---
title: "Nuclear Security Contract - UK5"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-077aa7"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077aa7"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077aa7.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077aa7.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Department for Energy Security & Net Zero"
published: "2026-09-25"
---

# Nuclear Security Contract - UK5

Buyer: Department for Energy Security & Net Zero  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-077aa7

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077aa7.json)

## Summary

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero is buying specialist nuclear security services from the United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory. The work is intended to provide sustained access to nuclear security expertise and support priority government work on high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) security, maritime security, Security by Design, advanced nuclear technology analysis and international engagement. Services include research, modelling, technical advice, workshops and policy support. The work supports the department’s nuclear security programme and covers activity across the United Kingdom.

The procurement is complete and the United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory was selected through a direct award. The award is valued at £300,000 excluding VAT (£360,000 including VAT). The contract period runs from 12 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, with award information published on 25 September 2026. The procurement was not divided into separate awarded lots. The department’s stated basis for the direct award is that the laboratory has exclusive rights, sensitive information, historic datasets, specialist facilities and expertise, with no reasonable alternative supplier. Evaluation was therefore based on the supplier’s unique ability to provide the required nuclear security services and assurance.

This award shows demand for specialist nuclear security advice and technical support across government priorities, including HALEU and maritime security, advanced nuclear technologies, Security by Design and international engagement. A credible competitor for a comparable future requirement would need demonstrable nuclear security expertise, the ability to work with sensitive information and access to relevant datasets or specialist facilities. Experience in nuclear fuels and materials, research and modelling, technical advice and policy support would be important, as would the ability to collaborate with government, academia and private-sector nuclear organisations. The buyer’s stated reliance on the National Nuclear Laboratory’s distinctive capabilities means a supplier would need to show a comparable depth of expertise and assurance, rather than general security consultancy alone.

## Notice

The Nuclear Security Contract will provide DESNZ with a sustained framework for accessing UKNNL's specialist nuclear security expertise until March 2029, supporting priority work across HALEU security, maritime security, Security by Design, advanced nuclear technology analysis, and international engagement through research, modelling, technical advice, workshops, and policy Support

### Procurement Information

Direct award is recommended because UKNNL, as the UK's national nuclear laboratory, has unique access to sensitive information, historic datasets, specialist facilities, and nuclear security expertise essential to delivering this programme, including support across HALEU, maritime security, advanced nuclear technologies, and international engagement. The contracting authority (DESNZ) is relying on the following justification from schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023: 5: The following conditions are met in relation to the public Contract- (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. 6: The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract-- (a) due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. Paragraph 5 and 6: This justification applies because UKNNL holds a unique position in the market, developed through decades of knowledge and expertise in this subject matter, including experience gained by UKNNL and predecessor HMG-sponsored organisations such as BNFL. This depth of expertise enables UKNNL to collaborate effectively with academia, private organisations in the nuclear sector, and central government departments. As HMG's Subject Matter Expert in nuclear fuels and materials, UKNNL is uniquely placed to provide DESNZ with advisory support on matters relating to the secure treatment and management of nuclear materials. There are no reasonable alternatives capable of providing the required services to HMG with the same level of assurance and confidence.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091026-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| 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 | 25 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 12 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £300,000 |
| 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 | Department for Energy Security & Net Zero |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1A 2HP |
| 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 |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | United Kingdon National Nuclear Laboratory |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 98113100 - Nuclear safety services

## Release History

- 25 Sep 2026 at 14:03 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091026-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091026-2026
  25th September 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://uknnl.com/
- 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-077aa7. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077aa7.json.