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Nuclear Safeguards Programme

Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

Award

30 Sep 2026 at 17:42

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
AwardUpdate

30 Sep 2026 at 10:56

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

01 Jun 2026 at 09:49

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

02 Feb 2026 at 18:00

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

09 Sep 2025 at 13:04

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

22 May 2025 at 10:38

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero bought technical nuclear safeguards services through its Nuclear Safeguards Programme. The work supports the International Atomic Energy Agency and the department in verifying that states meet commitments not to misuse nuclear material to make nuclear explosives. It also supports the effectiveness and development of international safeguards policy, the UK’s obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and domestic government policy on safeguards and non-proliferation. Safeguards help underpin international trade in civilian nuclear materials, equipment and technology, and the UK’s civil nuclear energy plans. The services are delivered in support of UK government and international safeguards work; the procurement identifies the United Kingdom as the delivery location.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to the United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory. The award date was 19 May 2026 and the contract was signed on 18 September 2026. The contract runs from 28 September 2026 to 31 March 2030, with optional extensions of two years and one year, to a maximum end date of 31 March 2033. Its value is £19.5 million excluding VAT (£23.4 million including VAT). There was one lot. The department used an open competitive flexible procedure, with a supplier questionnaire stage followed by tender evaluation and negotiation. Initial participation conditions were pass/fail, apart from technical ability, which was scored; suppliers needed at least 6 out of 10 on each technical ability question to progress. Final tenders were assessed using a weighted value-for-money index covering technical quality and commercial factors.

This award shows demand for specialist nuclear safeguards support spanning technical advice to the IAEA, support for DESNZ and wider UK government, and work on safeguards policy and non-proliferation. A credible future competitor would need demonstrable technical ability across this field, together with the capacity to deliver a substantial, multi-year programme and work effectively with both an international body and central government. The assessment placed a material gate on technical ability, so evidence of relevant expertise and delivery capability would be central to qualifying, alongside meeting mandatory participation conditions. Contract performance also requires proactive risk and issue management, effective subcontractor oversight and prompt payment, and compliance with legal, regulatory, information-security and data-protection requirements. The contract’s scale and potential extensions favour suppliers able to sustain specialist teams and manage delivery and supply-chain performance over the long term.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Nuclear Safeguards Programme

Notice Description

The Nuclear Safeguards Programme (NSP) provides international nuclear safeguards technical support to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). Nuclear safeguards are technical measures to verify that States comply with their international obligations not to misuse nuclear materials for the manufacture of nuclear explosives. They are an essential part of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and underpin the international system of assurance which enables trade in civil nuclear material, equipment and technology between states - as such they have a key enabling role in the UK's own plans for civil nuclear energy as part of the low carbon energy mix. The NSP is part of the UK contribution to the maintenance of the international safeguards regime with main aims as follows: - to assist the IAEA in ensuring the continued and improved effectiveness of its safeguards system and to influence the formulation of technical safeguards policy in the IAEA; - to assist the United Kingdom in meeting international obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons ('the NPT') in as cost-effective a manner as possible; - to provide direct safeguards and technical support to DESNZ and the wider UK Government to assist in the formulation of domestic policy on safeguards and non-proliferation issues Market engagement A structured programme of market engagement was undertaken to inform the procurement strategy and ensure alignment with supplier capability and market conditions. This included: Three online sessions were held (23rd September, 28th October 2025 and 21st January 2026). We carried out market engagement to test capability, gather feedback, and inform the procurement approach.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The contract will be for 3.5 years with two optional extension periods of 2 years and 1 year respectively.

Planning Information

Suppliers interested in participating are invited to express their interest in attending a webinar organised by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). This webinar will take place on Tuesday, 23rd September 2025 at 3:00pm. To confirm attendance, suppliers must send an email to nuclearcommercial@energysecurity.gov.uk by 12:00 PM GMT on 22nd September 2025. The email should include the organisation name and the names and email addresses of up to three nominated attendees. Engagement Process The Department will conduct a preliminary market engagement session, open to all suppliers and interested parties. After each session, a written questionnaire will be provided, offering respondents the chance to submit more detailed and confidential feedback. During the webinar, there will be a presentation outlining the high-level service requirements. The session will also cover initial ideas regarding the procurement structure and commercial aspects. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share comments, with further input welcome via the follow-up questionnaire distributed after the event. Webinar Details The Preliminary Market Engagement Webinar will be hosted via MS Teams at 3:00pm on Tuesday, 23rd September 2025. For those unable to attend, the session content can be provided upon request following the webinar. How to Express Interest To register interest in attending the engagement sessions and submitting feedback, parties should email nuclearcommercial@energysecurity.gov.uk. Please include the names, roles, and organisation for up to three attendees. It should be noted that DESNZ does not guarantee the launch of a procurement process and cannot be held responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by potential suppliers in registering their interest.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051ceb
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092597-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

09 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

09340000 - Nuclear fuels

71356000 - Technical services

98113100 - Nuclear safety services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£19,500,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£19,500,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£19,500,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£19,500,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
29 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
1 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
19 May 20264 months ago
Contract Period
28 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2HP
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

National Nuclear Laboratory

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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