Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Magnox Limited (Ltd)
Oldbury Technical Centre, Oldbury Naite, Thornbury
South Gloucestershire
BS35 1RQ
suzanne.x.williams@magnoxsites.com
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/magnox-ltd
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Testing, Storage, Supply and Delivery (Including provision of QA Documentation) of Drax Pulverised Fuel Ash
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 44100000 - Construction materials and associated items
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Magnox Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (the "NDA").
Magnox Ltd is responsible for the safe and secure operation and clean-up of 12 nuclear sites around the UK on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
The contract will be collaborative across the NDA Estate, providing the following sites with access to the agreement:
o Magnox Limited
o Sellafield Limited - a wholly owned subsidiary of NDA from 1 April 2016.
o Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) - a Site Licence Company under a Parent Body Organisation (private sector consortium) model: Cavendish Dounreay Partnership Ltd (Cavendish Nuclear, CH2M Hill, URS).
As Magnox Ltd has the largest requirement, they shall be the Contracting Authority. Both Sellafield Ltd and DSRL will gain access to the contract, via a joining agreement.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £1,301,608
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
Lead Contracting Authority Registered Office: Magnox Limited, Oldbury Technical Centre , Oldbury Naite, Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, BS35 1RQ
Participating Entity Registered Office: Sellafield Limited Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1PG
Participating Entity Registered Office: Dounreay Site Restoration Limited , Thurso, Caithness, KW14 7TZ
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
PFA (Pulverised Fuel Ash) is a bi-product of burning pulverised coals in coal-fired electricity power stations and is used to encapsulate ILW. Power Minerals Limited (PML) are the only provider of PFA from Drax which meets both BS EN 450-1:20126 and the SL Technical Specification for cement powders. Drax power station will cease burning coal in March 2021 as the UK moves away from coal-fired electricity. As each Participating Entity works on the scientific development of a replacement for PFA, a stockpile is required to ensure that the encapsulation process can continue.
The following sites require access to Drax PFA:
• Sellafield
• Magnox
• Dounreay
Total Quantity or Scope
Each Participating Entity is at varying stages regarding moving away from Drax PFA. The requirement for each site's stockpiling (in Tonnes) is as follows:
o Magnox Limited - 700T
o Sellafield Limited - 300T
o Dounreay Site Restoration Limited - 500T
Start date: 01/04/2021
End date (up to): 31/03/2028
The proposed end dates for each site is as follows:
o Magnox Limited - up to 31/03/2028
o Sellafield Limited - up to 31/03/2022
o Dounreay Site Restoration Limited - up to 31/03/2027
The proposed contract will stockpile PFA at a dry store facility in Hixon. The contract will include break clauses with 6 months written notice to exit if Drax PFA is no longer required by the sites as a result of successful trials for alternatives to PFA.
Hixon Dry Store Facility:
There are no on-site storage facilities at any of the Participating Entity's sites therefore storage will be provided by the supplier. All sites will receive bulk deliveries of PFA, to avoid handling PFA from bag to a silo due to H&S and relevant skills issues.
Bulk Storage Bags:
All Drax PFA shall be 'double-bagged' in white woven polypropylene bags that are unprinted. 'Double-bagging' reduces the ability for moisture build-up within the bags.
The size of all bags shall be 100x100x200cm with white top loading and bottom discharge spout.
Testing:
The PFA will be tested against both BSEN standards and the Sellafield Ltd specification throughout its lifecycle.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: N/A / Weighting: 0%
Cost criterion - Name: N/A / Weighting: 0%
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
Magnox Limited is intending to award the contract to Power Minerals Ltd using the negotiated procedure without prior publication, pursuant to Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
Magnox Ltd considers that there are no other suppliers in the market who are able to offer DRAX PFA BSEN 450-1 and associated storage, testing and delivery. No reasonable alternative or substitute exists and the absence of competition is not the result of an artificial narrowing down of the parameters of the procurement.
Use of Drax PFA underpins Magnox Ltd, Sellafield Ltd and Dounreay Ltd waste encapsulation process and this award covers the last time buy for stockpiling Drax PFA. Magnox Ltd is therefore proposing to award an agreement for up to 7 year to Power Minerals Ltd, which will allow enough time to complete research and development on other replacement sources for encapsulating ILW waste.
The values quoted within this VEAT notice are estimates.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
8 March 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Power Minerals Ltd
Drax Power Station, Selby
North Yorkshire
YO8 8PH
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,301,608
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of England and Wales
London
Country
United Kingdom