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Site Characterisation Professional Services Support (SCPSS) - C26888

Nuclear Waste Services Limited

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Planning

24 Aug 2026 at 13:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

25 Feb 2026 at 11:52

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

25 Nov 2025 at 17:00

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

15 Sep 2025 at 15:38

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Nuclear Waste Services Limited intends to establish a professional services framework for site characterisation across multiple sites. Site characterisation develops detailed knowledge of geology and the surrounding environment through investigative work, helping assess the safety and suitability of sites, inform design and construction methods, improve cost certainty, and support design and safety-case teams in meeting regulatory requirements. The planned services cover three areas: site characterisation planning and technical advice; geological and geophysical interpretation and modelling; and hydrogeological interpretation and modelling. The work includes environmental, geological, geophysical, hydrogeological, geotechnical, engineering, surveying, mapping, monitoring and nuclear safety consultancy. Delivery is across multiple sites managed by Nuclear Waste Services Limited.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the buyer has announced an intention to procure and has not yet invited tenders. It is expected to use an open procedure for a framework agreement. The estimated value is £13.8 million excluding VAT, or £16.56 million including VAT. The planned publication date for the next notice is 29 September 2026. A pre-tender market engagement webinar is scheduled for 15:00 on 14 September 2026. The framework is divided into three lots covering planning and technical advice, geological and geophysical interpretation and modelling, and hydrogeological interpretation and modelling. Lot 1 is planned to run from 26 April 2027 to 28 April 2031, with renewal possible until 28 April 2032. The procurement is above threshold.

This will suit consultancies and specialist teams working in nuclear, environmental, geological, geophysical, hydrogeological, geotechnical and engineering services. Relevant capability includes planning site-characterisation programmes, interpreting and modelling geological, geophysical and hydrogeological data, undertaking site investigations and scientific prospecting, environmental and groundwater monitoring, seismic and petrophysical analysis, digital mapping, and providing technical advice to safety-case and design teams. Suppliers with experience applying these disciplines to complex, regulated sites should prepare to demonstrate robust technical methods, multidisciplinary delivery and the ability to support assessments of site safety and suitability. The framework is intended to support work across multiple sites. Lot 1 is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, which may make planning and technical advisory services accessible to specialist smaller consultancies.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Site Characterisation Professional Services Support (SCPSS) - C26888

Notice Description

Further to the previous preliminary market engagement notice (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016818-2026), a pre-tender market engagement webinar on will take place at 15:00 on 14/09/2026. Please use the link below to register for the webinar: Nuclear Waste Services SCPSS Webinar (https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/1e2d673b-4388-450c-9977-7c5c76dfc755@1929b5b6-230e-4b2e-837a-b96f0a9b1b56?source=copyLinkLegacyShareEventDialog) If you have any queries or require technical assistance with registration, please contact: gdfmajorprocurements@nuclearwasteservices.uk The Site Characterisation Professional Services Support (SCPSS) framework is designed to provide NWS with comprehensive support across all aspects of site characterisation activities. Site Characterisation is the process of developing a detailed understanding of the geology and surrounding environment of an area. It involves a range of investigative activities, which will help NWS to inform assessments of the safety and suitability of sites. Site Characterisation enables a better understanding of the likely design and construction methodologies and therefore a higher certainty of the cost outturn. NWS must ensure they have knowledge and processes in place to meet requirements of design and safety case teams in line with regulations. The scope is to provide professional services support for site characterisation activities across multiple sites. The scope has been split into three Lots: Lot 1: Site Characterisation Planning and Technical Advisory Services Lot 2: Geological and Geophysical Interpretation and Modelling Lot 3: Hydrogeological Interpretation and Modelling A pre-tender market engagement webinar on will take place at 15:00 on 14/09/2026. Please use the link below to register for the webinar: NWS has also created a webpage to facilitate communication with the market and the sharing of documentation. The link to the webpage is: www.nuclearwasteservices.uk/2025/11/site-characterisation-professional-services-support-scpss/

Planning Information

a pre-tender market engagement webinar on will take place at 15:00 on 14/09/2026. Please use the link below to register for the webinar: Nuclear Waste Services SCPSS Webinar (https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/1e2d673b-4388-450c-9977-7c5c76dfc755@1929b5b6-230e-4b2e-837a-b96f0a9b1b56?source=copyLinkLegacyShareEventDialog) If you have any queries or require technical assistance with registration, please contact: gdfmajorprocurements@nuclearwasteservices.uk NWS has also created a webpage to facilitate communication with the market and the sharing of documentation. The link to the webpage is: www.nuclearwasteservices.uk/2025/11/site-characterisation-professional-services-support-scpss/

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-059a7a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080352-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

71300000 - Engineering services

71311000 - Civil engineering consultancy services

71312000 - Structural engineering consultancy services

71313000 - Environmental engineering consultancy services

71318000 - Advisory and consultative engineering services

71332000 - Geotechnical engineering services

71336000 - Engineering support services

71351000 - Geological, geophysical and other scientific prospecting services

71351100 - Core preparation and analysis services

71351200 - Geological and geophysical consultancy services

71351400 - Petrophysical interpretation services

71351500 - Ground investigation services

71351700 - Scientific prospecting services

71351710 - Geophysical prospecting services

71351900 - Geology, oceanography and hydrology services

71352100 - Seismic services

71353000 - Surface surveying services

71354100 - Digital mapping services

71510000 - Site-investigation services

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

90710000 - Environmental management

90711000 - Environmental impact assessment other than for construction

90711500 - Environmental monitoring other than for construction

90712000 - Environmental planning

90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services

90733700 - Groundwater pollution monitoring or control services

98113100 - Nuclear safety services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£13,800,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Aug 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
29 Sep 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
26 Apr 2027 - 28 Apr 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Nuclear Waste Services Limited
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CALDERBRIDGE, SEASCALE
Postcode
CA20 1DB
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
Gosforth
Westminster Constituency
Whitehaven and Workington

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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