The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

24 April 2012

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) published a Prior Information Notice (PIN) in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), advising of its intention to  launch its next major competition for the management of its civil nuclear sites.

The 10 sites operated by Magnox Ltd and the 2 research sites operated by Research Sites Restoration Ltd (RSRL) will be the subject of a competitive procurement process that will be formally launched in the second half of 2012. The PIN gives notice to the market of the forthcoming procurement process.  

The competition seeks to appoint a new Parent Body Organisation (PBO) to take ownership (via share transfer) of the two Site Licence Companies for the duration of the contract, and will be administered openly and transparently in accordance with EU Procurement Rules and the UK Public Contract Regulations. 

The sites' workforces will remain in place and the appointed PBO will bring in a new senior leadership team to provide vision, expertise and value for money. 

Since it was established in 2005, the NDA has run competitions for the Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) near Drigg in Cumbria, Sellafield Ltd and, most recently, for Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd. 

Magnox Ltd, which is currently owned by Energy Solutions, operates the former nuclear power stations at Berkeley, Bradwell, Chapelcross, Dungeness A, Hinkley Point A, Hunterston A, Oldbury, Sizewell A, Trawsfynydd and the generating station at Wylfa. 

RSRL Ltd, which is currently owned by Babcock UK, operates the former research facilities at Harwell and Winfrith. 

Current annual expenditure at Magnox sites for 2012/2013 is approximately £640 million, and £60 million at the RSRL sites. 

The official competition process will begin when the Contract Notice is published later this year, followed by an Industry Day to further inform the market. 

Meanwhile, a questionnaire and brief are available for organisations interested in contributing to the Market Engagement (ME) process which will take place during May.  The documents can be requested e-mailing ndacompetition@nda.gov.uk. Questionnaires must be returned by no later than Friday 4 May to the same e-mail address.

• More information on Magnox and RSRL PBO Competition