Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Herdus House Westlakes Science and Technology Park Moor Row
Cumbria
CA24 3HU
Contact
Madeline Jones
Telephone
+44 1925802875
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/nuclear-decommissioning-authority
Buyer's address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/nuclear-decommissioning-authority
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://one-nda.force.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
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
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Autonomous Waste Sorting and Segregation (Auto-SAS)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The NDA and its operating companies recognise that robotics and automation have a key role to play in reducing the time, cost and risk associated with our decommissioning mission. Auto-SAS aims to push the boundaries of robotic systems in the NDA group, acting as a steppingstone to the routine use of autonomous systems and continuous operations.
An area where robotic technologies provide a significant opportunity is nuclear waste handling. The characterisation, sentencing and disposal of radioactive waste is complicated, time consuming and expensive. It also poses both conventional and radiological risks to workers. Ideally waste would be handled once, segregated at source to the most appropriate waste route, properly utilising the waste hierarchy. Safety measures, alongside resource, time and space constraints, make in-situ sentencing challenging, meaning that accurate segregation is not always possible.
Auto-SAS will build upon the learning from the NDA funded Integrated Innovation for Nuclear Decommissioning – Sorting and Segregation (IIND-SAS) competition delivered through Innovate UK, which sought to demonstrate the feasibility of autonomous sort and segregation of mixed nuclear waste through the supply chain. Auto-SAS will go further by deploying an integrated system on a nuclear licenced site, for the sorting and segregation of specific radioactive waste material. The Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) Strategic Innovation Team will be responsible for the overall delivery of the project, supported by an integrated team from across the NDA group.
Auto-SAS will be separated into two sequential phases. These phases are as follows:
1. Off-site Design, Testing and Build
2. On-Site Deployment and operation
The Autonomous Waste Sorting and Segregation (Auto-SAS) Innovation Partnership will be structured into 2 phases:
• Phase 1: Off-Site Development - Design, manufacture, commission and test an integrated sorting and segregation platform, in line with the requirements in section 7. Iterate and prototype as necessary, and thoroughly test the system to give confidence of suitable performance when brought to site. This will be verified by a successful and thorough Factory Acceptance Test and compliance with the NRS Safety and Design Justification Process (shared at ITT). Facilitate
stakeholder demonstrations of the developed platform.
• Phase 2: On-Site Deployment - Install and commission the SAS platform developed offsite, including Site Acceptance Testing (SATs). Operate it for a number of cycles within a defined time period to achieve the learning outcomes in the learning plan. Assist in the decisions around further development and future uses of the developed platform.
Estimated value
Phase Maximum Budget
Phase 1 – Off-Site Development £5,500,000
Phase 2 – On-Site Deployment £4,000,000
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £9,500,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79723000 - Waste analysis services
- 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development
- 42997300 - Industrial robots
- 79930000 - Specialty design services
- 79421200 - Project-design services other than for construction work
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Autonomous Waste Sorting and Segregation (Auto-SAS) Innovation Partnership will be structured into 2 phases:
• Phase 1: Off-Site Development - Design, manufacture, commission and test an integrated sorting and segregation platform, in line with the requirements in section 7. Iterate and prototype as necessary, and thoroughly test the system to give confidence of suitable performance when brought to site. This will be verified by a successful and thorough Factory Acceptance Test and compliance with the NRS Safety and Design Justification Process (shared at ITT). Facilitate
stakeholder demonstrations of the developed platform.
• Phase 2: On-Site Deployment - Install and commission the SAS platform developed offsite, including Site Acceptance Testing (SATs). Operate it for a number of cycles within a defined time period to achieve the learning outcomes in the learning plan. Assist in the decisions around further development and future uses of the developed platform.
Estimated value
Phase Maximum Budget
Phase 1 – Off-Site Development £5,500,000
Phase 2 – On-Site Deployment £4,000,000
More information can be found here: https://one-nda.force.com/s/Welcome
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: £9,500,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 April 2025
End date
31 March 2029
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: 1
Maximum number: 5
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
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
two.2.14) Additional information
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
Please see standard selection questionnaire - up to 5 suppliers with the highest scores will be down selected and continue to ITT stage.
1 supplier will be awarded this contract ultimately.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
As per SSQ
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
As per SSQ
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Innovation partnership
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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
30 July 2024
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: 8 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Herdus House Westlakes Science and Technology Park Moor Row
Cumbria
CA24 3HU
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/nuclear-decommissioning-authority
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Herdus House Westlakes Science and Technology Park Moor Row
Cumbria
CA24 3HU
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/nuclear-decommissioning-authority
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Herdus House Westlakes Science and Technology Park Moor Row
Cumbria
CA24 3HU
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/nuclear-decommissioning-authority