked to lead on the Design and Build of a third processing capability. Utilising Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technology the requirement was for a large processing trailer, for Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (HHFT) in which they can operate their automation technology to increase throughput. Based on the experience gained from the four LamPORE trailers, Captain Adam Maling and Lieutenant Shona Saunders chose a 20ft expandable trailer as their base platform to design their laboratory. Working

Wiring an incubator used for test sample handling

directly with the Bio-Medical Scientists from Basingstoke Hospital the team were now gaining a reputation as leaders in mobile laboratory production with many organisations and experts interested to support and get involved. This provided a level of support for the team who were able to push their designs with assistance from several Clinical Science Professors to assist their working designs. Once again, the team overcame multiple engineering challenges to design a world class platform able to manage a high throughput of samples in a short space of time which now operates outside Basingstoke Hospital. Captain Maling remarked “that this has been one of the one interesting, fast and dynamic projects I have ever worked and have enjoyed contributing to the fight against the pandemic.”

MACA 20/387: 23 Nov 20 – 23 Dec 20

Capt McKenna 2 Bn REME and Lt Campbell 4 Bn REME Design and Build a Small Processing Van Laboratory

With the country teetering on the edge on another national lockdown the Prime Minster was looking for all options to assist unlocking the country and due to the success of previous projects, funding was provided to deliver a further 30 laboratories. With now proven credibility the REME were requested to support and Captain Gav McKenna and Lieutenant Issac Campbell were stood up to build a laboratory in a Ford Transit van. Initially basing themselves with the Laboratory service provider Source Bio Science, in Nottingham, they again spent the time to understand the ask, produced a set of key user requirements and then moved to a vehicle fabricator in Telford, to begin the build. A more complicated build due to the size of the platform the team based their design on the lessons learnt from the original smaller 2.5 ton trailer and bled through many excellent good practices. Focusing strongly on robust trials and evaluation of the platform, they were able to test their original concept demonstrator

Fitting the wiring into the trailers

over the Christmas period, before rolling out a further 29 vehicles in the new year. Another fast moving and hectic project the team worked at an incredible pace incorporating some unique ideas into their design and once again overcoming many engineering challenges. Including the design of a Class 2 Biological Safety Cabinet inside a small steel van, to ensure the vehicle was powered appropriately with both mains and auxiliary power whilst also able to cope with the demands of the system needed to operate as a laboratory. The team also investigated the most appropriate materials to build the vehicles to be both laboratory grade and suitable for mobile use - another highly rewarding project.

MACA 20/387: 19 Jan 21 – 1 Apr 21

Capt McKenna 2 Bn REME, Capt Herron, SSgt Cranage, SSgt Brady, LCpl Williams and Capt Lee, 5 Bn REME Operations Support to Mobile Processing Van

With the engineering concept now firmly in the spotlight and the Chief Scientific Officer taking an interest in what the REME were producing, after Christmas 2020 the resources started to become unlocked. With national specialists asked to lean in and provide assistance and more funding unlocked to provide research and evidence behind some of the REME ideas a new team was stood up to assist. Focusing on the roll out and delivery of the platforms, the new team also assisted in providing the evidence behind the designs. With a better understanding, that we were now tackling an AIRBORNE virus, we completed Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) analysis on the platforms to understand the airflow and how we could protect the occupants. We introduced specialist UV air filtration systems and Eco-misting machines to enhance infection control and clean the vans, plus, we designed and built Vibration Plates to dampen the shock on the specialist equipment operating

inside a mobile platform. All throughout, we continued with a through programme of trials and evaluation to ensure we could validate the vehicles as laboratories, and we were producing first rate products. At the same time, with support from 5 Battalion REME Stores Section, we started to develop a logistics plan for the DHSC to support these laboratories operating nationally throughout the UK.

Testing the systems before deployment

Inside a Mobile Testing Unit

All whilst LCpl Dave Williams was exceptionally busy at the vehicle fabricators in Telford rolling the laboratories off the production line ready for operations.

MACA 21/005: 19 Jan 21 – 1 Mar 21

Lt Cushworth and SSgt Davies 5 Bn REME Design and Build of Second-Generation Small Processing Trailer Laboratory.

Concurrently with the work happening for the vans, we further secured the funding for 17 more trailers based on the original REME Concept Demonstrator. An additional two engineers were stood up to assist, Lieutenant Rob Cushworth and Staff Sergeant Tim Davies were moved to a vehicle fabricators in Essex to support the build. With now a deep portfolio of lessons learnt, from the vans, and already two months of trials and evaluation experience from the original trailers, Lieutenant Cushworth and SSgt Davies were able to take the new design one step further. The final design of the trailer has been a labour of love and the Laboratory is fantastic, whilst also keeping within the limitations of a 2.5 ton trailer, suitable for UK roads. The team have been able to push the design, which in turn has increased processing capacity and ensure an excellent capability for Department of Health and UK Government. Staff Sergeant Davies remarked “as an Electronics Technician I have seen many challenges in my career, although this has been my greatest which I have thoroughly enjoyed overcoming and feel honoured to be part of this amazing team.”

The Testing Unit in use

Summary

Overall, the REME Military Aid to Civil Authority (MACA) Engineering tasks and the teams stood up to support have been fantastic in support of the Department of Health and Social Care. The mobilised teams have been pulled from different units, cobbled together to complete very bespoke and specialist engineering tasks. The success of the tasks has been the professional competency of the REME, the positive attitudes of the soldiers and officers within the Corps and the excellent initial training these soldiers and officers receive has ensured not only the reputational success of the REME but these teams have made a marked difference in the Governments fight against COVID-19.

Of note throughout this task has been the support of the engineering family, at times most members of the team have felt out of their depth or have pushed their engineering limits, but the ability to work together, the ability to reach into other areas of the organisation for advice and guidance has been this programme’s success. Behind the scenes many people have lent in to support, including assisting at the last minute to assess the analysis of the laboratories in the Freezing Conditions experienced this winter in Scotland, through to the 3D Printing Capability of 5 Battalion REME, who have assisted when lock down took its toll and we were unable to obtain parts. The reputation of the REME has been truly paved within the Department of Health and Social Care as a First-Class engineering organisation. I have been extremely proud to not only be part of these teams but lead these Engineers in their tasks and proud of what the REME have achieved during the last eight months.