--- title: "Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) Vault Optimisation and Capping Delivery" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-055c45" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055c45" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055c45.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055c45.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "NUCLEAR WASTE SERVICES LIMITED" published: "2026-06-17" --- # Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) Vault Optimisation and Capping Delivery Buyer: NUCLEAR WASTE SERVICES LIMITED Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-055c45 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055c45) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055c45.json) ## Summary Nuclear Waste Services Limited, operating as a sub-central government public authority, is currently in the planning stage of a tender process titled "Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) Vault Optimisation and Capping Delivery." This procurement, tagged under the industry category of construction and civil engineering, pertains to a significant project located in Seascale, Cumbria, United Kingdom. The process is structured to initiate on 17th June 2026 with a site tour scheduled for 14th July 2026, followed by a market engagement event on 28th July 2026. Interested parties are required to register by 1st July 2026. The procurement method involves a comprehensive framework agreement, with the overall contract valued at £318 million net (£382 million gross), focusing on works above the specified threshold. The contract period is anticipated to commence on 25th February 2028, concluding on 25th February 2038. This tender offers a substantial opportunity for businesses with expertise in large-scale engineering, particularly those experienced in earthworks, site clearance, and environmental protection projects. Companies specialising in construction, engineering design, and those capable of delivering complete or part civil engineering works will find this project highly beneficial for business growth. Given the project's long-term scope and significant budget, it is well-suited for large contractors or consortiums with a proven track record in similar infrastructure projects. Participation will enable firms to establish or enhance their presence within the nuclear and broader construction sectors, providing future business prospects and reinforcing technical competencies. ## Notice Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) is seeking a Contractor to provide all necessary Design & Engineering, Labour, Equipment, Plant & Materials to undertake all works associated with the delivery of Vault Optimisation and Capping Delivery. The contractor should have a proven track record in handling large scale Earthworks projects, equipped with necessary machinery and expertise to ensure the project is completed efficiently and on schedule. Nuclear Waste Services operates the Low-Level Waste Repository (LLWR) Site in West Cumbria on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. The LLWR Site is the national disposal facility for Low Level Waste (LLW) arising from the nuclear industry and wider industries, such as medical and defence. Protecting and developing the Repository's radioactive waste disposal capability is a long-term programme of works, over the next 100+ years, that will provide future disposal facilities and protection of people and the environment from the disposed waste through to closure of the Repository Site. In the shorter term, over the next 15 years, the focus is on installing closure engineering works for long-term environmental protection from the wastes currently disposed of in Vault 8 and the adjacent legacy disposal trenches as well as constructing additional disposal capacity in the form of new LLW vaults. The project under NWS covers the following packages of works: - Final Capping (provide an engineered protective cover) over all the Low Level Waste that has been disposed of in the trenches and vaults. - Design of an extension to the existing disposal Vault (V9), retaining wall to allow partial closure seal of V9, new Leachate Management System and weather protection warehousing for HHISO containers awaiting disposal. - Construction of an extension to the existing LLW disposal Vault (V9), retaining wall, partial closure seal of V9, new Leachate Management System and weather protection warehousing for HHISO containers awaiting disposal. - Design of an Interim Cap over the closed section of Vault 9. - Construction of an Interim Cap over the Low Level Waste that has been disposed in Vault 9. Works include but is not limited to; - Earthworks, including excavation and Backfill work - Provision of associated plant - Site Clearance - Groundworks - Piling - Aggregates - Demolition - Drainage - Engineering & Construction Works - Design - Land remediation ### Planning Information An in person Low-Level Waste Repository Site tour is to be held Tuesday 14th July where principal contractors are invited to visit our Drigg site. Following the site tour, principal contractors will be encouraged to submit clarifications to NWS. Responses will be issued to all bidders in a transparent manner and will help inform and refine the Invitation to Tender (ITT) documentation. This will then be followed by an online Market Engagement Event held on Tuesday 28th July where NWS will present the final procurement strategy, provide further detail on the scope of works and programme, and address any outstanding queries ahead of tender publication. To register your place on the Site tour (reserved for those principal contractors) and/or virtual Market Engagement Event, please contact VOCDProcurement@nuclearwasteservices.uk by COP Monday 1st July 2026. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057001-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Works | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 17 Jun 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 17 Aug 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 25 Feb 2028 - 25 Feb 2038 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £318,000,000 | | 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 | TLD11 West Cumbria | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus) - 45 - Construction work - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services ### Codes - 44000000 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus) - 44900000 - Stone for construction, limestone, gypsum and slate - 45000000 - Construction work - 45100000 - Site preparation work - 45112000 - Excavating and earthmoving work - 45112300 - Infill and land-reclamation work - 45112500 - Earthmoving work - 45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work - 45220000 - Engineering works and construction works - 71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services - 71320000 - Engineering design services - 71322000 - Engineering design services for the construction of civil engineering works ## Release History - 17 Jun 2026 at 10:13 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057001-2026 - 24 Oct 2025 at 13:23 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068240-2025 - 16 Sep 2025 at 15:02 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057045-2025 - 21 Jul 2025 at 09:44 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041533-2025 - 9 Jul 2025 at 14:55 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038699-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057001-2026 17th June 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068240-2025 24th October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057045-2025 16th September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041533-2025 21st July 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038699-2025 9th July 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/nuclear-waste-services/about - 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-055c45. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055c45.json.