Award

Uni-Directional and bi-directional saw blades

SELLAFIELD LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

05 Mar 2026 at 15:22

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

04 Mar 2026 at 10:40

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Sellafield Limited has undertaken a procurement process for the provision of approximately 230 specialist, non-standard saw blades, necessary for their critical operations. This procurement falls under the category of goods, specifically power tools, and is taking place at Warrington, United Kingdom. The method employed is a direct award, justified under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, due to unique technical needs that necessitate a single supplier approach. The award is pending and valued at nearly £1.2 million gross, with significant operational implications. The contract is scheduled to commence on 10 March 2026 and is set to run until 9 March 2028.

The decision to engage Fernite of Sheffield Limited opens noteworthy opportunities for businesses specialising in power tool manufacturing, particularly those able to handle bespoke specifications and supply chain continuity. The emphasis on non-standard consumable goods presents a niche market for companies that have intellectual property capabilities and seek to enhance operational processes in collaboration with public authorities. SMEs can benefit from participating in pre-market engagements for future competitive procurement meant to devise long-term solutions, thereby expanding strategic partnerships with major public sector buyers like Sellafield Limited.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Uni-Directional and bi-directional saw blades

Notice Description

Provision of the manufacture, quality assurance, and delivery of approximately 230 specialist, non-standard saw blades

Procurement Information

A Direct Award is justified under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 using the Schedule 5 justification for Single Supplier - Technical Reasons. The requirement involves highly specialist, non-standard consumable goods that must be manufactured to bespoke specifications unique to our operational processes. Moving to a new supplier would require redevelopment of the existing blade design and production methodology, creating avoidable technical uncertainty and disproportionate operational and cost risk. The supplier also holds the Intellectual Property rights for the current design and associated manufacturing methodology, which were developed from our initial concept but remain solely owned by the supplier. As a result, no other supplier is able to lawfully or technically replicate the product without significant redevelopment work, making competition unviable at this stage. While this is not the primary basis for the Direct Award, there is also a contributing operational requirement: continued supply of these specialist consumables is essential to maintain critical operations and avoid disruption to key production activities. A delay in sourcing these goods from an alternative supplier--who would first need to develop a new solution--would introduce operational risk. This Direct Award is therefore being used as a short-term, interim measure to ensure continuity of supply whilst the organisation prepares pre-market engagement and a full competitive procurement to establish a longer-term, sustainable solution.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0661ce
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020023-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

43 - Machinery for mining, quarrying, construction equipment

CPV Codes

43830000 - Power tools

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£999,999 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Mar 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
27 Feb 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
25 Mar 2026 - 24 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SELLAFIELD 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
WARRINGTON
Postcode
WA3 6GR
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
Not specified
Local Authority
Warrington
Electoral Ward
Birchwood
Westminster Constituency
Warrington North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

FERNITE OF SHEFFIELD

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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