Contract

Nuclear Energy Regulatory Justification Services Framework

  • DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-064961

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04e675 (view related notices)

Published 13 October 2025, 5:31pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

Contact

Carol Caddick

Email

procurement@defra.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs

Buyer's address

https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

Environment


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Nuclear Energy Regulatory Justification Services Framework

Reference number

C24286

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Authority has an agreement with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to fulfil specific elements of the Justification process, as Justifying Authority for new nuclear energy technologies. The Authority’s Nuclear Justification Team’s role is to
advise the SoS so that the SoS may determine the class or type of practice (CTP) that pertains to any application it receives from the nuclear industry and to decide whether the CTP is Justified or not. The Authority has established a framework of suppliers who have
the requisite nuclear expertise to provide advice throughout the Justification process. The Authority's Nuclear Justification Team will use the services and deliverables provided by Framework Suppliers to inform its recommendations to the Secretary of State (SoS) in respect of an appropriate CTP and whether it is Justified.

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: £8,650,000

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 71621000 - Technical analysis or consultancy services
  • 90711000 - Environmental impact assessment other than for construction
  • 45251110 - Nuclear-power station construction work
  • 09300000 - Electricity, heating, solar and nuclear energy
  • 71311000 - Civil engineering consultancy services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance

UK

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Authority's Nuclear Justification (NJ) Team will use the services and deliverables provided by Framework Suppliers to inform its recommendations to the Secretary of State (SoS) in respect of an appropriate CTP and whether it is Justified.
The Authority has established a framework of 8 (eight) suppliers that have the requisite nuclear expertise to provide the following services throughout the Justification process.
• Undertake specific analyses and provide technical advice to inform Justification decisions on new nuclear energy technologies including but not limited to:
o preparing detailed and comprehensive written reports, in an agreed manner and timeline, as required;
o presenting, explaining and discussing report findings to/with the NJ Team, statutory consultees and other stakeholders as required;
o other related analysis and technical advice as required.
• Provide ongoing technical support to the NJ Team, including but not limited to:
o providing expert knowledge, advice and support to enable interpretation and understanding of technical aspects and implications of data and information relevant to the Justification assessment process;
o providing advice on robustness of evidence, gaps in evidence and methods;
o providing access to expert bodies to approach to provide supplementary evidence where needed;
o co-authoring draft and final Decision documents with the NJ Team
o other related technical support as required.
The Framework will commence on 01/10/2025 and operate for a period of 60 months with an optional extension period of up to 18 months to permit ongoing assessments to be completed, with a maximum end date of March 2032.
The Authority anticipates a range of Justification applications over the Framework term. These are expected to form the core of the work commissioned through the Framework. There is no guarantee or commitment to the number of applications to be assessed or the timelines for applications to be received over the Framework term. Each Justification application is expected to take up to nineteen months to complete.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Technical Skills & Capability / Weighting: 40

Quality criterion - Name: Organisational Structure / Weighting: 10

Quality criterion - Name: Conflict of Interest Management / Weighting: 10

Quality criterion - Name: Staff Resource / Weighting: 15

Quality criterion - Name: Quality Assurance / Weighting: 15

Quality criterion - Name: Sustainability & Social Value / Weighting: 10

Quality criterion - Name: Final Quality Weighting / Weighting: 70

Price - Weighting: 30

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

The initial Framework term shall be 60 months with the potential for up to an 18 month extension period (exercisable by the Authority). The extension period is intended to enable the completion of assessments commenced during the initial framework term should this
become necessary. It is not anticipated that new application assessments will be commenced after the end of the initial framework term.

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

Open procedure

four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement

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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2025/S 000-006720


Section five. Award of contract

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

29 August 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 9

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 9

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

AFRY Solutions UK

920 Birchwood Blvd

Warrington

WA3 7QS

Email

dave.taylor@afry.com

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
National registration number

1192469

The contractor is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £8,650,000

Total value of the contract/lot: £0.01


Section five. Award of contract

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

29 August 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 9

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 9

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Assystem Energy and Infrastructure

Innovation Centre, 1 Evolution Park, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 2FD

Blackburn

BB1 2FD

Email

info@assystemuk.com

Telephone

+44 1254927600

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
National registration number

03148098

Internet address

https://www.assystem.com/en/

The contractor is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £8,650,000

Total value of the contract/lot: £0.01


Section five. Award of contract

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

29 August 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 9

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 9

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Egis UK – Consulting and Engineering Limited

3 Valentine Place, Southwark

London

SE1 8QH

Email

info@assystemuk.com

Telephone

+44 1254927600

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
National registration number

11475428

The contractor is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £8,650,000

Total value of the contract/lot: £0.01


Section five. Award of contract

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

29 August 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 9

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 9

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

TUV SUD Limited

Napier Building, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride Glasgow

Glasgow

G75 0QF

Email

nt.commercial.uk@tuvsud.com

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
National registration number

SC215164

The contractor is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £8,650,000

Total value of the contract/lot: £0.01


Section five. Award of contract

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

29 August 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 9

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 9

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Energy, Safety and Risk Consultants (UK) Limited

305 Bridgewater Place, Birchwood Park

Warrington

WA3 6XF

Email

zeb.farooq@amentum.com

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
National registration number

07825532

The contractor is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £8,650,000

Total value of the contract/lot: £0.01


Section five. Award of contract

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

29 August 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 9

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 9

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

RSK Environment Ltd

65 Sussex Street

Glasgow

G41 1DX

Email

publicsector@rsk.co.uk

Telephone

+44 1928726006

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
National registration number

SC115530

Internet address

https://rskgroup.com/

The contractor is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £8,650,000

Total value of the contract/lot: £0.01


Section five. Award of contract

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

29 August 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 9

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 9

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Frazer-Nash Consultancy Ltd

Hill Park Court, Springfield Drive, Leatherhead, Surrey,

Leatherhead

KT22 7NL

Telephone

+44 1306885050

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
National registration number

2562870

Internet address

www.fnc.co.uk

The contractor is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £8,650,000

Total value of the contract/lot: £0.01


Section five. Award of contract

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

29 August 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 9

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 9

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

PA Consulting Services Ltd

10 Bressenden Place

London

SW1E 5DN

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
National registration number

414220

Internet address

www.paconsulting.com

The contractor is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £8,650,000

Total value of the contract/lot: £0.01


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Public Procurement Review Body

N/A

N/A

N/A

Email

publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit

six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures

Public Procurement Review Body

N/A

N/A

N/A

Email

publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit

six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained

Public Procurement Review Body

N/A

N/A

N/A

Email

publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit