Services to support the National Rollout for establishing a waste management route for existing High Activity Sealed Sources (HASS) in the UK

What the buyer is asking for

Framework for the Provision of services to support the National Rollout for establishing a waste management route for existing High Activity Sealed Sources (HASS) in the UK. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is seeking to appoint a single supplier to support delivery of the National Rollout of Operation Fieldfare. The services comprise the safe, secure and compliant collection, dismantling, transport, interim storage, processing and return of Caesium-137 High Activity Sealed Sources contained within irradiator units located across the United Kingdom. The supplier will be required to provide an end-to-end waste management solution, including all necessary planning, site liaison, regulatory approvals, transport arrangements, source recovery, packaging, consignment documentation and delivery of sources to a UK site designated by the Authority, including Sellafield where applicable.

How this is scored

Published by the buyer. A winning response is written to these weightings, not to the question.

• 5%qualityProgramme Management, Risk and Stakeholder IntegrationT3a: Programme Controls (5%) The bidder should clearly identify in their bid a point of contact who will work closely with the Authority to organise and prepare End-Users for irradiator collections. As part of this the bidder will demonstrate they have the capability to: • Maintain responsibility for managing an integrated schedule for the whole of the Services • Critical path management • Reporting arrangements • Change controls • Call-off procurement responses • Manage delivery of these Services in conjunction with their other organisational commitments
• 10%qualityDelivery Model & MobilisationT1a: Mobilisation (10%) To support the Authority in assessing the bidders readiness the bidder will be required to demonstrate in their bid: • Evidence the supplier has the capacity and capability to start services. • A detailed mobilisation plan from contract award with timelines/schedules grounded in practicality. • Critical path activities and identification of any risks/dependencies. • Resource deployment strategy to ensure all activities are sufficiently resourced to deliver timely mobilisation.
• 10%qualityDelivery Model & MobilisationT1b: Delivery Model (10%) The bidder will be required to detail their model for delivering against the scope of the Services and demonstrate how this model provides benefits to the Services such as: • An overview of how the supplier will approach each collection from the point of signing the contract for the collection all the way through to end-point whether it be the Source Recovery Services or Direct Irradiator Transport Services. • Approach to sequencing of collections should there be more than one collection required and any dependencies. • Capacity assumptions at the bidder. • Scalability of operations. • Ability to accommodate fluctuations in programme demand. Proposals should be supported by evidence and past performance where applicable.
• 10%qualityTechnical Solution, Regulatory Compliance and Waste Route DeliveryT2a: Technical Solution (10%) The bidder should demonstrate a clear understanding of the technical elements and operational challenges of the Services and articulate clearly how they intend to deliver the Services (e.g. using what equipment, transport packages, facilities, technology etc.). The bidder should therefore include: • Collection methodology including dismantling and preparations of irradiators, transport packages required etc. • Device handling strategy including movement, lifting and packaging of irradiators. • Transport arrangements and ability to interface with the 1648C and ancillary equipment, complying with all operating, maintenance and handling instructions. • Processing methodology for the Preferred: Source Recover Services including encapsulation, if available. • Storage arrangements and management of any long-term storage risks. • Repatriation including the ability to comply with Sellafield consignment requirements (as part of Source Recovery Services) and flexibility to consign to another NDA site if required (as part of the Direct Irradiator Transport Services). • BAT compliance Also include information about contingency planning (e.g., transport contingencies such as alternative transport and security arrangements; emergency response arrangements; technical contingencies such as backup systems for equipment failure; financial contingencies such as insurance; logistical contingencies for issues such as customs and border control and coordination with local authorities; etc.). The supplier should use previous examples to support their bid where applicable and clearly articulate how their experience and skills could deliver the full scope of irradiators in scope of these Services (both Source Recovery Services & Direct Irradiator Transport Services).
• 10%qualityTechnical Solution, Regulatory Compliance and Waste Route DeliveryT2b: Regulatory Compliance & Authorisations (10%) Referring to the methodology to be deployed, Bidders will demonstrate an understanding of all applicable laws, regulations and competent authority requirements and ensure that they have the necessary licences, permits, consents, certificates, and relevant qualifications to deliver the Services (especially those related to quality management, safety, security and the import/export/handling/storage/transport of radioactive materials). This includes the organisation’s safety and security protocols for handling HASS/radioactive material, including any emergency response plans, staff training programs, and specific measures to ensure secure transportation. Beyond these the bid should include evidence of: • ADR and CDG09 compliance. • Confirmation of all proposed packaging licences and any risks/limitations. • Environmental permitting compliance and scope. • Import/export approvals evidence (if required). • Security arrangements at their sites. • Regulatory engagement strategy with all regulators. • Include a description of the quality control system applied to the Service(s) concerning the quality of the deliverables (e.g., Quality Plans), relevant Work plan, Health and Safety plan, Site-specific safety plan, and route plan.
• 5%qualityProgramme Management, Risk and Stakeholder IntegrationT3b: Risk Management (5%) Likewise, the supplier will be required to maintain and update a risk register for review quarterly with the project team. The bidder should therefore demonstrate: • Risk identification methodology • Regulatory risk management • Mitigation planning • Opportunity management • Schedule recovery planning
• 5%qualityProgramme Management, Risk and Stakeholder IntegrationT3c: Stakeholder Management (5%) Critically, it will important for the supplier point of contact to manage a broad array of stakeholders and therefore any submission should demonstrate how: • The supplier will engage with End-Users • The supplier will engage with the NDA, NTS and Sellafield • Regulator interactions will be managed
• 10%qualityOrganisational Capability, Resources & ExperienceT4: Organisational Capability, Resources & Experience (10%) Within the description of the project team it will be important for the bidder to emphasise and demonstrate their experience and skills that will support in successful delivery of the Services, including: • Radioactive material transport • HASS management • Irradiator dismantling • International shipments (if required) • Waste management support • Disposal consignment • Processing capability • Regulatory and legislative experience and knowledge
• 10%qualitySocial ValueT5. Social Value (10%) • Bidders should demonstrate how they deliver environmental benefits in the performance of the Contract and should include how they are working towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions, e.g. this will be particularly relevant to the service(s)element that involves transportation. • Bidders should also note how they influence staff, suppliers, customers and stakeholders throughout the delivery of the contract to support environmental protection and improvement. • The Bidders should also demonstrate how they manage and achieve reduction in waste, e.g. following device size reduction, active and non-active elements will have to be separated, and where possible recycled. KPI’s and MI will then be set to evidence this throughout the duration of the contract.
• 25%pricePricePlease complete the pricing schedule, providing a complete breakdown of costs. 25%

How contested is this?

Buyers publish how many bids they received. Across 24 comparable procurements we can tell you the typical field size, how often one of these goes uncontested, and whether the buyer awards on price or on quality.

Timeline

4 published dates · Europe/London

1. Tender notice publishedyesterday

   28 Sept 2026, 16:53 BST
2. Clarification questions byin 42 days

   10 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
3. Submission deadlinein 42 days

   10 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
4. Award decision expected byin 57 days

   24 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT

Commercial outcome and contract awards

Nothing awarded yet

Notice history

7 events · 7 releases on Find a Tender

1. Pipeline or early engagement notice10 Apr 2026, 13:11 BST032825-2026
2. Pipeline or early engagement notice30 Jul 2026, 13:50 BST072205-2026
3. Notice published17 Aug 2026, 14:27 BST078150-2026
4. Notice published17 Aug 2026, 14:47 BST078169-2026
5. Tender notice28 Sept 2026, 16:35 BST091578-2026
6. Tender updated28 Sept 2026, 16:48 BST091587-2026
7. Tender updated28 Sept 2026, 16:53 BST091590-2026

Documents

• Tender notice on Find a Tender