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NWS Independent Assurance Service

Nuclear Waste Services

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

08 Sep 2026 at 14:42

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

22 Jul 2026 at 09:22

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Nuclear Waste Services Limited is planning an independent assurance service for its repository and wider programmes. The work will provide independent challenge, review, verification and certification across construction quality, technical design and programme delivery. The main functions are Construction Quality Assurance, including inspections, audits, materials and workmanship verification, testing evidence and validation reports; Technical Design Assurance, including design reviews, compliance and constructability assessments, engineering challenge and action close-out; and Critical Friend Assurance, including delivery strategy, governance, risk, benchmarking and key decision reviews. The service may support the Low Level Waste Repository near Drigg and the Vault Optimisation & Capping Delivery Framework, including repository capping and landfill design and construction. It may also extend to other Nuclear Waste Services programmes, assets and locations across the UK.

This procurement is at the planning stage and the buyer intends to use a framework agreement. It is planned as one lot, with a total estimated value of £35,000,000 excluding VAT (£42,000,000 including VAT). The anticipated contract period is 4 January 2028 to 4 January 2039. Nuclear Waste Services expects to publish the next procurement notice on 10 May 2027. A virtual market engagement event is planned for 30 September 2026 to discuss the service scopes, possible contract vehicles, duration, value and supporting information. Suppliers interested in attending are expected to express interest by 28 September 2026. The procurement is above the relevant threshold, and the lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

This will suit engineering, construction assurance, technical inspection and consultancy organisations able to provide independent, evidence-based advice in regulated infrastructure or nuclear-related environments. Relevant capability includes construction quality assurance planning, site inspection and surveillance, audit, materials and installation verification, non-conformance assessment, testing and validation, and formal assurance reporting. Design assurance experience should cover civil or engineering design, regulatory compliance, technical assumptions, constructability, long-term performance, governance and action tracking. The Critical Friend function will favour organisations that can challenge delivery strategies, programmes and key decisions objectively, identify risks and opportunities, benchmark against good practice and advise senior project boards. Suppliers should prepare to demonstrate independence, strong technical judgement, effective assurance records and the capacity to support multiple programmes or locations. The buyer has indicated that smaller businesses may be suitable participants.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

NWS Independent Assurance Service

Notice Description

The service shall provide confidence that all designs, construction activities, quality management processes and technical decisions are compliant with regulatory requirements, aligned with approved standards, and capable of delivering the required long-term environmental and operational performance of the Repository. The proposed Independent Assurance Services may support Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) across its wider business and repository-related demand, including but not limited to focusing on the activities at the LLW Repository near Drigg and the lifecycle of the Vault Optimisation & Capping Delivery (VOCD) Framework, which scope includes repository capping, adherence to regulatory guidance on landfill design and construction, use of Best Available Techniques etc. The Independent Assurance Services scope is not intended to be exclusive to the LLWR site and may extend to other NWS programmes, projects, assets or locations where independent construction quality assurance, technical design assurance or critical friend assurance services are required. The service shall support the achievement of regulatory confidence, audit readiness and effective delivery of NWS programmes through independent challenge, review, verification and certification activities. The services shall comprise of three primary functions: 1) Independent Construction Quality Assurance (CQA): * Review and development of Construction Quality Assurance Plans. * Inspection, surveillance and audit activities. * Verification of materials, workmanship and installation. * Hold point and witness point inspections. * Review of contractor quality records. * Assessment of non-conformances and concessions. * Verification of testing and validation activities. * Compilation of assurance evidence and records. * Preparation of Construction Quality Assurance Validation Reports. The service shall provide confirmation that completed works have been delivered in accordance with approved design and regulatory requirements. 2) Independent Technical Design Assurance (TDA): * Independent review of design deliverables. * Verification of technical assumptions and methodologies. * Independent challenge of engineering decisions. * Design compliance assessments. * Constructability reviews. * Long-term performance reviews. * Participation in design reviews and technical governance processes. * Verification of action close-out. * Production of design assurance recommendations and reports. The service shall support informed technical decision-making and confidence in design maturity prior to implementation. 3) Critical Friend Assurance: * Independent review of delivery strategies. * Technical and programme challenge. * Review of governance and assurance arrangements. * Identification of emerging risks and opportunities. * Benchmarking against industry good practice. * Participation in workshops, assurance reviews and project boards. * Independent assessment of key project decisions. * Strategic technical advisory support. The Critical Friend function shall provide objective and unbiased advice to support effective programme delivery.

Planning Information

A virtual market engagement event is planned for Wednesday 30th September 2026 where we will discuss: - Details on the scopes including Construction Quality Assurance and Technical Design Assurance, and Critical Friend Assurance. - Options for contract vehicles. - Contract duration and value. - Other supporting information. Suppliers are encouraged to express an interest in attending the event to the email address scott.sowerby@nuclearwasteservices.uk by COP Monday 28th September 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d069
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084960-2026
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

CPV Codes

71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

71300000 - Engineering services

71310000 - Consultative engineering and construction services

71311100 - Civil engineering support services

71318000 - Advisory and consultative engineering services

71322000 - Engineering design services for the construction of civil engineering works

71335000 - Engineering studies

71336000 - Engineering support services

71340000 - Integrated engineering services

71350000 - Engineering-related scientific and technical services

71500000 - Construction-related services

71530000 - Construction consultancy services

71600000 - Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services

71631400 - Technical inspection services of engineering structures

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£35,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
10 May 20278 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2028 - 4 Jan 2039 Over 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
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
TLD11 West Cumbria
Local Authority
Cumberland
Electoral Ward
Gosforth
Westminster Constituency
Whitehaven and Workington

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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