Award

Provision of the Nuclear Innovation and Research Office (NIRO)

DEPARTMENT FOR ENERGY SECURITY & NET ZERO

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

01 Sep 2025 at 14:10

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

01 Sep 2025 at 10:08

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

28 Aug 2025 at 15:10

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero has completed a direct award contract titled "Provision of the Nuclear Innovation and Research Office (NIRO)" to the United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory Ltd. The process falls under the services category, focusing on research and development consultancy. The contract aims to deliver strategic and technical advice on nuclear energy to support the UK's low carbon and secure energy aspirations. This award, valued at £1.9 million net, extends from 1st September 2025 to 31st March 2026 and operates primarily in the UK. The contract was signed on 5th August 2025, with the award process conforming to the legal framework laid out by the UK Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

This contract presents opportunities for large research and technical consultancy firms, especially those familiar with government projects related to energy security and nuclear research. The work involves providing strategic advice to the government, indicating that businesses with a strong reputation and technical expertise in nuclear innovation would benefit from leveraging such contracts to establish themselves as key contributors in the burgeoning UK nuclear sector. As a single tender action, this award emphasizes the importance of building a solid professional rapport with public authorities to qualify for direct award situations.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of the Nuclear Innovation and Research Office (NIRO)

Notice Description

NIRO provides independent strategic and technical advice to Government that will de-risk investment, inform policy, and enable maximum value for money to the UK taxpayer. NIRO works in partnership with NIRAB to advise on the research and innovation needed for nuclear energy to play a significant role in the UK's future low carbon and secure energy mix while creating the environment for UK nuclear industry to contribute significantly to our economy.

Procurement Information

We would therefore like to relet this contract as a Single Tender Action, for the following reasons: * NIRO has built up a strong reputation amongst end users in DESNZ - people now understand the service and what it offers, and trust NIRO to deliver. It is also respected by the wider nuclear industry as an objective party who can convene groups with different views to encourage collaboration. * NIRO has recruited a strong team of experts. NNL will need to end the secondments of these people when the contract comes to an end in March, if we do not have certainty about the next contract. DESNZ and NNL would lose credibility with industry partners. * NNL provide the service at cost - they do not charge profit but reclaim a proportion of their overhead costs for hosting the office (IT, central support costs etc). NNL's salary remit is approved by DESNZ Ministers in line with Cabinet Office controls. * Much of what NIRO delivers is related to security / classified issues (e.g work relating to plutonium). Several team members are DV cleared and NNL IT can process sensitive nuclear information. NIRO advise on policy in development when requirements can be unclear and can't be released publicly. * We have a seat on the NNL Board, and DESNZ Ministers approve NNL's salary remit - so we have good oversight of costs, and levers of influence. Both organisations have a desire to make this contract a success on a collaborative basis - we would not have the same levers with a member of the supply chain. * We have developed a set of ethical barriers with NNL to give assurance that NIRO is separate from NNL's commercial operations. This was audited recently and practices found to be strong. Of 10 Findings, six were found to be green, and four amber with recommendations for strengthening practices. The recommendations have all been acted upon. * We consider that competition is absent for technical reasons and that there is therefore a case for relying on the exemption under regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (competition is absent for technical reasons).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-058faf
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052871-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,900,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,900,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
4 Aug 20256 months ago
Contract Period
31 Aug 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 6-12 months
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
Not specified
Contact Email
commercialexcellence@ics.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2HP
Post Town
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

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL NUCLEAR LABORATORY

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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