Find a TenderAwardedContract award notice
Published 10 Feb 2026, 13:19 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

715724483_V2 The Provision of Nuclear Site Safety Justification (NSSJ) Services at HMNB Devonport

Official notice

Authority: Submarine Delivery Agency (Central government)

ServicesCompetitive flexible procedureAbove thresholdDefence & securitySME suitable
Published estimate£10,160,000≈ £3.4m / year · £12,700,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 16 Jul 2026awarded 20 Aug 2026
Awarded to NESC Ltd
Contract term 3 yrsends 31 Oct 2029 · up to 31 Oct 2031 with extensions · starts 1 Nov 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Description of the Procurement

The fundamental aim of the Naval Site Safety Justification (NSSJ) contract is to procure the provision of an integrated Project Management Service (PMS) to support the continued authorisation and safe operation of HM Naval Base (HMNB) Devonport.

The contract provides specialist capability to deliver project management, nuclear safety advice, safety case production and maintenance, and Periodic Review of Safety (PRS) activities, under a pro rata model. These services ensure that the Naval Base Commander’s Site Safety Justification documentation remains current, robust, and fully compliant with:

  • MoD Authorisation Conditions
  • MoD Naval Nuclear Safety Principles (NNSP)
  • Applicable Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR) standards

In addition to technical delivery, the contract supports knowledge transfer and information sharing to strengthen the Authority’s Intelligent Customer (IC) capability.

Scope of Services

The services to be provided under this contract include, but are not limited to:

  1. Nuclear Safety Case Management and Support
  • Provision of specialist nuclear safety advice reflecting modern civil nuclear practice.
  • Management, review, and maintenance of the full suite of HMNB Devonport nuclear safety cases and supporting documentation.
  • Support to the Naval Base Design Authority in ensuring safety justification documentation remains authorised and compliant throughout its lifecycle.
  1. Nuclear Authorised Documentation Review Programme (NADRP) Support
  • Support for documentation production, review, update, and tracking activities using the Nuclear Authorised Documentation Review Programme (NADRP).
  • Delivery of tasks assigned via NADRP in accordance with programme priorities and Design Authority requirements.
  • Flexible and reactive support for new documentation tasks driven by the submarine operational programme, including delivery to demanding timelines.
  1. Periodic Review of Safety (PRS) Support
  • Full-time technical support to the PRS Lead, managed through the Design Authority PRS Assistant Head role.
  • Subject matter review and assessment activity contributing to the successful delivery of the Naval Base PRS programme.
  1. Intelligent Customer (IC) Support
  • Independent IC support to the Design Authority Safety Justification Delivery Manager (SJDM).
  • Provision of an experienced safety engineer to assess NSSJ documentation during production, review, and approval stages.
  • Assurance that IC activities remain independent from document authorship and production.
  1. Continuous Improvement and Knowledge Transfer
  • Support to the Naval Base in fostering a culture of continuous improvement in nuclear safety management.
  • Knowledge sharing and mentoring to enhance internal capability and resilience within the Authority.

Delivery Context and Experience Requirements

The service provider is required to bring a high level of knowledge and experience in nuclear safety case management, with a strong understanding of the MOD environment. This includes experience of operating within the challenges of balancing a demanding military operational programme with the stringent requirements of nuclear safety regulation.

The provider is expected to work within established HMNB Devonport nuclear safety management arrangements while applying relevant external experience and best practice to enhance safety performance.

  • How the procedure runs: Competitive flexible procedure will broadly follow the following steps, not limited to; - Procurement Specific Questionnaire - Issued on Defence Sourcing Portal 09th of April 2026, Deadline for responses 05th May 2026. - Successful suppliers are invited to submit their tender - Tenders conference. Virtual or in person TBC - Suppliers are invited to submit any clarification questions - Clarification questions will be answered by The Authority - Tenders will be submitted - Deadline 16th of July 2026. - Tenders will be evaluated - Award decision - Standstill period - Contract award
  • No preliminary market engagement: N/A

CPV: Nuclear safety services · Project management consultancy services · Safety consultancy services · Technical support services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1AwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEPublished value£10,160,000
Contract period: 1 Nov 2026 – 31 Oct 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Oct 2031 with extensionsValue: £10,160,000 exc. VAT · £12,700,000 inc. VAT
Eligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: option to extend by 2 x 1 year periods · 2 x 1 year periods
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    Please note a PSQ will need to be completed to satisfy conditions of participation.

