Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Herdus House Westlakes Science and Technology Park Moor Row

Cumbria

CA24 3HU

UK

Contact person: Madeline Jones

Telephone: +44 1925802875

E-mail: madeline.jones@nda.gov.uk

NUTS: UK

Internet address(es)

Main address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/nuclear-decommissioning-authority

Address of the buyer profile: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/nuclear-decommissioning-authority

II.1.1) Title

II.1.2) Main CPV code

73000000

II.1.3) Type of contract

Services

II.1.4) Short description

The NDA and its operating companies recognise that robotics and automation have a key role to play in reducing the time, cost and risk associated with our decommissioning mission. Auto-SAS aims to push the boundaries of robotic systems in the NDA group, acting as a steppingstone to the routine use of autonomous systems and continuous operations. <br/>An area where robotic technologies provide a significant opportunity is nuclear waste handling. The characterisation, sentencing and disposal of radioactive waste is complicated, time consuming and expensive. It also poses both conventional and radiological risks to workers. Ideally waste would be handled once, segregated at source to the most appropriate waste route, properly utilising the waste hierarchy. Safety measures, alongside resource, time and space constraints, make in-situ sentencing challenging, meaning that accurate segregation is not always possible. <br/>Auto-SAS will build upon the learning from the NDA funded Integrated Innovation for Nuclear Decommissioning – Sorting and Segregation (IIND-SAS) competition delivered through Innovate UK, which sought to demonstrate the feasibility of autonomous sort and segregation of mixed nuclear waste through the supply chain. Auto-SAS will go further by deploying an integrated system on a nuclear licenced site, for the sorting and segregation of specific radioactive waste material. The Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) Strategic Innovation Team will be responsible for the overall delivery of the project, supported by an integrated team from across the NDA group. <br/><br/><br/>Auto-SAS will be separated into two sequential phases. These phases are as follows:<br/>1. Off-site Design, Testing and Build<br/>2. On-Site Deployment and operation<br/><br/><br/>The Autonomous Waste Sorting and Segregation (Auto-SAS) Innovation Partnership will be structured into 2 phases:<br/><br/>• Phase 1: Off-Site Development - Design, manufacture, commission and test an integrated sorting and segregation platform, in line with the requirements in section 7. Iterate and prototype as necessary, and thoroughly test the system to give confidence of suitable performance when brought to site. This will be verified by a successful and thorough Factory Acceptance Test and compliance with the NRS Safety and Design Justification Process (shared at ITT). Facilitate <br/>stakeholder demonstrations of the developed platform.<br/><br/>• Phase 2: On-Site Deployment - Install and commission the SAS platform developed offsite, including Site Acceptance Testing (SATs). Operate it for a number of cycles within a defined time period to achieve the learning outcomes in the learning plan. Assist in the decisions around further development and future uses of the developed platform.<br/><br/><br/>Estimated value <br/><br/>Phase Maximum Budget <br/>Phase 1 – Off-Site Development £5,500,000<br/>Phase 2 – On-Site Deployment £4,000,000

II.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: 9 500 000.00  GBP

II.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

List and brief description of conditions:

Please see standard selection questionnaire - up to 5 suppliers with the highest scores will be down selected and continue to ITT stage. <br/><br/>1 supplier will be awarded this contract ultimately.

III.1.2) Economic and financial standing

List and brief description of selection criteria:

As per SSQ

III.1.3) Technical and professional ability

List and brief description of selection criteria:

As per SSQ

IV.1.1) Type of procedure

Innovation partnership

IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date: 30/07/2024

IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

EN

IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Duration in months: 8 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)

VI.4.1) Review body

VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures

VI.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained