Planning

Training in Negotiation Skills

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL NUCLEAR LABORATORY LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

15 Oct 2025 at 09:24

Summary of the contracting process

The United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory Limited is initiating a procurement process for a project titled "Training in Negotiation Skills," as part of their safeguards-related training courses. The planning phase is currently underway with a focus on specialist training services within the Public Authority - Sub-Central Government category. The laboratory, located in Warrington, England (UKD61), is expected to commence the contract on 1st April 2026 and continue until 31st March 2029, with potential extensions up to 2031. Key stakeholders are encouraged to express interest by 29th October 2025, to receive a Request for Information Questionnaire (RFI). The contract for this project, valued at £240,000, aligns with the standards of services procurement above the threshold.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in specialist training services, particularly those with a strong background in diplomatic negotiation and services provided to governmental organisations. It is especially suited for firms that are adept at offering training in negotiation skills relevant to international environments and are familiar with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) protocols. This is an attractive opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that meet the security requirements for handling sensitive information, as the procurement process is open to suppliers capable of delivering extensive training and consultancy services. Businesses that successfully secure this contract can expect to expand their expertise and influence within the public sector training market.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

Training in Negotiation Skills

Notice Description

Safeguards-related training courses. UKNNL on behalf of our customers has a long-term requirement for a wide range of safeguards-related training courses. New safeguards inspectors require training and practical experience on fuel cycle plants and the techniques and procedures to be applied during inspections. More advanced courses are required for senior inspectors, whilst specialised courses are desirable for other key personnel. To undertake this training, access to appropriate expertise and nuclear facilities, is required and in some cases made only available by Member States. Inspectors need to develop specific listening and negotiation skills to deal confidently with difficult situations arising from disagreements with local, regional and State authorities, facility personnel in planning, conducting and reporting safeguards inspections and other activities based on Safeguards Agreements. The course objectives must be developed with the purpose to help IAEA staff and inspectors fine-tune their skills, with an emphasis on providing insights and guidance applicable in all structured negotiating situations, and specific tips for dealing with inflexible interlocutors and for handling issues arising from cultural differences and difficult personality traits. Skills required in this course include direct/positive speaking, careful listening, asking 'open' questions, impartiality, confidentiality, handling emotions, self-esteem and 'face-saving' strategies, differing ethnic/cultural value systems, and dealing with 'spoilers' and 'bad leaders'. The course facilitators must have extensive experience in diplomatic negotiation, with the ability to utilise experts and former diplomats with a high-level of experience in negotiation and professional mediation. The proposed contractor must have experience in international or multilateral political environments and must be familiar with the responsibilities and activities of the IAEA and its inspectors. The specific target for the research is considered sensitive and, therefore suppliers must meet the minimum security requirements to handle, OFFICIAL SENSITIVE information.

Planning Information

This market engagement seeks supplier feedback to inform the procurement and programme of work. Interested parties who have demonstrable experience to deliver the scope of work should contact procurement@uknnl.com before 17:00 pm on Wednesday 29th October 2025, to receive a Request for Information Questionnaire (RFI).

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05cd05
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065475-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
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

80 - Education and training services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

80510000 - Specialist training services

98113000 - Services furnished by specialist organisations

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£200,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
29 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL NUCLEAR LABORATORY LIMITED
Contact Name
Gillian Hale
Contact Email
procurement@uknnl.com
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
WARRINGTON
Postcode
WA3 6AE
Post Town
Warrington
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD61 Warrington
Delivery Location
TLD61 Warrington

Local Authority
Warrington
Electoral Ward
Birchwood
Westminster Constituency
Warrington North

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05cd05-2025-10-15T10:24:31+01:00",
    "date": "2025-10-15T10:24:31+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05cd05",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-03857752",
            "name": "UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL NUCLEAR LABORATORY LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "03857752"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PVXT-8784-YGNV"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Chadwick House Warrington Road",
                "locality": "Warrington",
                "postalCode": "WA3 6AE",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKD61"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Gillian Hale",
                "email": "procurement@uknnl.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.uknnl.com",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-COH-03857752",
        "name": "UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL NUCLEAR LABORATORY LIMITED"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "This market engagement seeks supplier feedback to inform the procurement and programme of work. Interested parties who have demonstrable experience to deliver the scope of work should contact procurement@uknnl.com before 17:00 pm on Wednesday 29th October 2025, to receive a Request for Information Questionnaire (RFI).",
                "dueDate": "2025-10-29T23:59:59Z",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "065475-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065475-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-10-15T10:24:31+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "NNLC692.3",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Training in Negotiation Skills",
        "description": "Safeguards-related training courses. UKNNL on behalf of our customers has a long-term requirement for a wide range of safeguards-related training courses. New safeguards inspectors require training and practical experience on fuel cycle plants and the techniques and procedures to be applied during inspections. More advanced courses are required for senior inspectors, whilst specialised courses are desirable for other key personnel. To undertake this training, access to appropriate expertise and nuclear facilities, is required and in some cases made only available by Member States. Inspectors need to develop specific listening and negotiation skills to deal confidently with difficult situations arising from disagreements with local, regional and State authorities, facility personnel in planning, conducting and reporting safeguards inspections and other activities based on Safeguards Agreements. The course objectives must be developed with the purpose to help IAEA staff and inspectors fine-tune their skills, with an emphasis on providing insights and guidance applicable in all structured negotiating situations, and specific tips for dealing with inflexible interlocutors and for handling issues arising from cultural differences and difficult personality traits. Skills required in this course include direct/positive speaking, careful listening, asking 'open' questions, impartiality, confidentiality, handling emotions, self-esteem and 'face-saving' strategies, differing ethnic/cultural value systems, and dealing with 'spoilers' and 'bad leaders'. The course facilitators must have extensive experience in diplomatic negotiation, with the ability to utilise experts and former diplomats with a high-level of experience in negotiation and professional mediation. The proposed contractor must have experience in international or multilateral political environments and must be familiar with the responsibilities and activities of the IAEA and its inspectors. The specific target for the research is considered sensitive and, therefore suppliers must meet the minimum security requirements to handle, OFFICIAL SENSITIVE information.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80510000",
                        "description": "Specialist training services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "98113000",
                        "description": "Services furnished by specialist organisations"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKD61",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 240000,
            "amount": 200000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2029-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2031-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}