---
title: "Dounreay Materials Test Reactor (DMTR) Strategy Development Support"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f71a"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f71a"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f71a.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f71a.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Nuclear Restoration Services Limited"
published: "2026-09-10"
---

# Dounreay Materials Test Reactor (DMTR) Strategy Development Support

Buyer: Nuclear Restoration Services Limited  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f71a

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## Summary

Nuclear Restoration Services Limited is procuring specialist consultancy to support a strategic review of the Dounreay Materials Test Reactor (DMTR) project. The work covers development of an evidence-based options study so NRS Dounreay can choose a future decommissioning approach. It involves technical testing, analysis and consultancy, including programme, cost and resource modelling rather than general advisory work. The analysis must use the LEOPARD software and associated methodologies, data structures, calculation engines and analytical processes. The work is for the Dounreay project in Scotland. This is a public-sector nuclear decommissioning requirement led by Nuclear Restoration Services Limited, with NRS Dounreay identified as the operational organisation requiring the study and supporting analysis.

The procurement has been awarded through a direct award to Orano Limited under the Procurement Act 2023, using the justification for a single supplier with exclusive intellectual-property rights. Orano was selected because it owns and controls the LEOPARD modelling software and the required services depend on its proprietary functionality; the award value is £500,000 gross. The award covers one lot and the procurement is complete. The contract period is 2 November 2026 to 31 May 2027, with signature scheduled by 30 October 2026. The award is above the relevant threshold. Evaluation was effectively based on the direct-award justification: exclusive rights, the absence of reasonable alternatives, continuity with existing LEOPARD models and datasets, and avoidance of inconsistent assumptions, methods and outputs.

This requirement shows demand for suppliers able to support nuclear decommissioning strategy with evidence-based options analysis, technical consultancy and programme, cost and resource modelling. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need demonstrable understanding of reactor decommissioning and the ability to translate technical, cost, schedule and resource information into defensible strategic options. Experience of working with established models, datasets, assumptions and validation processes would be important, as would the capacity to provide suitably skilled consultants throughout the work. The buyer’s stated concerns also point to the need for reliable resourcing, scope control, adaptability to changing project priorities, and awareness of changing regulatory requirements and industry standards. Software ownership or authorised access to equivalent specialist modelling capability would be commercially significant.

## Notice

NRS Dounreay is looking to appoint a Consultant to support the strategic review of the Dounreay Materials Test Reactor (DMTR) project and development of an evidence-based Options study to enable Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) Dounreay to select the future decommissioning approach.

### Procurement Information

Direct Award Justification under Section 41 and Schedule 5 Paragraph 5 of the Procurement Act 2023. Proposed Supplier: Orano Limited This direct award is justified under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 and specifically Schedule 5, Paragraph 5, which permits a direct award where: "(a) due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required; and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works." Orano Limited is the owner of LEOPARD- Programme, Cost and Resource modelling software and the associated methodologies, data structures, calculation engines and analytical processes that underpin its operation which has been used previously by the Contracting Authority. The services required under this Contract are not generic consultancy services that could be delivered independently of the software. NRS Dounreay requires analysis and modelling that is specifically generated through the LEOPARD software and its functionality to ensure the commonality. As LEOPARD is exclusively controlled by Orano Limited, no other supplier possesses the legal rights to deploy the software for the purpose of delivering the required modelling services. This satisfies the requirement in Schedule 5 Paragraph 5(a) that only one supplier can supply the services because of intellectual property or exclusive rights. NRS Dounreay has considered whether reasonable alternative suppliers or solutions exist and has concluded that none are available. Whilst other suppliers may possess different scheduling or cost modelling tools, such alternatives would not constitute a reasonable substitute because: Results would not be directly comparable with existing LEOPARD models and datasets previously provided by Orano during the life of the previous contract; It will create a material risk of inconsistency in assumptions, methodologies and outputs. Migration to an alternative platform would require significant redevelopment, including reconstruction of established models, data structures, assumptions and validation processes. Alternative software would not replicate LEOPARD's proprietary algorithms, modelling architecture and decommissioning-specific functionality. As a result, NRS Dounreay considers that no reasonable alternative exists that would meet the operational requirement. This satisfies the requirement in Schedule 5 Paragraph 5(b). A direct award to Orano Limited is considered compliant with the requirements of the Procurement Act 2023.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086009-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 10 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 2 Nov 2026 - 31 May 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £500,000 |
| 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 Restoration Services Limited |
| Locality | WARRINGTON |
| Postcode area | Warrington |
| Postcode | WA3 6GR |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD6 Cheshire |
| ITL 3 | TLD61 Warrington |
| Local authority | Warrington |
| Electoral ward | Birchwood |
| Westminster constituency | Warrington North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

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

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71600000 - Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services

## Release History

- 10 Sep 2026 at 15:25 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086009-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086009-2026
  10th September 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.oranoprojects.uk
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/nuclear-restoration-services
- 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-06f71a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f71a.json.