The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

NDA welcomes the announcement by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) that a consortium led by Serco with Battelle and The University of Manchester has been selected as Recommended Bidder under the competition to appoint a commercial operator to run the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), formerly Nexia Solutions, at Sellafield.

The NNL, formerly Nexia Solutions, will become an international centre of excellence in nuclear research and development, playing a vital role in cleaning up both the UK's nuclear waste legacy, and also contributing to the programme of nuclear new build.

Announcing the Recommended Bidder, Energy and Climate Change Minister Mike O'Brien said:

"I welcome the quality and commitment of the bidders in this competition. The winner has an important task ahead.

"It will be a leader in high-tech nuclear skills in the UK. And it will help safeguard the West Cumbrian economy in particular."

NDA Head of Research and Development, Dr Melanie Brownridge, said

"As outlined in our Strategy, approved in 2006, we contributed to the Government's review of the case for a National Nuclear Laboratory and look forward to working with the National Nuclear Laboratory on the nuclear decommissioning programme."

The role of the contractor will be to provide strategic vision and management to the NNL and to develop it as a stand-alone business.

The contract will be for an initial three year period with options to extend by up to two years. Subject to completion of a number of outstanding actions, DECC expects the contract to come into effect on 1 April 2009.