  • Technical & professional ability

    Please note a PSQ will need to be completed to satisfy conditions of participation.

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored
Quality: 100%
Published sub-criteria (1)
  • Weighted: 100%
Published award criteria (1)
  • Weighted: 70% Technical 30% Non technical
Conditions of participation2
  • Economic & financial standing

    Please note a PSQ will need to be completed to satisfy conditions of participation.

  • Technical & professional ability

    Please note a PSQ will need to be completed to satisfy conditions of participation.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Competitive flexible procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Defence & security
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
10 Feb 2026, 13:19 GMT
Last source update
21 Aug 2026, 12:07 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 13 Aug 2026
Authority reference
715724483_V2
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-033169
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Classification (CPV)
Nuclear safety servicesProject management consultancy servicesSafety consultancy servicesTechnical support services
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-064c87 Find a Tender
How it runs

Competitive flexible procedure will broadly follow the following steps, not limited to;

  • Procurement Specific Questionnaire - Issued on Defence Sourcing Portal 09th of April 2026, Deadline for responses 05th May 2026.
  • Successful suppliers are invited to submit their tender
  • Tenders conference. Virtual or in person TBC
  • Suppliers are invited to submit any clarification questions
  • Clarification questions will be answered by The Authority
  • Tenders will be submitted - Deadline 16th of July 2026.
  • Tenders will be evaluated
  • Award decision
  • Standstill period
  • Contract award

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Defence Sourcing Portal · Who buys & how to bid on MOD DSP
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free · registration requires an NCAGE code — obtain in advance · before you can bid: NCAGE
Submission deadline
16 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

10 Feb 2026 → 1 Nov 2026 · 8 dates
  1. Planning notice published254 days ago
    10 Feb 2026, 13:19 GMT
  2. Next notice expected230 days ago
    6 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
  3. Tender notice published192 days ago
    13 Apr 2026, 11:12 BST
  4. Submission deadline98 days ago
    16 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
  5. Award decision expected by70 days ago
    13 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
  6. Assessment summaries sent63 days ago
    21 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST
  7. Latest notice published62 days ago
    21 Aug 2026, 12:07 BST
  8. Today
    22 Oct 2026
  9. Contract startsin 9 days
    1 Nov 2026

Notice history

9 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 10 Feb 2026
  1. Pipeline notice published
    10 Feb 2026, 13:19 GMT
    UK1
  2. Tender notice published
    13 Apr 2026, 11:12 BST
    UK4
  3. Status changed to active
    13 Apr 2026, 11:12 BST
  4. Procurement method changed
    13 Apr 2026, 11:12 BST
  5. Deadline published: 16 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
    13 Apr 2026, 11:12 BST
  6. Tender notice published
    15 Apr 2026, 09:35 BST
    UK4
  7. Contract award notice published
    21 Aug 2026, 12:07 BST
    UK6
  8. Status changed to complete
    21 Aug 2026, 12:07 BST
  9. Contract signature expected
    21 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
Published amendments (1)

UK 4 Notice updated to include addtional link and submission dates.

Routine re-releases (4)
  • 2026-02: 1 release · 10 Feb 2026

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £3,963,0271 award exc. VAT
Bids received 74 from SMEs
Awarded toValueDateStatus
NESC LtdSME1 Nov 2026 – 31 Oct 2029 · up to 31 Oct 2032Extensions: Option Years · Options: Option years 4 and option year 5£3,963,02720 Aug 2026Awarded

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
7final-stage tenders40—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Submarine Delivery Agency

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PBHX-4625-LVPD HMNB Devonport, Plymouth, South West, PL2 2BGContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Nesc LimitedAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PNHN-3242-RJHY Plymouth Science Park, 1 Davy Road, Plymouth, South West, PL6 8BXContact email

Official documents & specifications (5)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • Bidding documents and specificationstenderBidding documents and specificationsAccess: Uploaded via DSP

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Pipeline notice planningPipeline noticeUK1Pipeline notice on Find a Tender