NDA awards contracts to support decommissioning research

Wednesday, 11 May 2016

Research and development framework contracts worth up to £12 million ($17 million) have been awarded to a series of consortia involving over 70 organizations by the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).  

The contracts - under the NDA's Direct Research Portfolio (DRP) - focus on research in three main areas: university interactions; integrated waste management and site decommissioning and remediation; and, used fuel and nuclear materials.

The DRP addresses issues that could affect multiple sites, or site licence companies, in areas of strategy, technology innovation and skills. These projects are delivered through tendered framework contracts awarded to a wide range of supply chain organisations.

The NDA launched tenders for the contracts in November 2015, setting the deadline of 6-13 January, depending on the area of research.

A single consortium, led by the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) and supported by Frazer-Nash Consulting, has been awarded the contract covering university interactions, the NDA announced on 9 May.

Six consortia - led by Amec Foster Wheeler, Arcadis Consulting, Arup, Eden NE, Galson Sciences and NSG Environmental - have been awarded framework contracts related to integrated waste management and site decommissioning and remediation.

Meanwhile, contracts related to used fuel and nuclear materials have been awarded to three consortia led by Amec Foster Wheeler, Areva NC and NNL.

The NDA said the DRP is an important, high-profile part of its R&D strategy and commissions work across the supply chain to: inform the development of our strategy; find innovative solutions for use across multiple sites; and maintain and develop vital technical skills.

NDA research manager Yvonne Morris said, "Overall we are delighted with the high quality of the submissions and look forward to working with the organizations on our strategic R&D program. We now have new multi-supplier contracts aligned with our key strategic themes." She added, "With many new organizations involved for the first time we will have broad input into addressing our R&D requirements."

The DRP framework contracts will also address cross-industry R&D requirements identified by the Nuclear Waste and Decommissioning Research Forum, the NDA said. It noted that DRP projects often lead to more extensive R&D projects carried out by site licence companies and the supply chain. The combined annual R&D expenditure by the NDA and the site licence companies is typically more than £85 million, the NDA noted.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News