--- title: "Engineered Barrier Systems and Materials Science" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-048594" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-048594" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-048594.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-048594.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "NUCLEAR WASTE SERVICES LIMITED" published: "2024-09-03" --- # Engineered Barrier Systems and Materials Science Buyer: NUCLEAR WASTE SERVICES LIMITED Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-048594 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-048594) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-048594.json) ## Summary Nuclear Waste Services Limited is initiating a procurement process under the "Engineered Barrier Systems and Materials Science" framework, focusing on research and development services. The tender aims to engage with suppliers capable of delivering services essential for the development of Engineered Barrier Systems and container materials for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) in the UK. Key industry categories involved include research, experimental development, and engineering-related scientific services (CPV 73000000, 73110000, 73120000, 73111000, 73200000, 73210000, 73300000, 71350000). This process is currently in the tender stage, with initial market engagement taking place from mid-September to late October 2024. Interested organisations should register their interest via Atamis by 16:00 BST on Friday, 6th September 2024. Key dates include online meetings on 16th and 19th September and face-to-face sessions in Birmingham starting from 21st October 2024. This procurement tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses engaged in research and development, scientific consultancy and engineering services to contribute to the UK's nuclear decommissioning and waste disposal goals. The 15-year contract, valued at £58 million excluding VAT, offers substantial long-term engagement potential and regional economic benefits. Businesses with expertise in high-heat and low-heat generating waste management, waste package accident performance testing, and materials science will be particularly well-suited to compete. Successful participation could enhance their portfolio, foster partnerships within the sector, and provide access to significant projects under the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's mission. ## Notice Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) would like to notify suppliers of future requirements and engage with the market to understand what it can provide in terms of capacity and capability to deliver Research & Development services for the Engineered Barrier Systems (EBS) and Materials Science Framework. This framework will enable the development of the EBS and container materials which can be deployed in a UK site-specific geological disposal facility. This framework also includes provision for waste package accident performance research and testing. ### Lot Information Lot 1 The development of a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) is essential for the final disposal of higher activity radioactive wastes in the UK. It is a critical part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's (NDA) overall mission to decommission and dispose of the UK's nuclear legacy waste. The mission of the GDF programme is to deliver a permanent solution for the disposal of higher activity radioactive waste through the design, construction, operation and closure of a GDF. Its objectives are: * To build trust and work in partnership with one or more communities to gain consent and support to host a GDF. * To facilitate economic benefits and growth, delivering regional jobs and skills and a positive legacy. * To deliver a permanent solution for the safe disposal of higher activity waste through the safe, sustainable, and cost-effective design, construction, operation and closure of a GDF. * To enable the timely retirement of the significant and currently enduring financial liability and risk associated with above ground storage of higher activity waste, that would persist indefinitely if a disposal solution was not developed. A GDF will be a significant piece of UK infrastructure where the majority of the facility is built between 200 and 1000 metres underground, putting the waste in purpose-built containers which are then placed in tunnels and vaults beneath several hundred metres of solid rock. Further information about the GDF programme can be found here: GDF (Geological Disposal Facility) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) This Prior Information Notice relates to future market engagement that NWS intends to perform, concerning the development of a supply-chain-based R&D services capability for EBS concept and material development, testing, and modelling. The long-term evolution of the EBS under repository conditions will also be a key area of scope. Such services will be required by NWS as part of its ongoing design programme for a UK GDF. For the purposes of this PIN, the term 'EBS' includes high-heat generating waste (HHGW) and low-heat generating waste (LHWG) barrier systems, including buffers, backfills, accessway plugs and seals, and waste container materials (all waste streams). The compatibility of some infrastructural components, such as tunnel liners, within the overall EBS system, will also be a consideration. The scope also includes assessing waste package accident performance (WPAP) for wasteforms and associated container materials. This PIN should be read in conjunction with the following documents, all of which can be viewed on Atamis: https://atamis-2464.my.site.com/s/Welcome * Briefing document * Scope * Contracting and Competition Principles * Request for Information You will be required to register on Atamis, and once registration is complete you can search for this PIN using the Atamis search box and using the title as a reference - Engineered Barrier Systems & Materials Science. Additional information: This PIN is not a call for competition; it is to signal an intention to commence market engagement with interested organisations for the provision of a Migration pathways and Containment Framework for the GDF programme with industry experts and suppliers who are interested in potentially bidding for the resulting commercial agreement(s). If you wish to participate in the market engagement please register your interest via the URL here on Atamis, no later than 16:00 BST, Friday 6th September 2024. https://atamis-2464.my.site.com/s/Welcome Please DO NOT register interest via any other route. Market engagement is being carried out in three initial stages. For the first stage, NWS are requesting written responses to a number of questions, which can be found within the Request for Information (RFI) documents on Atamis. Suppliers' responses to these questions should be sent to NWS via the messaging function on Atamis no later than 16:00 BST, Friday 4th October 2024. For the second stage, NWS will hold 2 online meetings for all interested suppliers to provide detailed information about the scope of this engagement, and commercial points. The content of both meetings will be the same. These will be held at 14:00 BST, Monday 16th September 2024 and 11:00 BST, Thursday 19th September 2024. For the third stage, NWS will hold "one-to-one" market engagement sessions with interested Suppliers who are interested in potentially bidding for either the Architect Engineer and/or Owners Engineer procurements, with a view to gaining a more in-depth understanding of the supply chain perspective on our current approach. These sessions are likely to take place face-to-face in the week commencing 21st October 2024 in the Birmingham area (venue TBC). Whilst it is NWS' preference to meet with Suppliers face-to-face, where this is not possible, alternative virtual sessions may be scheduled for the week commencing 28th October 2024. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028078-2024 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 3 Sep 2024 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 23 Oct 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £58,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | NUCLEAR WASTE SERVICES LIMITED | | Locality | CALDERBRIDGE, SEASCALE | | Post town | Carlisle | | Postcode | CA20 1DB | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD1 Cumbria | | ITL 3 | TLD13 Cumberland | | Local authority | Cumberland | | Electoral ward | Gosforth | | Westminster constituency | Whitehaven and Workington | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 71350000 - Engineering-related scientific and technical services - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services - 73100000 - Research and experimental development services - 73110000 - Research services - 73111000 - Research laboratory services - 73120000 - Experimental development services - 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services - 73210000 - Research consultancy services - 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development ## Release History - 3 Sep 2024 at 10:10 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028078-2024 - 29 Jul 2024 at 14:31 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023631-2024 ## Notice URLs - https://atamis-2464.my.site.com/s/Welcome - https://atamis-2464.my.site.com/s/WelcomePlease - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/nuclear-waste-services/about ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-048594. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-048594.json.