Find a TenderAwarded without competitionTransparency notice
Published 17 Jun 2026, 16:40 BST

Official UK procurement notice

DMOX pellet manufacturing, characterisation, and experimental testing activities

Official notice

Authority: Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (Central government)

Framework agreementDirect award
Sectors: Research & Development (R&D) (73) Delivery: Delivery location not published
Framework ceiling (notional)Value not publishedframework ceiling, not attributable revenue
Award in standstill Not publishedno call for competition
Award (standstill) to Orano Limited

What is being bought

Published requirement description

DMOX pellet manufacturing, characterisation, and experimental testing activities framework

How this framework works

From the published notice
Type
Closed framework

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Direct award
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Framework agreement
Who may use this agreement
Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
Competition type
Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
17 Jun 2026, 16:40 BST
Last source update
17 Jun 2026, 16:40 BST
Authority reference
C24542
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-057311
Latest notice
Transparency notice (UK5)
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b778 Find a Tender
Why no open competition

Prototypes Development; Single Suppliers Intellectual Property Exclusive Rights; Single Suppliers Technical Reasons; Additional Repeat Further Following Competitive Procedure

Published justification

The proposed direct award to Orano is justified under Section 41 and Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 on the basis that Orano is the only supplier capable of delivering the requirement as a whole. The work is a continuation of earlier NDA-funded MOX pellet development and depends on Orano’s proprietary MIMAS MOX pellet fabrication intellectual property, established process know-how, prior campaign data and embedded technical understanding.

These factors mean there are no reasonable alternatives capable of delivering the required scope on a comparable technical basis. A change in supplier would break continuity with the existing programme, require repetition of earlier development and validation work, and introduce disproportionate technical, cost and schedule risk. On that basis, competition is not viable and a direct award to Orano represents the only credible route to deliver the required outcomes.

Review and risk notes
Risks

Failure to award directly would create significant technical, cost and schedule risk. A change of supplier would disrupt continuity of the MOX pellet development programme, undermine comparability of results, require repetition of earlier work, and lead to material delay and additional cost.

Notice history

2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 17 Jun 2026
  1. Transparency notice published
    17 Jun 2026, 16:40 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract signature expected
    3 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Orano LimitedThe proposed direct award to Orano is justified under Section 41 and Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 on the basis that Orano is the only supplier capable of delivering the requirement as a whole. The work is a continuation of earlier NDA-funded MOX3 Aug 2026 – 2 Aug 2029 · up to 1 Aug 2030Extensions: 3 year term with option to extend for a further 12 months on approval from the Authority · Options: 12 month option to extend£12,000,000—Standstill

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PVDH-2346-PXDL Herdus House Westlakes Science and Technology Park Moor Row, Cumbria, North West, CA24 3HUContact name, email

Framework contractors & participating bidders

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Orano LtdFramework contractorGB-PPON: PVWQ-8471-MVYH Suite 8 Hitching Court Blacklands Way Oxfordshire, Abingdon, South East, OX14 1RAContact email

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender