RAICo Academic Research Theme 2

This Direct Award is justified under Schedule 5, paragraphs 4–6 of the Procurement Act 2023, on the basis that the University of Manchester (UoM) holds unique and bespoke robotic platforms, and site-specific infrastructure developed and deployed during Phase 1 of the RAICo programme. These resources and capabilities are not reasonably available from another supplier. Awarding this contract to a different supplier would require significant duplication of time, cost, and technical development, and would result in material incompatibility with the research tools and demonstrators developed in Phase 1. The University has also embedded research staff and equipment at the RAICo1 facility, and switching suppliers would result in disproportionate onboarding time and loss of embedded institutional knowledge. The work also includes ongoing research and experimental development activities, including design, testing, and validation of new robotic capabilities for nuclear decommissioning. As such, this award also meets the conditions of Schedule 5, paragraphs 2–3, covering services related to prototypes, proof-of-concept demonstrators, and feasibility testing of low-TRL technologies. This combination of prior exclusive capability, and continued R&D work makes UoM the only suitable supplier capable of continuing delivery without unnecessary duplication or delay, in line with the strategic objectives of the RAICo programme