---
title: "Technical Support to Regulatory Assessments of Solid Radioactive Waste Disposal Framework"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0528c7"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0528c7"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0528c7.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0528c7.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "ENVIRONMENT AGENCY"
published: "2025-12-02"
---

# Technical Support to Regulatory Assessments of Solid Radioactive Waste Disposal Framework

Buyer: ENVIRONMENT AGENCY  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0528c7

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## Summary

The Environment Agency, located in London, is embarking on a significant procurement process intended to establish a Technical Support Framework for the regulatory assessment of solid radioactive waste disposal. This initiative aims to secure expert technical advice over an eight-year framework period, with the framework supporting regulations across England. The procurement involves multiple lots, with services scheduled to start on 1st September 2026 and potentially extend to 2034. The planned procurement is valued at £9,750,000 and will utilise a competitive flexible procedure to involve multiple suppliers, ideally benefiting small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The procurement is currently in the planning stage, with the preparation notice issued on 2nd December 2025 and further details to follow by mid-December 2025.

This tender presents a substantial opportunity for expert consultancy firms, particularly those with experience in technical analysis, environmental engineering, nuclear safety, and geological consultancy services. Businesses that can provide specialized support to the Environment Agency’s regulatory framework, including the evaluation of Site-Wide Environmental Safety Cases, would be well-suited to compete. Participation in this procurement process not only offers the potential for significant fiscal growth but also positions businesses as key players in advancing the UK’s national radioactive waste management strategy. This aligns with the Environment Agency’s remit to ensure safe and secure disposal practices, making it an attractive prospect for consultancy firms eager to influence sustainable environmental practices.

## Notice

The Environment Agency is the independent environmental regulator for the nuclear industry and for radioactive substances regulation in England. It regulates a range of activities, depending on the type of site, but in all cases it regulates the disposal of solid radioactive waste on or from the site, as well as discharges to air and water (which are also defined as disposal under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 (EPR2016)). Its remit covers England, but the Environment Agency works closely with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) on matters of mutual interest, including those relating to the management and disposal of solid radioactive waste. The Authority is seeking to establish an Open Framework, for up to an 8 (eight) year period, with multiple suppliers across 3 (three) technical Lots, that have the capability to provide expert technical advice and scrutiny across several areas of regulatory assessments of solid radioactive waste disposal. Suppliers appointed to the framework will support the Environment Agency in meeting its statutory obligations in the regulation of solid radioactive waste disposals. Framework suppliers will have the capability to provide expert advice and scrutiny on solid radioactive waste disposal and support in the technical evaluation of Site-Wide Environmental Safety Case (SWESCs) from operators of nuclear licensed sites and Environment Safety Cases (ESCs) from developers and operators of radioactive waste disposal facilities. The scope of services will also encompass advice relating to the Environment Agency's remit in pre-disposal management and materials not yet formally declared as wastes, such as spent fuel and separated plutonium.

### Lot Information

Technical Secretariat for Expert Advisory Panel

The Authority will appoint a single supplier to provide technical secretariat support to establish and maintain an Expert Advisory Panel. The Environment Agency Expert Advisory Panel (EAEAP) will provide independent advice and expertise in the following areas relating to the regulation of solid radioactive waste disposal and pre-disposal management. The full Specification will be included in the Bidder Pack.

Options: The sub-lot may be re-tendered at the framework re-opening point in Year 3 (three) to establish a follow-on framework for up to a further 5 (five) years at the discretion of the Authority and subject to a continued business need.

Topical Review Services

The Authority will appoint the successful tenderers for sub-lots 2.1, 2.2 and Lot 3 to establish access to expert Services under sub-lot 1.2 to support the continued development and enhancement of its internal processes and/or external regulatory guidance related to the disposal of solid radioactive waste. Over the lifetime of the Framework, there may also be a requirement for Environment Agency to develop new guidance in response to evolving government policy, operator proposals, international recommendations, or scientific developments.

Options: This sub-lot may be included in the framework re-opening in Year 3 (three) to continue the services for up to a further 5 (five) years.

