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ROV Decontamination

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

06 Aug 2026 at 13:01

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The UK Atomic Energy Authority, through its RAICo programme, intends to develop and test a remotely operated solution for decontaminating remotely operated vehicles used in nuclear storage ponds. The process must operate while the vehicle remains submerged and must be controlled remotely. Its purpose is to reduce contamination to the permitted threshold so that vehicles can be removed from the pond for preventative and essential maintenance. The requirement is for services, combining research and experimental development with specialist equipment or systems for pumping, spraying and cleaning. Hydro-water washing or a similar approach is expected, although the authority is willing to consider any technique that achieves effective decontamination. The work concerns nuclear storage-pond operations for the UK Atomic Energy Authority.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the authority has stated an intention to procure, but has not invited tenders. It expects to use a tender procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, with one lot and an open approach to effective technical solutions. The estimated value is £47,498 excluding VAT, or £56,997 including VAT. The intended contract period is 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Preliminary market engagement is scheduled for 17 August 2026, and the next notice is expected on 21 September 2026. The lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises. The authority is seeking views before finalising the procurement and remains open to alternatives to hydro-water washing.

When the requirement reaches the market, it should suit businesses able to design, build, test or integrate remotely operated decontamination systems for use underwater. Relevant capability includes remotely controlled equipment, remotely operated vehicles, submerged cleaning, hydro-water washing, high-pressure pumping, spraying or comparable decontamination techniques. Experience of measuring and reducing contamination to a defined threshold will be important, as the solution must enable safe removal of vehicles for maintenance. Suppliers with practical research and experimental development capability may be well placed, particularly those able to test a solution in conditions comparable to nuclear storage ponds. Equipment specialists in pumps, mechanical spraying systems and industrial cleaning machinery could also be relevant, including smaller innovative firms preparing to contribute before the tender is issued.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

ROV Decontamination

Notice Description

RAICo has a requirement to develop and test a solution to decontaminate remotely operated vehicles (ROV) operating in nuclear storage ponds. The decontamination process is required to be performed whilst the ROV is submerged within the pond, and the decontamination process must be performed by remote operation. The objective of the decontamination process is to reduce contamination levels to within the permitted threshold required to bring the ROV out of the pond to perform both preventative and essential maintenance operations. The decontamination process is expected to be achieved by hydro-water washing methods or similar, but the project remains open to all effective decontamination techniques.

Planning Information

https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=107976&TID=100113047&B=

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ddab
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074709-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

42 - Industrial machinery

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

42122130 - Water pumps

42924700 - Mechanical appliances for projecting, dispersing or spraying

42995000 - Miscellaneous cleaning machines

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£47,498 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
21 Sep 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
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
United Kingdom 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
Postcode Area
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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