Official UK procurement notice
Expert Support and Alternative Solutions Framework
Authority: Nuclear Waste Services Limited (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionNuclear Waste Services (NWS), through its Waste Services line of business, will provide an Expert Support & Alternative Treatment Solutions (ESAS) service to both Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and non-NDA customers. The ESAS Framework (estimated value of £14.5m, although formally a zero-value agreement with no spend guaranteed) will be available to all NWS customers with a Waste Services Contract. The Framework includes: <br/>- On-site support;<br/>- Technical and professional waste services;<br/>- Enabling activities;<br/>- Development and delivery of alternative solutions (including pilots);<br/>- Research & development;<br/>- Container and package quality.
CPV: Radioactive waste treatment services · Radioactive-, toxic-, medical- and hazardous waste services · Technical analysis or consultancy services · Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Places
- up to 1 suppliers · 8 bids received (8.0 per place) · 6 appointed (full)
- Framework period
- 4 yrs from 12 Dec 2025, N/A
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1As the diversion of LLW from LLW Repository (nr Drigg, Cumbria) has become business as…CancelledPublished value£14,500,000
As the diversion of LLW from LLW Repository (nr Drigg, Cumbria) has become business as usual over the past 10 years and decommissioning programmes at customer sites have matured; the types of waste being managed through NWS frameworks has changed. NWS is seeing an increase in the number of challenging / problematic waste streams which require broader waste acceptance criteria and/or a range of specialist waste management advice/support. Customers often also require support higher up in the waste lifecycle / value chain, covering route development / optimisation, characterisation techniques and training of their internal resources. This trend is set to continue as further changes in decommissioning occur over the next decade.<br/><br/>The ESAS Framework therefore supports NWS’ mission and vision by providing access to an experienced pool of expert resources and fit for purpose responsive solutions. The Framework provides access to contractors with knowledge and understanding across the full radioactive waste management lifecycle and the ability to operate and execute work and provide support at any stage of the lifecycle.<br/><br/>The Framework will be for use by organisations that either currently hold, or may in future enter into, a Waste Services Contract with NWS. These organisations include private sector bodies, plus public sector bodies that fall into one or more of the following categories;<br/>1) Any of the following and their future successors:<br/>(a) ministerial government departments;<br/>(b) non-ministerial government departments;<br/>(c) executive agencies of government;<br/>(d) Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs), including advisory NDPBs, executive NDPBs, and tribunal NDPBs;<br/>(e) Assembly Sponsored Public Bodies (ASPBs);<br/>(f) police forces;<br/>(g) fire and rescue services;<br/>(h) ambulance services;<br/>(i) maritime and coastguard agency services;<br/>(j) NHS bodies;<br/>(k) educational bodies or establishments including state schools (nursery schools, primary schools, middle or high schools, secondary schools, special schools), academies, colleges, Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), further education colleges and universities;<br/>(l) hospices;<br/>(m) national parks;<br/>(n) housing associations, including registered social landlords;<br/>(o) third sector and charities;<br/>(p) citizens advice bodies;<br/>(q) Councils, including county councils, district councils, county borough councils, community councils, London borough councils, unitary councils, metropolitan councils, parish councils;<br/>(r) public corporations;<br/>(s) public financial bodies or institutions;<br/>(t) public pension funds;<br/>(u) central banks; and<br/>(v) civil service bodies, including public sector buying organisations.<br/>2) Those listed and maintained by the Government on their website at www.gov.uk/government/organisat… ↗ or any replacement or updated web-link.<br/>3) Those listed and maintained by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) at www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalacco… ↗ or any replacement or updated web-link.<br/>4) Those bodies in England, Wales or Northern Ireland which are within the scope of the definition of ‘Contracting Authority’ in regulation 2(1) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR) and/or Schedule 1 PCR. Additional information: The framework value is an estimate only and no guarantee can be given regarding the value or volume of work.
What it takes to wini
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 morei
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).
Published sub-criteria (3)
- Technical: 70%
- price: 20%
- Social Value and Carbon: 10%
Published award criteria (3)
- Technical: 70%
- Social Value and Carbon: 10%
- Price: 20%
- Price carries 20 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Expert Support and Alternative Solutions Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 1 suppliers, not a single contract.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use the vehicle
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes
- First published
- 14 Feb 2025, 15:39 GMT
- Last source update
- 24 Apr 2026, 13:27 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 14 Feb 2025 – …
- Authority reference
C16721- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-037590- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e212Find a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic payment
- Review procedure
Any appeals should be promptly brought to the attention of the contact specified in Section I above, and will be dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Any appeals must be brought within the timescales specified by the applicable law, including without limitation, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. In accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the Contracting Authority will also incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period from the date information on award of contract is communicated to tenderers.
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 22 Apr 2025, 17:00 BST
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission","written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bids opened
- 14 Feb 2025, 15:00 GMT
Timeline
14 Feb 2025 → 24 Apr 2026 · 5 dates- Bids opened14 Feb 2025, 15:00 GMT
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown22 Apr 2025, 17:00 BST
- Contract starts309 days ago12 Dec 2025
- Bids must remain valid until178 days ago21 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Notice published175 days ago24 Apr 2026, 13:27 BST
Notice history
1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender- Status changed to complete24 Apr 2026, 13:27 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast6 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.
Contracts
Contract 037590-2026-1
- Signed
- 21 Apr 2026
- Value
- —
- Period
- … – 11 Dec 2029
- Status
- active
Contract 037590-2026-2
- Signed
- 21 Apr 2026
- Value
- —
- Period
- … – 11 Dec 2029
- Status
- active
Contract 037590-2026-3
- Signed
- 21 Apr 2026
- Value
- —
- Period
- … – 11 Dec 2029
- Status
- active
Contract 037590-2026-4
- Signed
- 21 Apr 2026
- Value
- —
- Period
- … – 11 Dec 2029
- Status
- active
Contract 037590-2026-5
- Signed
- 21 Apr 2026
- Value
- —
- Period
- … – 11 Dec 2029
- Status
- active
Contract 037590-2026-6
- Signed
- 21 Apr 2026
- Value
- —
- Period
- … – 11 Dec 2029
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8bids · 8 electronic | 0 | — | £14,500,000 – £14,500,000 |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Royal Courts Of JusticeMediation bodyReview body
Framework contractors & participating bidders
6 commercial parties on the notice- AMENTUM CLEAN ENERGY LIMITEDFramework contractor
- Atkins LimitedFramework contractor
- Cyclife UKFramework contractor
- NSG Environmental LtdFramework contractor
- Nuvia LimitedFramework contractor
- Orano LimitedFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria