Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Sellafield Limited
Calder Bridge
Seascale
CA20 1PG
Contact
PACE Competition Team
kenneth.webster@sellafieldsites.com
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKD11 - West Cumbria
National registration number
1002607
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/sellafield-ltd
Buyer's address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/sellafield-ltd
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
http://one-nda.force.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://one-nda.force.com/s/Welcome
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Nuclear Decommissioning
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Project and Asset Care Execution (PACE)
Reference number
C8478
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 45000000 - Construction work
two.1.3) Type of contract
Works
two.1.4) Short description
The Project and Asset Care Execution (PACE) Framework opportunity will deliver Core Team, Jobs, Tasks, Projects and Gated Projects in nuclear facilities within the Spent Fuel Management (SFM) and Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) areas, but with the potential to deliver across any onsite nuclear facility where needed.
The work involves maintaining existing asset condition and providing new asset capabilities when needed, which requires a level of Sellafield Ltd Integrated Partner engagement, subject matter expertise and assurance. Typically, the work will be in line with the following:
• Design, procurement, installation, modifications and commissioning of plant and equipment, and their dismantlement and removal;
• Asset care and support activities; and
• Integrated project controls and project management.
Sellafield are procuring two (2) Lot PACE Partners to provide the full suite of PACE capabilities and it will be carried out as a single procurement consisting of 2 Lots:
• Lot 1 – PACE Partner (SFM)
• Lot 2 - PACE Partner (SNM)
The frameworks will be for a period of nine (9) years, with the option to extend for a further six (6) to a maximum of 15 years.
The estimated value is within a range of £1.9bn to £3.6bn (inflated) across the 15 year duration, with £2.4bn being the mid-point based on the anticipated scope and volume.
Sellafield gives no guarantee as to the actual spend.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £3,600,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 1
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 1 - PACE Partner (SFM)
Lot No
Lot 1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 45000000 - Construction work
- 22314000 - Designs
- 79933000 - Design support services
- 71541000 - Construction project management services
- 71322000 - Engineering design services for the construction of civil engineering works
- 50000000 - Repair and maintenance services
- 43320000 - Construction equipment
- 45111200 - Site preparation and clearance work
- 42000000 - Industrial machinery
- 71500000 - Construction-related services
- 45351000 - Mechanical engineering installation works
- 71321000 - Engineering design services for mechanical and electrical installations for buildings
- 45100000 - Site preparation work
- 45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
- 45213250 - Construction work for industrial buildings
- 45260000 - Roof works and other special trade construction works
- 45220000 - Engineering works and construction works
- 44421722 - Safety cases
- 45222110 - Waste disposal site construction work
- 45210000 - Building construction work
- 45315100 - Electrical engineering installation works
- 71313410 - Risk or hazard assessment for construction
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD11 - West Cumbria
Main site or place of performance
Sellafield
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
To procure a Lot 1 PACE Partner (SFM) to provide asset care Works and/or Services. The Lot 1 PACE Partner will support the process and mechanical handing nuclear facilities in Spent Fuel Management and Retrievals East River, delivering Core Team activities, Jobs, Tasks and Full Lifecycle Projects and Gated Projects.
SFM is focussed on retiring risk through the safe storage of spent fuel, the processing and disposal of materials and waste arising from historic reprocessing operations, and the management of effluents to support ongoing hazard reduction across the site.
SFM is responsible for the provision of effluent treatment routes which covers the Low Active Effluent Management Group (LAEMG), Highly Active Liquor (HAL) programme, and the Site Ion Exchange Plant (SIXEP) plus its extensive supporting new builds. There is also work to manage the changes in effluent treatment that are required post-reprocessing.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,076,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
18 December 2026
End date
18 December 2041
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged minimum number: 6
Maximum number: 6
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The frameworks will be for a period of nine (9) years, with the option to extend for a further six (6) to a maximum of 15 years.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 2 - PACE Partner (SNM)
Lot No
Lot 2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 45000000 - Construction work
- 45111200 - Site preparation and clearance work
- 45213250 - Construction work for industrial buildings
- 45100000 - Site preparation work
- 45222110 - Waste disposal site construction work
- 45315100 - Electrical engineering installation works
- 45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
- 50000000 - Repair and maintenance services
- 22314000 - Designs
- 42000000 - Industrial machinery
- 43320000 - Construction equipment
- 71500000 - Construction-related services
- 45260000 - Roof works and other special trade construction works
- 79933000 - Design support services
- 44421722 - Safety cases
- 71322000 - Engineering design services for the construction of civil engineering works
- 45210000 - Building construction work
- 71321000 - Engineering design services for mechanical and electrical installations for buildings
- 45220000 - Engineering works and construction works
- 45351000 - Mechanical engineering installation works
- 71541000 - Construction project management services
- 71313410 - Risk or hazard assessment for construction
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD11 - West Cumbria
Main site or place of performance
Sellafield
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
To procure a Lot 2 PACE partner (SNM) to provide asset care Works and/or Services. The Lot 2 PACE Partner will support the batch, specialist and decommissioning nuclear facilities in Special Nuclear Materials, Nuclear Infrastructure and Remediation, delivering Core Team activities, Jobs, Tasks, and Full Lifecycle Projects and Gated Projects.
