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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

NWS Independent Assurance Service

Nuclear Waste Services Limited · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 24 Sept 2026, 08:25.

Opportunity overview

The service shall provide confidence that all designs, construction activities, quality management processes and technical decisions are compliant with regulatory requirements, aligned with approved standards, and capable of delivering the required long-term environmental and operational performance of the Repository. The proposed Independent Assurance Services may support Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) across its wider business and repository-related demand, including but not limited to focusing on the activities at the LLW Repository near Drigg and the lifecycle of the Vault Optimisation & Capping Delivery (VOCD) Framework, which scope includes repository capping, adherence to regulatory guidance on landfill design and construction, use of Best Available Techniques etc. The Independent Assurance Services scope is not intended to be exclusive to the LLWR site and may extend to other NWS programmes, projects, assets or locations where independent construction quality assurance, technical design assurance or critical friend assurance services are required. The service shall support the achievement of regulatory confidence, audit readiness and effective delivery of NWS programmes through independent challenge, review, verification and certification activities. The services shall comprise of three primary functions: 1) Independent Construction Quality Assurance (CQA): • Review and development of Construction Quality Assurance Plans. • Inspection, surveillance and audit activities. • Verification of materials, workmanship and installation. • Hold point and witness point inspections. • Review of contractor quality records. • Assessment of non-conformances and concessions. • Verification of testing and validation activities. • Compilation of assurance evidence and records. • Preparation of Construction Quality Assurance Validation Reports. The service shall provide confirmation that completed works have been delivered in accordance with approved design and regulatory requirements. 2) Independent Technical Design Assurance (TDA): • Independent review of design deliverables. • Verification of technical assumptions and methodologies. • Independent challenge of engineering decisions. • Design compliance assessments. • Constructability reviews. • Long-term performance reviews. • Participation in design reviews and technical governance processes. • Verification of action close-out. • Production of design assurance recommendations and reports. The service shall support informed technical decision-making and confidence in design maturity prior to implementation. 3) Critical Friend Assurance: • Independent review of delivery strategies. • Technical and programme challenge. • Review of governance and assurance arrangements. • Identification of emerging risks and opportunities. • Benchmarking against industry good practice. • Participation in workshops, assurance reviews and project boards. • Independent assessment of key project decisions. • Strategic technical advisory support. The Critical Friend function shall provide objective and unbiased advice to support effective programme delivery.

Classification

  • CPV71000000 — Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
  • CPV71300000 — Engineering services
  • CPV71310000 — Consultative engineering and construction services
  • CPV71311100 — Civil engineering support services
  • CPV71318000 — Advisory and consultative engineering services
  • CPV71322000 — Engineering design services for the construction of civil engineering works
  • CPV71335000 — Engineering studies
  • CPV71336000 — Engineering support services
  • CPV71340000 — Integrated engineering services
  • CPV71350000 — Engineering-related scientific and technical services
  • CPV71500000 — Construction-related services
  • CPV71530000 — Construction consultancy services
  • CPV71600000 — Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services
  • CPV71631400 — Technical inspection services of engineering structures

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
C27373
Main Procurement Category
services
Above Threshold
Yes
Status
planned

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Communication

Future Notice Date
10 May 2027, 23:59

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
planned

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Starts
4 Jan 2028, 00:00
Ends
4 Jan 2039, 23:59

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
71300000
Description
Engineering services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
71000000
Description
Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
Entry 3
Scheme
CPV
Id
71335000
Description
Engineering studies
Entry 4
Scheme
CPV
Id
71631400
Description
Technical inspection services of engineering structures
Entry 5
Scheme
CPV
Id
71322000
Description
Engineering design services for the construction of civil engineering works
Entry 6
Scheme
CPV
Id
71336000
Description
Engineering support services
Entry 7
Scheme
CPV
Id
71310000
Description
Consultative engineering and construction services
Entry 8
Scheme
CPV
Id
71311100
Description
Civil engineering support services
Entry 9
Scheme
CPV
Id
71318000
Description
Advisory and consultative engineering services
Entry 10
Scheme
CPV
Id
71340000
Description
Integrated engineering services
Entry 11
Scheme
CPV
Id
71350000
Description
Engineering-related scientific and technical services
Entry 12
Scheme
CPV
Id
71530000
Description
Construction consultancy services
Entry 13
Scheme
CPV
Id
71600000
Description
Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services
Entry 14
Scheme
CPV
Id
71500000
Description
Construction-related services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKD11
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Planning and budget

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Description
A virtual market engagement event is planned for Wednesday 30th September 2026 where we will discuss: - Details on the scopes including Construction Quality Assurance and Technical Design Assurance, and Critical Friend Assurance. - Options for contract vehicles. - Contract duration and value. - Other supporting information. Suppliers are encouraged to express an interest in attending the event to the email address scott.sowerby@nuclearwasteservices.uk by COP Monday 28th September 2026.
Due
28 Sept 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled

Documents

Entry 1
Id
084960-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Published
8 Sept 2026, 14:42
Format
text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
Nuclear Waste Services Limited
Id
GB-PPON-PNWB-5846-DYCH

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PNWB-5846-DYCH

Address

Street Address
Pelham House, Pelham Drive,
Locality
Calderbridge, Seascale
Postal Code
CA20 1DB
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKD11

Contact

Name
Scott Sowerby

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - sub-central government

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Calderbridge, Seascale · UKD11 · CA20 1DB · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKD11 · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

2 VERSIONS
  1. 068962-2026Pipeline notice on Find a Tender ·
  2. 084960-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·