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The provisions for services to collect, transport, store and process existing High Activity Sealed Radioactive Sources (SRS) using a pre-determined disposal route.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

This public procurement record has 8 releases in its history.

ContractAmendment

21 Aug 2026 at 14:35

UK10 - Contract Change Notice
ContractAmendment

20 Aug 2026 at 12:26

UK10 - Contract Change Notice
Award

19 Aug 2026 at 16:20

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

02 Sep 2025 at 16:21

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

12 Jun 2025 at 11:34

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

11 Jun 2025 at 15:46

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

10 Mar 2025 at 08:52

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

07 Mar 2025 at 13:41

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority bought specialist radioactive-waste services for the UK programme replacing and disposing of Caesium-137 high-activity sealed sources. The requirement covers collecting, transporting, storing and processing existing sources from Gammacell 3000 and IBL 437 irradiator units, removing the sources and preparing them for disposal. The first phase covers six irradiator units containing 12 sources, with an option for three further units containing up to six additional sources. The supplier must dismantle and transport the units, store the sources for up to 36 months, remove and package them in a disposable liner and 1648C transport package, then return them to Sellafield’s Miscellaneous Beta Gamma Waste Store. Processing may take place in the UK or abroad, while the delivery area is the United Kingdom.

This was a completed, above-threshold open procedure with one lot, evaluated on quality and price. The contract was awarded to Eckert and Ziegler after two valid bids, with the award dated 1 September 2025 and the contract signed on 22 September 2025. The awarded procurement value was £4,500,000 excluding VAT, or £5,400,000 including VAT. The signed contract value is £1,886,245.69 excluding VAT, or £2,263,494.83 including VAT. The contract runs from 19 August 2026 to 24 September 2028, with a possible one-year extension to 24 September 2029. Evaluation weighted price at 25% and quality at 75%, including technical capability, methodology, experience, mobilisation, work organisation, social value and sustainability. The requirement was identified as suitable for SMEs.

This procurement demonstrates demand for suppliers able to manage the full chain of high-activity sealed-source work, rather than only transport or disposal. A credible competitor would need proven capability in irradiator dismantling, Caesium-137 removal, radioactive-material packaging, secure transport and compliant interim storage. It would need the facilities, equipment and technical infrastructure to interface with the 1648C transport package and disposable liners, including capacity for source storage and processing. Strong evidence would include the required safety, security, import, export, handling, storage and transport consents and approvals; trained personnel with relevant radioactive-waste and high-activity-source experience; emergency and contingency arrangements; and robust quality, health-and-safety and route planning. The buyer also assessed mobilisation, capacity management, performance reporting, environmental improvement, waste reduction and social-value delivery, so these should be supported by measurable methods and relevant past performance.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

The provisions for services to collect, transport, store and process existing High Activity Sealed Radioactive Sources (SRS) using a pre-determined disposal route.

