Sellafield begins procurement for £4.5bn programme

The organisation responsible for decommissioning the former Windscale and Calder Hall nuclear sites in Cumbria is inviting firms to bid for four roles, to deliver key projects over the next 20 years.

There are three initial projects that the partners will work on: the SPRS Retreatment Plant, SIXEP Contingency Plant, and Replacement Analytical Project, together expected to cost between £1bn and £1.7bn.

Instead of procuring supply chains for each project, Sellafield has introduced a new model to establish a “project delivery environment” in order to develop longer term relationships with partners, and complete work faster.

Tenders are being invited across four lots.

The first, named as integration partner, has a total value of £750m, and covers major projects and site-wide project delivery improvements. This will be a lead role, supporting integration between the lot partners.

Lot 2 is for a design and engineering partner “with considerable design delivery expertise in a regulated industry” to provide services on the major projects and to lead in the improvement and management of the design and engineering capability within Sellafield. This lot is also valued at £750m.

A key element will be coordinating input from the other lot partners, in particular the Lot 3 and Lot 4 Partners, to optimise design, constructability and associated costings.

The £1.5bn Lot 3 is for a civils construction partner, again with experience in regulated industry to contribute to major projects solutions. Also at £1.5bn, Lot 4 is for a process construction partner.

The Lot 3 and 4 partners will work together to develop an integrated supply chain, to deliver the portfolio of major projects, and will also be required to support Sellafield on non-major projects.

Companies have until 7 June to submit bids on the Sellafield web portal.