LLWR 2026 Environmental Safety Case

The Authority will appoint a single Contractor, with the required skills and experience, to assist the Environment Agency in its detailed review of the 2026 Environmental Safety Case (ESC) for the Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) facility in Cumbria, England. The Authority expects to benefit from the Contractor bringing to the review their experience from involvement in other near-surface radioactive waste disposal safety assessments. The Contractor should also bring specific capabilities in facility design and substantiation, materials performance, conceptual environmental model review, safety assessment calculation specification and undertaking of assessment modelling (e.g. using GoldSim and or other suitable software). The exact nature, scope and specification of the Services required from the Contractor will be finalised following receipt of the 2026 ESC, expected in May 2026.

Renewal: The contract may be extended for up to a further 12 (twelve) month period at the discretion of the Authority.

Radioactive waste disposal (landfills, decommissioning sites & other facililitie

The Environment Agency anticipates receiving applications from operators for either the disposal of LLW to existing landfills or for the construction of a new dedicated disposal facility on nuclear sites which may require input from expert external consultants. The Authority will appoint up 5 (five) suppliers to provide technical support to assist in the review of ESCs submitted in support of permit applications for the disposal of solid LLW to landfill. Outputs would inform the Environment Agency's determination of the ESC review or permit variation. The number and timing of these reviews is not currently known.

Options: The Authority may, at its discretion, re-open the Framework in Year 3 (three) to establish a follow-on framework for up to a further 5 (five) years, subject to a continued business need.

Specialist support to regulation of geological disposal

The Authority appoint up to 5 (five) suppliers to provide specialist expertise and advice to the Environment Agency related to the regulation of geological disposal. Framework Suppliers will provide technical support to supplement internal Environment Agency capability during both the pre-application stage and the review of the first permit application for intrusive site investigations.

Options: The Authority may re-open the Framework in Year 3 (three) to establish a follow-on framework for up to a further 5 (five) years at the discretion of the Authority and a continued business need.

### Planning Information

The Environment Agency is conducting a market engagement exercise to better understand the interest, capability and capacity of the supply market to provide the required services in a future invitation to tender. To inform its decision making and consider its contracting options, the Environment Agency is inviting interested suppliers to respond to a short questionnaire and attend a virtual supplier event. If you wish to participate in this market engagement exercise, you are invited to complete a short Technical Support for the Regulatory Assessment of Solid Radioactive Waste Disposal Facilities Market Engagement Questionnaire. The questionnaire can be obtained by emailing radwaste.enquiry@environment-agency.gov.uk. Please use the subject title “Technical Support Market Engagement Questionnaire” in your request. Completed questionnaires should be returned to the same email address no later than 16:00 on 4th July 2025. A virtual supplier event will be held via Microsoft Teams on 10th June 2025 11:00-13:00 BST. This will provide interested organisations an opportunity to learn about the Environment Agency and its requirements for the technical support contract as well as the chance to clarify any matters to assist in completing the questionnaire. Requests to attend the supplier event should be emailed to radwaste.enquiry@environment-agency.gov.uk with the subject title “Technical Support Market Engagement Supplier Event”, and include details of the email address(es) invitations should be issued to. To keep the event manageable, suppliers are requested to keep attendees to a maximum of four participants. Any future tender exercise will be conducted through the Defra eSourcing portal. If your organisation is not already registered you can create an account at https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome. This engagement does not constitute a formal notice to tender and there is no guarantee the Environment Agency will proceed with an external tendering exercise to create a framework or other form of contract. By replying to the questionnaire, you are not committing to any future tender submission, and replies will not form part of any subsequent tender process.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078765-2025 |
| Notice type | UK1 - Pipeline Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 2 Dec 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 15 Dec 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2034 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £9,750,000 |
| Lots value | £9,751,000 |
| 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 | ENVIRONMENT AGENCY |
| Additional buyers | DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 4DF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
- 90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services
- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 71313000 - Environmental engineering consultancy services
- 71351220 - Geological consultancy services
- 71621000 - Technical analysis or consultancy services
- 90711000 - Environmental impact assessment other than for construction
- 90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services
- 98113100 - Nuclear safety services

## Release History

- 2 Dec 2025 at 10:20 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078765-2025
- 28 Nov 2025 at 17:00 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078259-2025
- 29 May 2025 at 11:39 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028440-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078765-2025
  2nd December 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078259-2025
  28th November 2025 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028440-2025
  29th May 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome
- https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-0528c7. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0528c7.json.