Sintered Filters · UK public procurement notice

This Direct Award is justified under Schedule 5, Paragraph 6(a) of the Procurement Act 2023, as the requirement can currently only be fulfilled using a specific component incorporated within an approved design and the absence of competition is attributable to technical reasons.

The approved container design incorporates a specific filter manufactured by Pall Europe Ltd. The component is required to maintain conformity with the approved design basis and associated engineering substantiation.

Pall Europe Ltd has advised that continued availability of the component cannot be guaranteed due to ongoing product portfolio rationalisation. Failure to secure sufficient stock whilst the component remains available would introduce a risk to continuity of supply for an operationally critical product.

Although alternative products may exist, adoption of an alternative component would require engineering assessment, testing, substantiation and approval activities to demonstrate continued compliance with the requirements of the approved design before implementation. These activities are expected to require a significant period to complete and cannot be concluded before continuity of supply risks materialise.

The proposed procurement therefore represents the most proportionate means of mitigating a known sole-source supply risk while maintaining compliance with the approved design and allowing sufficient time for the evaluation, qualification and implementation of any future alternative solution.

Accordingly, Sellafield considers that the conditions set out in Schedule 5, Paragraph 6(a) of the Procurement Act 2023 are satisfied and that a Direct Award to Pall Europe Ltd is justified.