Scope
Reference
P-37412
Description
This is a market engagement opportunity. The Environment Agency regulates the environmental safety of radioactive waste generated and disposed in England. Operators of nuclear sites in England, including radioactive waste disposal sites, must have a permit from the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency anticipates technical support being required from suitably experienced consultants to support its future work in the following areas: - regulation of the LLWR site in west Cumbria and other LLW disposal sites across England - our current pre-application advice on, and future regulation of, geological disposal - other matters relating to solid radioactive waste regulation In order to assess its options for procurement of these expert consultancy services, the Environment Agency wish to engage with UK and international organisations that have recent and relevant experience of providing contracting support in these areas. Further information on the services expected to be required to support these areas of work can be found in the attached 'Regulatory Technical Support - Further Information document', or by emailing radwaste.enquiry@environment-agency.gov.uk, please use the subject title 'Regulatory Technical Support - Further Information document you're your request. Details of how to participate in the market engagement exercise are provided in the section below.
Total value (estimated)
- £900,000 excluding VAT
- £1,080,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028
- Possible extension to 31 March 2030
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 90521300 - Disposal of radioactive waste
- 98113100 - Nuclear safety services
- 71351220 - Geological consultancy services
- 71621000 - Technical analysis or consultancy services
- 90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services
- 90711000 - Environmental impact assessment other than for construction
- 71313000 - Environmental engineering consultancy services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Engagement
Engagement deadline
4 July 2025
Engagement process description
The Environment Agency is conducting a market engagement exercise to better understand the interest, capability and capacity of the supply market to provide the required services in a future invitation to tender. To inform its decision making and consider its contracting options, the Environment Agency is inviting interested suppliers to respond to a short questionnaire and attend a virtual supplier event. If you wish to participate in this market engagement exercise, you are invited to complete a short Technical Support for the Regulatory Assessment of Solid Radioactive Waste Disposal Facilities Market Engagement Questionnaire. The questionnaire can be obtained by emailing radwaste.enquiry@environment-agency.gov.uk. Please use the subject title "Technical Support Market Engagement Questionnaire" in your request. Completed questionnaires should be returned to the same email address no later than 16:00 on 4th July 2025. A virtual supplier event will be held via Microsoft Teams on 10th June 2025 11:00-13:00 BST. This will provide interested organisations an opportunity to learn about the Environment Agency and its requirements for the technical support contract as well as the chance to clarify any matters to assist in completing the questionnaire. Requests to attend the supplier event should be emailed to radwaste.enquiry@environment-agency.gov.uk with the subject title "Technical Support Market Engagement Supplier Event", and include details of the email address(es) invitations should be issued to. To keep the event manageable, suppliers are requested to keep attendees to a maximum of four participants. Any future tender exercise will be conducted through the Defra eSourcing portal. If your organisation is not already registered you can create an account at https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome. This engagement does not constitute a formal notice to tender and there is no guarantee the Environment Agency will proceed with an external tendering exercise to create a framework or other form of contract. By replying to the questionnaire, you are not committing to any future tender submission, and replies will not form part of any subsequent tender process.
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
1 September 2025
Contracting authority
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNWW-1475-NYLN
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
United Kingdom
Contact name: Carol Caddick
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Other organisation
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Summary of their role in this procurement: Defra group Commercial are managing the procurement on behalf of the Environment Agency
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNBD-3289-CDGX
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
United Kingdom
Contact name: Carol Caddick
Region: UKI32 - Westminster