Award

3m3 Box Design Optimisation and Development

SELLAFIELD LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

26 May 2026 at 10:49

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process undertaken by Sellafield Limited, a sub-central government authority based in Warrington, United Kingdom, focuses on the "3m³ Box Design Optimisation and Development" project. The contract, awarded to Stainless Metalcraft (Chatteris) Limited, centres around engineering development, design, and validation activities within the manufacturing environment of 3m³ boxes. Identified as a direct award due to a lack of competitive alternatives for technical reasons, this process is completed with an award date of 26th May 2026, and the contract period spanning from 30th June 2026 to 30th June 2027. The procurement method utilised was direct procurement, underlining the absence of viable substitutes due to specific technical requirements and the need for continuity in manufacturing processes.

This tender offers potential growth opportunities for large engineering firms with specialised experience in industrial process and production, particularly those engaged in containers for waste material. Companies like Stainless Metalcraft that possess the ability to optimise existing designs and infrastructure in complex manufacturing environments can leverage their technical knowledge and equipment to meet stringent safety and quality requirements. The exclusive nature of the procurement decision suggests that businesses capable of delivering bespoke engineering design services and possessing pre-existing operational infrastructure, like tooling and validated manufacturing processes, are ideally positioned to exploit similar opportunities in this specialised sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

3m3 Box Design Optimisation and Development

Notice Description

The contract covers engineering development, testing and validation activities to support the ongoing optimisation of the existing 3m3 box design currently utilised within the live manufacturing environment, including: * Development and validation of methods to support refurbishment and reuse activities * Design and testing of enhanced base configurations to support long term performance * Development of an alternative reduced height bund configuration to improve operability and process efficiency * Testing and verification of proposed improvements * Preparation of supporting manufacturing instructions and technical documentation to enable controlled implementation This activity relates solely to the existing production design and supports ongoing product and process optimisation within the live manufacturing environment.

Procurement Information

It has been determined that competition is absent for technical reasons in accordance with Schedule 5, paragraph 6(a) and 6(b) of the Procurement Act 2023, and that no reasonable alternative or substitute exists. The scope of this contract is limited to development, optimisation, and validation activities directly associated with the manufacture of 3m3 boxes produced using Stainless Metalcraft Chatteris (SMC)'s established and validated manufacturing process. These activities are inseparable from the existing production route and rely on production-specific tooling, equipment, processes, and manufacturing knowledge embedded within the live manufacturing environment. SMC is the incumbent manufacturer and the only organisation with direct access to the current qualified production configuration, accumulated process learning, validated methods of manufacture, and in-process and completed box inventory. The required activities must be designed, trialled, and validated directly within the live manufacturing environment to maintain compliance with safety, quality, and assurance requirements. For technical reasons, the scope cannot be delivered by an alternative supplier without establishing an equivalent qualified manufacturing environment, including replication of tooling, equipment, process capability, and validated production controls. Establishing and qualifying such an environment would be incompatible with the requirement to apply improvements directly within the existing production system and would not represent a viable, proportionate, or practicable alternative. Accordingly, in line with Schedule 5, paragraph 6(a), only SMC can deliver the required services for technical reasons, and in line with paragraph 6(b), no reasonable alternative or substitute exists. The award of this contract to SMC therefore represents the only technically viable means of meeting the authority's requirements. This contract relates solely to the optimisation of the existing 3m3 production arrangements.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a316
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048590-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency 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

44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

44613800 - Containers for waste material

71323000 - Engineering-design services for industrial process and production

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
26 May 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
29 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2027 1-2 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

STAINLESS METALCRAFT (CHATTERIS

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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