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Dounreay Materials Test Reactor (DMTR) Strategy Development Support

Nuclear Restoration Services Limited

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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10 Sep 2026 at 15:25

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Nuclear Restoration Services Limited is procuring specialist consultancy to support a strategic review of the Dounreay Materials Test Reactor (DMTR) project. The work covers development of an evidence-based options study so NRS Dounreay can choose a future decommissioning approach. It involves technical testing, analysis and consultancy, including programme, cost and resource modelling rather than general advisory work. The analysis must use the LEOPARD software and associated methodologies, data structures, calculation engines and analytical processes. The work is for the Dounreay project in Scotland. This is a public-sector nuclear decommissioning requirement led by Nuclear Restoration Services Limited, with NRS Dounreay identified as the operational organisation requiring the study and supporting analysis.

The procurement has been awarded through a direct award to Orano Limited under the Procurement Act 2023, using the justification for a single supplier with exclusive intellectual-property rights. Orano was selected because it owns and controls the LEOPARD modelling software and the required services depend on its proprietary functionality; the award value is £500,000 gross. The award covers one lot and the procurement is complete. The contract period is 2 November 2026 to 31 May 2027, with signature scheduled by 30 October 2026. The award is above the relevant threshold. Evaluation was effectively based on the direct-award justification: exclusive rights, the absence of reasonable alternatives, continuity with existing LEOPARD models and datasets, and avoidance of inconsistent assumptions, methods and outputs.

This requirement shows demand for suppliers able to support nuclear decommissioning strategy with evidence-based options analysis, technical consultancy and programme, cost and resource modelling. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need demonstrable understanding of reactor decommissioning and the ability to translate technical, cost, schedule and resource information into defensible strategic options. Experience of working with established models, datasets, assumptions and validation processes would be important, as would the capacity to provide suitably skilled consultants throughout the work. The buyer’s stated concerns also point to the need for reliable resourcing, scope control, adaptability to changing project priorities, and awareness of changing regulatory requirements and industry standards. Software ownership or authorised access to equivalent specialist modelling capability would be commercially significant.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Dounreay Materials Test Reactor (DMTR) Strategy Development Support

Notice Description

NRS Dounreay is looking to appoint a Consultant to support the strategic review of the Dounreay Materials Test Reactor (DMTR) project and development of an evidence-based Options study to enable Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) Dounreay to select the future decommissioning approach.

Procurement Information

Direct Award Justification under Section 41 and Schedule 5 Paragraph 5 of the Procurement Act 2023. Proposed Supplier: Orano Limited This direct award is justified under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 and specifically Schedule 5, Paragraph 5, which permits a direct award where: "(a) due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required; and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works." Orano Limited is the owner of LEOPARD- Programme, Cost and Resource modelling software and the associated methodologies, data structures, calculation engines and analytical processes that underpin its operation which has been used previously by the Contracting Authority. The services required under this Contract are not generic consultancy services that could be delivered independently of the software. NRS Dounreay requires analysis and modelling that is specifically generated through the LEOPARD software and its functionality to ensure the commonality. As LEOPARD is exclusively controlled by Orano Limited, no other supplier possesses the legal rights to deploy the software for the purpose of delivering the required modelling services. This satisfies the requirement in Schedule 5 Paragraph 5(a) that only one supplier can supply the services because of intellectual property or exclusive rights. NRS Dounreay has considered whether reasonable alternative suppliers or solutions exist and has concluded that none are available. Whilst other suppliers may possess different scheduling or cost modelling tools, such alternatives would not constitute a reasonable substitute because: Results would not be directly comparable with existing LEOPARD models and datasets previously provided by Orano during the life of the previous contract; It will create a material risk of inconsistency in assumptions, methodologies and outputs. Migration to an alternative platform would require significant redevelopment, including reconstruction of established models, data structures, assumptions and validation processes. Alternative software would not replicate LEOPARD's proprietary algorithms, modelling architecture and decommissioning-specific functionality. As a result, NRS Dounreay considers that no reasonable alternative exists that would meet the operational requirement. This satisfies the requirement in Schedule 5 Paragraph 5(b). A direct award to Orano Limited is considered compliant with the requirements of the Procurement Act 2023.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f71a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086009-2026
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
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71600000 - Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Sep 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 31 May 2027 6-12 months
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
Nuclear Restoration Services 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
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

Orano

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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