Scope
Description
Services will maintain the authorisation of the Naval Base Site through the provision of specialist nuclear advice, which reflects modern civil nuclear practice to Naval Base staff and ensures the Naval Base Commanders Site Safety Justification documentation suite remains current and fully compliant with MoD Authorisation Conditions, MoD Naval Nuclear Safety Principles (NNSP) and other standards imposed by the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR).
Contract 1. The Provision of Continuation Nuclear Site Safety Justification (NSSJ) Services at HMNB Devonport
Supplier
Contract value
- £2,040,739.80 excluding VAT
- £2,448,887.76 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Date signed
23 July 2025
Contract dates
- 24 July 2025 to 31 October 2026
- 1 year, 3 months, 8 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79417000 - Safety consultancy services
Key performance indicators
| Name | Reporting frequency |
|---|---|
| SQEP/Resource Availability, | 12 months |
| Customer Satisfaction | 12 months |
| Social Value | 12 months |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Special regime
Defence and security
Direct award justification
- Single supplier - technical reasons
- Additional or repeat goods, services or works - extension or partial replacement
The Naval Base Commander Devonport (NBC(D)) delivery team, part of the Ministry of Defence, intends to Direct Award additional Nuclear Site Safety Justification (NSSJ) work to Abbott Risk Consulting Limited (ARC Ltd) as a fixed duration continuation of the NSSJ service provision based at HMNB Devonport, Plymouth, Devon, UK.
In the field of application, this contract is governed by the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023), and the Authority considers that the award of this work without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with Schedule 5, paragraphs 6 and 7 of the PA 2023. This is reasoned by technical constraints, as Abbot Risk Consulting Limited have committed four (4) years to date, on the production of a suite of Safety Case documentation and any change in supplier would result in disproportionate disruption through ensuing document complexities and modification that introduce intolerable risk to the delivery of operational programmes.
The requirement for continued work is the result of changes to the site's As Low As Reasonably Possible (ALARP) safety processes, and emergent safety case updates necessary to satisfy requirements of the Defence Safety Nuclear Regulator (DNSR) that uphold safety documentation integrity and enable site Authorised conditions to be met. This work is in addition to work contracted under the competed NSSJ contract (701551834). This additional work shall be between the period 17 June 2025 and the 31 October 2026, with an estimated value of £2,100,000 ex VAT (£2,420,000 including VAT). The contract shall include no options to extend beyond the 31 October 2026.
Supplier
Abbott Risk Consulting Limited
- Companies House: SC234532
11 Albyn Place
Edinburgh
EH2 4NG
United Kingdom
Email: info@consultarc.com
Website: http://www.consultarc.com
Region: UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
Submarine Delivery Agency
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBHX-4625-LVPD
HMNB Devonport
Plymouth
PL2 2BG
United Kingdom
Email: julie.rawlinson103@mod.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/submarine-delivery-agency
Region: UKK41 - Plymouth
Organisation type: Public authority - central government