Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Sellafield Ltd
Birchwood
Warrington
WA3 6GR
Contact
Rhyannon Harding
rhyannon.harding@sellafieldsites.com
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKD - North West (England)
National registration number
01002607
Internet address(es)
Main 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
HAWTT Research and Development Thermal Treatment Programme - Tranche 2 ILW Technology
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 42940000 - Machinery for the heat treatment of materials
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The Higher Activity Waste Thermal Treatment (HAWTT) research and development programme seeks to develop active demonstrators to consider the impact of thermal treatment technologies on specific forms of High Level Waste. The specific waste form in this case is Intermediate Level Waste Sludge. Advancing on current thermal treatment technologies, Sellafield have been requested by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to deliver active demonstrators to produce information that may underpin a strategic decision as to the most appropriate means of treating specific forms of this High Level Waste, so that it may be stored and managed safely. This will further inform the broader strategic direction across the NDA estate.
The Contract to which this VEAT relates, is for the supply of a distinct thermal treatment technology for deployment within the development of an integrated system for the purposes of research of development.
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: £23,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 42940000 - Machinery for the heat treatment of materials
- 42310000 - Furnace burners
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The manufacture and supply of the core thermal treatment technology and associated ancillary services to enable Sellafield Ltd.'s HAWTT research and development programme which seeks to prove the concept of the application of thermal treatment technology, in an integrated system, to specific forms of High Level Waste. Specific waste form for Tranche 2 is ILW Sludge
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical, Minimum Standards, Terms and Conditions / Weighting: 60%
Cost criterion - Name: Value for Money, Economic Standing / Weighting: 40%
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
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 four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
The proposed award is in conformity with Regulation 32(5)(a) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 which permits reliance on the negotiated procedure without prior advertisement of a contract opportunity where “the products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experimentation study or development. The thermal treatment technology which is the subject of the proposed contract award will be manufactured for deployment, within an integrated system which is being developed specifically, for the purposes of the Higher Activity Waste Thermal Treatment (HAWTT) research and development programme.
The thermal technology is core to the development of the integrated active demonstrator system. The integration between the thermal treatment technology and the broader
modules of the integrated system are key to proving the concept of the active demonstrator.
The proof of concept activity of this research and development programme will generate information for the potential deployment of thermal treatment solutions (not limited to those to which this proposed contract award relates), including in relation to the potential types of higher activity waste streams that could be thermally treated, implications for the scope of deployment and the potential associated costs /savings associated with the thermal treatment when considered against other forms of waste treatment and management. The generation of this pertinent information from the research and development activity will underpin a strategic policy decision for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Title
Tranche 2 ILW Sludge Waste-Higher Active Waste Thermal Treatment Research and Development Programme
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
Atkins Limited
Epsom
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)
Lowest offer: £7,000,000 / Highest offer: £23,000,000 taken into consideration
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Due to the research and development nature of the contract, the value range is a parametric estimate and takes into account that there may be various stages of the contract that rely on prior proof of concept deliverables and may not be entered into unless these are proven to be successful beforehand. The value range is an estimate which takes into account credible scenarios based on three sequential development stages. In the event that the thermal technology is found to be unsuitable through the first development stage, it is anticipated the research and development with this technology will cease (subject to the reasons for the unsuitability and the potential for this to be rectified within the system); in which case the contract value will remain limited. However, if on completion of the first stage, the thermal technology development is successful, the second stage of development will commence. Likewise, the final stage of development will commence if the technology is suitably developed after the second stage. As such the overall contract value will be informed by the success of the research and development activities associated with each stage.
Sellafield Ltd undertook a market scanning activity to explore the available thermal technologies that could support this research and development programme. The identified Technology Supplier to whom this proposed award relates was identified as meeting the requirements of the programme through an informal process. Sellafield Ltd had awarded a number of contracts to companies that had the potential to meet the requirements of the programme, with details of those prior contract awards available through Ref: 2021-467232.
In line with the requirements of Regulation 99(3) Sellafield Ltd will be observing a standstill period from the publication of this notice prior to the award of the contract to the Technology Supplier.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
As specified within the Public Contracts Regulations 2015
N/A
Country
United Kingdom