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Provision of ANSWERS/FISPIN Nuclear Software Codes

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL NUCLEAR LABORATORY LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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19 Aug 2026 at 19:37

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory Limited procured renewal of licences for the ANSWERS/FISPIN nuclear software suite. The requirement covers specialist nuclear safety analysis, criticality assessments, radiation transport, shielding calculations and reactor physics modelling. The package also includes software maintenance, updates and technical support, supporting established analytical methods, validated models and regulatory-approved nuclear safety case activities. This is a software and information-systems requirement, delivered for UKNNL’s activities in the United Kingdom. The buyer is a public authority based in Warrington. The requirement suits software providers with specialist nuclear engineering products, particularly tools used in safety analysis and reactor physics, rather than general-purpose software suppliers.

The procurement has been awarded through a completed single-lot process. UKNNL used a direct award without prior publication, relying on the absence of competition for technical reasons and identifying Energy, Safety and Risk Consultants (UK) Limited as the only capable supplier of the proprietary ANSWERS/FISPIN suite and associated support. The award date was 19 August 2026. The award value is £603,312 excluding VAT, or £723,974 including VAT. The awarded contract period runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2029, with signature scheduled for 1 September 2026. The stated rationale is that alternatives would require substantial revalidation, regulatory approval, retraining and programme disruption. The award covers the complete lot.

This procurement demonstrates demand for proprietary or highly specialised nuclear modelling software embedded in validated safety and engineering methodologies. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need demonstrable capability in nuclear safety analysis, criticality assessment, radiation transport, shielding and reactor physics modelling, together with software maintenance, controlled updates and technical support. Experience of supporting regulatory-approved processes would be particularly important, as would the ability to work within established analytical methods and models without creating unacceptable revalidation, training or programme risks. Suppliers would need sufficient technical depth and support capacity to serve a national nuclear laboratory, maintain continuity of complex software use and provide assurance suitable for nuclear safety case activities.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of ANSWERS/FISPIN Nuclear Software Codes

Notice Description

This contract is for the renewal of licences for the ANSWERS/FISPIN nuclear software suite, including specialist codes used for nuclear safety analysis, criticality assessments, radiation transport, shielding calculations, and reactor physics modelling. The software supports established analytical methodologies and regulatory-approved processes across UKNNL's nuclear modelling and safety case activities. The contract provides software licences, maintenance, updates, and technical support for a period of three years.

Procurement Information

The contracting authority intends to award the contract without prior publication due to the absence of competition for technical reasons. The ANSWERS/FISPIN software suite is proprietary and is only available from Energy, Safety and Risk Consultants (UK) Ltd. The software is embedded within existing UKNNL analytical methodologies, validated models, and regulatory-approved processes. There are no reasonable alternative solutions capable of meeting the contracting authority's requirements without significant revalidation, regulatory approval, retraining, and disruption to ongoing nuclear safety and engineering programmes. Replacing the software would result in substantial additional cost, programme delay, and technical risk. The supplier is therefore the only economic operator capable of providing the required licences and associated support services.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e816
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079231-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£603,312 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 3-4 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
UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL NUCLEAR LABORATORY 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 6AE
Postcode Area
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

ENERGY, SAFETY AND RISK CONSULTANTS (UK) LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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