The term Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) refers to uranium and plutonium compounds.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1,500,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
18 December 2026
End date
18 December 2041
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged minimum number: 6
Maximum number: 6
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The frameworks will be for a period of nine (9) years, with the option to extend for a further six (6) to a maximum of 15 years.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
In accordance with Regulations 57, 58 and 60 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the information provided in response to the Selection Submission Appendix A1.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
Against the criteria as stated in the procurement pack accessed on Atamis, including in the Selection Submission Instructions:
- Section 15 Procurement Specific Matters; and
- Appendix A8 Minimum Turnover Threshold Test.
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
Against the criteria as stated in the procurement pack accessed on Atamis.
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
As set out in the PACE Framework Agreements, PACE Partnering Agreement and NEC4 Call Off Contracts, a draft of which have been included with the procurement pack.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with a single operator
In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:
9 years, with the option to extend for 6 years to support the development of strategic relationships and collaboration that are key to fully contributing towards asset risk reduction at Sellafield. The maximum 15-year term is considered necessary to provide the Partners with the confidence to sustainably invest in technologies and critical skills to drive value for money and optimise delivery.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-040521
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
24 April 2025
Local time
11:00am
four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
15 August 2025
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 24 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
The Project and Asset Care Execution (PACE) arrangements are an evolution of the current Integrated Asset Care (IAC) Framework (expiry date July 2027) with additional scope incorporating higher value gated projects and design capability to deliver full project lifecycle capability. PACE serves the growing demand for asset care at Sellafield as its nuclear facilities get older and some have their operational life extended or repurposed.
The estimated value of the PACE Framework opportunity is stated at II.1.5.1 which is the upper end of the anticipated range of £1.9bn-£3.6bn for the 15-year framework duration. The PACE team built this estimated range using the Sellafield Asset Management Database (SAMDb), plans for key programmes, historic spend and the long-term Sellafield Ltd Lifetime Plan.
The PACE team have applied an allowance for uncertainty into the estimated range. This allowance is lower for jobs and tasks yet higher for projects. Jobs and tasks are more predictable as they often deliver planned maintenance. Projects and gated projects have much greater levels of complexity, risk and scope uncertainty, all of which increases with time.
The estimated range follows the latest Sellafield and NDA guidance on inflation (23/24 5%, 24/25 3% and then 2% onwards). The range used allows for uncertainty around inflation.
The PACE Framework opportunity has been developed with input from market engagement activity which has been driven through prior information notices ("PIN"). Information related to this engagement can be accessed in Atamis using reference C17465:
PACE PIN 1 - Ref. 2024/S000-000821 published 10 January 2024
PACE PIN 2 - Ref. 2024/S000-010319 published 28 March 2024
PACE PIN 3 - Ref. 2024/S000-020650 published 5 July 2024
PACE PIN 4 - Ref. 2024/S000-033194 published 15 October 2024
PACE PIN 4A - Ref. 2024/S000-034773 published 25 October 2024
PACE PIN 5 - Ref. 2024/S000-035234 published 30 October 2024
PACE PIN 6 - Ref. 2024/S 000-040521 published 16 December 2024
To provide context in respect of II.1.6.3 Max. number of lots submitted, for both the Selection Stage and Award Stage the Candidates/Tenderers will be required to submit one (1) single submission only and this submission will apply to Lot 1 and Lot 2. Candidates will be required to provide a preference during the Selection Stage and Sellafield intends to award the highest scoring compliant Tenderer, their preference. In the event that only one (1) compliant Tender has been received, Sellafield may award both Lots to the only compliant Tenderer.
Further to IV.1.3.6 Justification for duration, the maximum 15 year duration is considered necessary due to a number of factors, including:
• The bulk of the Sellafield Ltd operational facilities supported by PACE switch from operations to initial decommissioning by around 2042.
• In the 2030-40 period there are a number of new capability projects required to enable interim decommissioning that will be impacted by any supply chain transition.
• Experience both within Sellafield and across other sectors shows it takes 3-5 years to stabilise performance on a new delivery contract and evolve the delivery environment to fully enable anticipated benefits.
• The strategic and behavioural changes Sellafield is looking for in PACE to drive value will take up to 5 years to start delivering benefit.
• The new capability asset projects can be complex and current design and construction norms show an average delivery schedule of up to 8 years, compared to 4 to 6 years in less complex regulated industrial sectors.
• The investment in the workforce and supply chain Sellafield is looking for is enabled by a longer-term relationship, with direct market feedback that it requires a minimum of 7-8 years arrangement.
• Enable return on investment for the supply chain, making PACE more attractive.
• Supports strategic relationship and collaboration in line with OAS 2040; giving suppliers time to be more knowledgeable about the Sellafield site, supporting continuous improvement, predictable delivery and investment in a complex area.
Sellafield reserves the right to discontinue at any stage any procurement it commences, reject all or any of the bids for the competition and not to appoint any Candidate/Tenderers. Sellafield is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2002. The estimated contract value articulated at II.1.5.1 is an estimate only and Sellafield makes no guarantee regarding spend under any Framework, if awarded.
Tenderers must register their interest, obtain further information for this Framework opportunity and submit their tender response via the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Sellafield Ltd's E-procurement system, Atamis. This can be found at the following address:
https://one-nda.force.com/s/Welcome
Initial registration of your company is achieved by using the above site and then clicking on "Register Here". The Projects and Asset Care (PACE) package can be found using reference: C8478 within Atamis.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Royal Courts Of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/royal-courts-of-justice
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Royal Courts Of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/royal-courts-of-justice
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The review procedure is as provided for in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Royal Courts Of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/royal-courts-of-justice