---
title: "DMOX pellet manufacturing, characterisation, and experimental testing activities"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06b778"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06b778"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b778.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b778.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING AUTHORITY"
published: "2026-06-17"
---

# DMOX pellet manufacturing, characterisation, and experimental testing activities

Buyer: NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06b778

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## Summary

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, based in Cumbria, United Kingdom, has completed a direct award process for a contract involving DMOX pellet manufacturing, characterisation, and experimental testing. The procurement, identified under id C24542, is part of ongoing activities initiated under the Procurement Act 2023. The contract has been awarded to Orano Ltd, located in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, and valued at £12,000,000, with a gross amount of £14,400,000. The contract period begins on 3rd August 2026 and ends on 2nd August 2029, with a possible extension option. This procurement falls under the services category, specifically relating to research and development services and related consultancy services. The procurement method was justified as a direct award due to the unique capabilities of Orano Ltd, which has proprietary technology necessary for the project's continuation.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses involved in advanced material manufacturing and research services, particularly those with expertise in nuclear technology and proprietary intellectual resources. Although the direct award limits competition in this instance, similar future contracts may arise, offering prospects for companies with competitive research and development capabilities. Businesses planning to engage with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority should explore partnership opportunities to gain a foothold in ongoing and upcoming government projects, particularly those in the nuclear decommissioning sector. The contract sets a strategic precedent for specialised and capable businesses to align their offerings with government needs in high-tech and proprietary domains.

## Notice

DMOX pellet manufacturing, characterisation, and experimental testing activities framework

### Procurement Information

The proposed direct award to Orano is justified under Section 41 and Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 on the basis that Orano is the only supplier capable of delivering the requirement as a whole. The work is a continuation of earlier NDA-funded MOX pellet development and depends on Orano's proprietary MIMAS MOX pellet fabrication intellectual property, established process know-how, prior campaign data and embedded technical understanding. These factors mean there are no reasonable alternatives capable of delivering the required scope on a comparable technical basis. A change in supplier would break continuity with the existing programme, require repetition of earlier development and validation work, and introduce disproportionate technical, cost and schedule risk. On that basis, competition is not viable and a direct award to Orano represents the only credible route to deliver the required outcomes.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057311-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 17 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 17 Jun 2026 |
| Contract period | 2 Aug 2026 - 2 Aug 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £12,000,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING AUTHORITY |
| Locality | 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 |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ORANO |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 73110000 - Research services
- 73111000 - Research laboratory services

## Release History

- 17 Jun 2026 at 15:40 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057311-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057311-2026
  17th June 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/nuclear-decommissioning-authority
- 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-06b778. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b778.json.