Procurement description
Purpose and Context
The Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO), referred to as "the Authority," is seeking delivery partner(s) to support the Nuclear Sector Skills Team (NSST) in delivering specific projects that form part of the overarching Nuclear Skills Plan (NSP). These projects are critical to addressing the skills challenge across the UK’s civil and defence nuclear sectors and ensuring the workforce is equipped to meet current and future demands.
Background to the Requirement
In August 2023, the Nuclear Sector Skills Team (NSST), formerly the Nuclear Skills Taskforce, was established to accelerate progress on nuclear workforce development. It brought together government, academia, and employers from across the civil and defence sectors to build on existing initiatives and drive a coordinated, multi-level action plan. Following extensive engagement with over 90 key stakeholders and a diagnostic exercise spanning more than 20 workstreams, the NSST produced two key outputs:
- The Nuclear Skills Charter, signed by CEOs (or equivalents) of all Nuclear Skills Executive Committee (NSEC) member organisations, securing cross-sector commitment to the NSP’s actions and deliverables.
- The Nuclear Skills Plan (NSP), a ten-year, costed programme detailing the activities, governance structures, and collaborative behaviours required to generate the skills needed to meet the sector’s growing demand. Further information on the NSP and its strategic context can be found at: http://nuclearskillsplan.com.
Launched on 15 May 2024, the NSP builds on the Defence Nuclear Command Plan and aligns with the Government’s July 2024 policy intent to secure skills, jobs, growth, and social value across the UK. It supports both public and private investment in the nuclear workforce and underpins the ambition to create up to 40,000 new jobs by 2030.
Delivery and Governance
Delivery of the NSP began in May 2024, initiating an enabling phase through to March 2025. During this period, a suite of strategic requirements was developed to support sector-specific national priorities.
The NSST—a hybrid team comprising representatives from MOD, the Department for Energy and Net Zero (DESNZ), and Nuclear Skills Executive Council (NSEC) organisations—is responsible for mobilising the required contracts. As NSST is not a recognised contracting authority, the MOD acts in that capacity for this competitive tender via the DNO.
Scope of Tender
This document outlines the requirements for prospective delivery partners to support the NSST in executing defined work packages under the NSP. These 9 packages are designed to deliver tangible outcomes aligned with the NSP’s strategic objectives, including workforce development, skills pipeline enhancement, and cross-sector collaboration. The Authority is seeking tender responses to the requirements in two stages:
Stage one: The NSST is seeking expressions of interest, via the completion of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), from Potential Providers to deliver the Nuclear Skills Plan detailed in this tender notice.
Stage two: Following evaluation of PSQ responses, up to four Potential Providers shall be invited to the full Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage for each Lot. Further details are provided below.
Further information regarding the scope of each work package can be found in the Statement of Requirements (SORs).
Please note that any incumbent Potential Provider that has been shortlisted to participate in the ITT will be required sign the Ethical Walls Agreement. Failure to do so may result in the Potential Provider being excluded from further participation in the procurement process.
The documents made available to Potential Providers via the Defence Sourcing Portal are;
20251020_715655461_PSQ Guidance-O
20251020_715655461 _Appendix 1_PSQ Guidance-O
20251020_715655461_Appendix 2_PSQ Technical Questions-O
20251020_715655461_PSQ_Certificate of Performance-O
20251020_715655461_PSQ Information Firewall Statement-O
20251020_715655461_PSQ_Conflict of Interest Declaration Form-O
20251020_715655461_PSQ_Similar Contracts Previous 3 Years-O
20251020_715655461_PSQ Explainer for Potential Providers-O
20251020_715655461_ PSQ Technical Response Template -O
20251020_715655461_ Lot_1_SOR_Destination Nuclear Marketing Campaign and Website-O
20251020_715655461_ Lot 2_SOR_Bursaries-O
20251020_715655461_ Lot 3_SOR_Nuclear Sponsorship Scheme-O
20251020_715655461_ Lot 4_SOR_Sector Experts into Training-O
20251020_715655461_ Lot 5_SOR_Career Switchers-O
20251020_715655461_ Lot 6_SOR_Skills Supply Demand Model-O
20251020_715655461_ Lot 7_SOR_Roles Pathways and Curriculum-O
20251020_715655461_ Lot 8_SOR_Training Provider Network-O
20251020_715655461_ Lot 9_SOR_Teacher Training Bursary-O
In order to access these documents Potential Providers will need to register for Find a Tender, the Central Digital Platform (CDP). To submit a PSQ submission Potential Providers will need to do this via the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP). Both are linked below.
https://contracts.mod.uk/
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/