Notice Description

The Home Office have established a programme for the replacement and disposal of Caesium-137 High Activity Sealed Sources (HASS), used in the medical and research industries, as part of a strategy to reduce the likelihood of a terrorist using high risk radiological materials in the UK. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has been instructed by the Department of Energy Security & Net-Zero (DESNZ) to support the Home Office-led initiative by providing support and expertise knowledge for the collection of the HASS and managing the HASS through a suitable waste management route. The Miscellaneous Beta Gamma Waste Store (MBGWS) at Sellafield is the current waste management route for sealed sources in the UK. The programme is voluntary, meaning owners of Cs-137 sources (End-Users) within scope can apply to participate in the scheme to dispose of their sources and receive a grant for replacing with safer technologies. The programme will be delivered in phases as End-Users make their sources available for disposal. The NDA, with their trusted partner Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS), is leading on the procurement and delivery of the first phase of this programme. This first phase of the programme will act as a pathfinder and lessons learned will be fundamental for the future success of the programme. The NDA are looking for a supplier, or consortium of suppliers, to deliver the first phase of this programme. The high-level scope of this procurement includes: * Number of Irradiator Units - 6 with the option to add a further 3 Irradiator Units * Number of Cs-137 sources - 12 sources in the 6 original Irradiator Units with 2 sources per Irradiator Unit, potential for a further 6 sources in the optional 3 Irradiator Units * Geographical area - United Kingdom * Models of Irradiator Units - Gammacell (r) 3000 and IBL 437 * Supplier to collect, transport, store and process the Irradiator Unit(s), ), in the UK or abroad, to remove the Cs-137 sources. * Pack the Cs-137 sources into the disposable liner and 1648C transport package for return to Sellafield MBGWS. The 1648C transport package is an NDA Group asset that is currently in the process of being licenced as a Type B(M) transport package, led by Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS). The 1648C is widely and regularly received and managed at MBGWS at Sellafield. The proposed scope is likely to be broadly split into two delivery phases: Phase 1 * The Supplier is to complete all pre-collection activities to prepare the Irradiator Unit(s) for collection from the End-User premises including, but not limited to, obtaining all required permits and licences, coordinating on logistics and schedules and putting in place all health and safety requirements etc. * The Supplier is to dismantle the Irradiator Unit(s) and package the Irradiator Unit(s) for transport to the Supplier premises (in the UK or abroad) ensuring it has the required consents and permits to transport . * The Supplier will ensure they have all required permits and capacity to store the sources for up to 36 months on the Supplier premises in either the Irradiator Units or a suitable liner. * The Supplier will process the Irradiator Unit(s) to remove the Cs-137 sources and place into the appropriate liner. * Additionally, the Supplier premises will have the capability, or agree to develop the capability, to handle and interface with the 1648C and its accompanying liner once it has been licenced enabling the sources to be packed into the disposable liner for return to Sellafield. * The Supplier will pack the sources into the disposable liner and the 1648C transport package, when available. After completion of Phase 1, the Authority will have the option to exercise a break clause within the proposed contract should the Supplier not be required for return of the sources. In the event that the Supplier is not required for return of the sources, the Supplier commits to support the Authority in preparing the sources for return via an alternative route to be determined. Phase 2 * The Supplier will collect the 1648C transport packages and disposable liners from the UK and transport to the Supplier premises ready for return of the sources. * The Supplier will then load the sources into the disposable liner and subsequently the 1648C transport packages, onto the universal transport frame (UTF), and transport the sources back to the UK, directly to Sellafield. Please be advised that participation in this procurement process is subject to national security considerations. Suppliers may be excluded if their proposal is deemed to pose a risk to national security.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: 3 years + 1 year (total 4 years if option taken)

Renewal: Option for 1 year extension upon instruction from the authority

Planning Information

The NDA shall host a supplier engagement event on 27th March 2025, 09.30am to 12:30pm. This supplier event will be via a Microsoft Teams conference. To register an interest please sign into or register with Atamis our e-sourcing portal: https://one-nda.force.com/s/Welcome. Use the messaging function within the Atamis PIN project (C24417) to provide details of names and email addresses of attendees. Maximum of 2 staff per supplier. This call will provide suppliers with a high-level overview of the programme, the procurement's objectives and key requirements, and act as an opportunity for suppliers to ask questions. There is the potential for supplier one-to-one sessions the following week.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04ea87
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079978-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK10 - Contract Change Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

90521100 - Collection of radioactive waste

90521200 - Radioactive waste storage services

90521300 - Disposal of radioactive waste

90521400 - Transport of radioactive waste

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£4,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£4,500,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,886,245 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Aug 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
16 Jul 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
18 Apr 2025Expired
Award Date
1 Sep 202512 months ago
Contract Period
19 Aug 2026 - 24 Sep 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CUMBRIA
Postcode
CA24 3HU
Postcode Area
Carlisle
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD1 Cumbria
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD13 Cumberland
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Cumberland
Electoral Ward
Egremont North and St Bees
Westminster Constituency
Whitehaven and Workington

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Eckert and Ziegler

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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