Planning

Waste Transfer System

UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

27 May 2026 at 16:01

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by the UK Atomic Energy Authority focuses on the Waste Transfer System project within the nuclear decommissioning industry. The buying organisation, located at the Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire, is progressing through the planning stage for this project, which aims to support the Joint European Torus (JET) Decommissioning and Repurposing Programme. Key dates include a market engagement scheduled by 17th June 2026, and a projected contract start date on 1st January 2027. This procurement falls under the industry categories of fabrication work, welding, and transportation and packaging of intermediate level nuclear waste, with an overall contract value of £1,750,000. The project highlights potential opportunities for scale and sophistication in nuclear waste management and site repurposing.

This tender process opens up growth opportunities for businesses specialising in nuclear decommissioning, fabrication, standard freight containers, and waste transportation. These businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with capabilities in providing specialised goods and services, can benefit from this contract by engaging in the intricate tasks required for dismantling and securing the high-precision Waste Transfer System. With multiple elements requiring fabrication to function seamlessly, businesses with expertise in engineering, welding, and nuclear waste packaging solutions are ideally positioned to compete for this tender, making it an attractive opportunity for those looking to expand their footprint in the niche sector of nuclear facility management.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Waste Transfer System

Notice Description

The Joint European Torus (JET) was an experimental fusion tokamak, capable of operating with deuterium-tritium (D-T) plasmas, located at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in Oxfordshire. After 40 years of record-breaking fusion research the JET machine ceased to operate in December 2023. The tokamak and its associated facilities are now being decommissioned or repurposed. The capability to achieve this requires a full spectrum of nuclear decommissioning capabilities including dismantling and size reduction of the JET machine, processing the associated waste streams (including Intermediate-Level Waste (ILW) and Low-Level Waste (LLW)), consignment of waste material from site and repurposing existing facilities. The JET Decommissioning and Repurposing (JDR) Programme is UKAEA's long term programme to safely decommission the JET fusion facility and repurpose the Culham site, following the completion of JET operations. The JDR Programme is undertaking the process of removing waste from the JET vessel via its Remote Handling (RH) capability. To undertake this activity, JDR requires multiple elements to be fabricated - these must work seamless together. The JDR Programme references these elements as "The Waste Transfer System".

Planning Information

https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=105845&TID=100110967&B=

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a6d9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049945-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

45 - Construction work

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

44613300 - Standard freight containers

45255400 - Fabrication work

45262680 - Welding

90521420 - Transportation of intermediate level nuclear waste

90521520 - Packaging of intermediate level nuclear waste

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,750,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Sep 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
OXFORDSHIRE
Postcode
OX14 3DB
Post Town
Oxford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Oxfordshire
Electoral Ward
Sandford & the Wittenhams
Westminster Constituency
Didcot and Wantage

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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