Scope
Description
Supply of critical spares from the original equipment manufacturer for the waste vitrification plant (WVP) facility's distributed control system (DCS). The existing DCS was originally manufactured by ABB Ltd.
Due to age and imminent obsolescence, procurement of critical spares will give resilience to the WVP which intern protects the highly active liquor (HAL) stream programme/deliverables.
Contract 1. Waste Vitrification Plant Distributed Control System Critical Spares
Supplier
Contract value
- £977,688.89 excluding VAT
- £1,173,226.67 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
18 March 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 18 March 2026 to 30 July 2026
- 4 months, 13 days
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 31682210 - Instrumentation and control equipment
- 31230000 - Parts of electricity distribution or control apparatus
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
- UKD1 - Cumbria
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
None
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
- Single supplier - technical reasons
- Additional or repeat goods, services or works - extension or partial replacement
It has been determined that in current circumstances that competition is absent for technical reasons pursuant to Schedule 5 paragraph 6(a)(b) and 7(a)(b) of the Procurement Act 2023. Justification for the award is as follows:
A change in supplier would result in the contract authority receiving goods that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing works. Introducing unproven spares could result in failure of the existing distributed control system (DCS) and therefore impact the waste vitrification plant's (WVP) operational availability.
It is essential that the spares are compatible with the existing DCS within the facility and ABB Ltd as the original equipment manufacturer can manufacture spares for its system which are proven to be compatible with the existing system. Changing suppliers from ABB Ltd could require significant redesign, testing, and validation and any compatibility issues would result in the loss of WVP's ability to operate. Such an impact on operations is clearly disproportionate given the nature of the award.
Supplier
ABB Limited
- Companies House: 03780764
Daresbury Park
Warrington
WA4 4BT
United Kingdom
Email: contact.centre@gb.abb.com
Region: UKD71 - East Merseyside
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Waste Vitrification Plant Distributed Control System Critical Spares
Contracting authority
Sellafield Limited
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWYP-8439-MZWY
Hinton House, Birchwood Park Avenue
Warrington
WA3 6GR
United Kingdom
Contact name: Gareth Arnison
Email: gareth.arnison@sellafieldsites.com
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/sellafield-ltd
Region: UKD61 - Warrington
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government