--- title: "PROVISION OF AUTONOMOUS WASTE SORTING AND SEGREGATION Auto SAS" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-9b2ffa59-964d-4646-bc46-bf1f3595c387" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-9b2ffa59-964d-4646-bc46-bf1f3595c387" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9b2ffa59-964d-4646-bc46-bf1f3595c387.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9b2ffa59-964d-4646-bc46-bf1f3595c387.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING AUTHORITY" published: "2024-07-01" --- # PROVISION OF AUTONOMOUS WASTE SORTING AND SEGREGATION Auto SAS Buyer: NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING AUTHORITY Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-9b2ffa59-964d-4646-bc46-bf1f3595c387 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-9b2ffa59-964d-4646-bc46-bf1f3595c387) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9b2ffa59-964d-4646-bc46-bf1f3595c387.json) ## Summary The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is inviting tenders for the provision of autonomous waste sorting and segregation services under an Innovation Partnership framework. The tender, titled "PROVISION OF AUTONOMOUS WASTE SORTING AND SEGREGATION Auto SAS," falls under the services category, with an estimated value of £9,500,000. The procurement method is selective, with a tender period ending on 30th July 2024. The contract period is set to run from 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2029. The project will involve two sequential phases: off-site design, testing, and build followed by on-site deployment and operation. The NDA will oversee the project with specific emphasis on nuclear waste handling. This tender presents opportunities for businesses specialising in specialty design services, industrial robots, research and development services, waste analysis services, and project-design services. Companies that excel in developing innovative solutions for nuclear waste handling and segregation are well-suited to compete. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly encouraged to participate. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, based in Moor Row, Cumbria, is leading this initiative to advance the use of autonomous technologies in nuclear waste management. ## Notice The NDA and its operating companies recognise that robotics and automation have a key role to play in reducing the time, cost and risk associated with our decommissioning mission. Auto-SAS aims to push the boundaries of robotic systems in the NDA group, acting as a steppingstone to the routine use of autonomous systems and continuous operations. An area where robotic technologies provide a significant opportunity is nuclear waste handling. The characterisation, sentencing and disposal of radioactive waste is complicated, time consuming and expensive. It also poses both conventional and radiological risks to workers. Ideally waste would be handled once, segregated at source to the most appropriate waste route, properly utilising the waste hierarchy. Safety measures, alongside resource, time and space constraints, make in-situ sentencing challenging, meaning that accurate segregation is not always possible. Auto-SAS will build upon the learning from the NDA funded Integrated Innovation for Nuclear Decommissioning - Sorting and Segregation (IIND-SAS) competition delivered through Innovate UK, which sought to demonstrate the feasibility of autonomous sort and segregation of mixed nuclear waste through the supply chain. Auto-SAS will go further by deploying an integrated system on a nuclear licenced site, for the sorting and segregation of specific radioactive waste material. The Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) Strategic Innovation Team will be responsible for the overall delivery of the project, supported by an integrated team from across the NDA group. Auto-SAS will be separated into two sequential phases. These phases are as follows: 1. Off-site Design, Testing and Build 2. On-Site Deployment and operation The Autonomous Waste Sorting and Segregation (Auto-SAS) Innovation Partnership will be structured into 2 phases: * Phase 1: Off-Site Development - Design, manufacture, commission and test an integrated sorting and segregation platform, in line with the requirements in section 7. Iterate and prototype as necessary, and thoroughly test the system to give confidence of suitable performance when brought to site. This will be verified by a successful and thorough Factory Acceptance Test and compliance with the NRS Safety and Design Justification Process (shared at ITT). Facilitate stakeholder demonstrations of the developed platform. * Phase 2: On-Site Deployment - Install and commission the SAS platform developed offsite, including Site Acceptance Testing (SATs). Operate it for a number of cycles within a defined time period to achieve the learning outcomes in the learning plan. Assist in the decisions around further development and future uses of the developed platform. Estimated value Phase Maximum Budget Phase 1 - Off-Site Development PS5,500,000 Phase 2 - On-Site Deployment PS4,000,000 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4ecf2383-1fc4-4264-8d35-a6f9d04fcf12 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Innovation partnership (above threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 1 Jul 2024 | | Submission deadline | 30 Jul 2024 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2025 - 31 Mar 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £9,500,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING AUTHORITY | | Locality | MOOR ROW, CUMBRIA | | Post town | Carlisle | | Postcode | CA24 3HU | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD1 Cumbria | | ITL 3 | TLD13 Cumberland | | Local authority | Cumberland | | Electoral ward | Egremont North and St Bees | | Westminster constituency | Whitehaven and Workington | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 42 - Industrial machinery - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 42997300 - Industrial robots - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services - 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development - 79421200 - Project-design services other than for construction work - 79723000 - Waste analysis services - 79930000 - Specialty design services ## Release History - 1 Jul 2024 at 09:54 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4ecf2383-1fc4-4264-8d35-a6f9d04fcf12 - 1 Jul 2024 at 09:46 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6c0d07a8-0593-4d8c-b32d-22cd939ca388 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4ecf2383-1fc4-4264-8d35-a6f9d04fcf12 1st July 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6c0d07a8-0593-4d8c-b32d-22cd939ca388 1st July 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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