Published date: 6 May 2025
Closed early engagement
Contract summary
Industry
Safety cases - 44421722
Research and development services and related consultancy services - 73000000
Research services - 73110000
Research and development consultancy services - 73200000
Environmental standards other than for construction - 90711200
Environmental planning - 90712000
Location of contract
OX11 0GD
Procurement reference
CF-0235000D4L000000iAvzUAE
Published date
6 May 2025
Closing date
6 May 2025
Contract type
Service contract
Contract is suitable for SMEs?
Yes
Contract is suitable for VCSEs?
Yes
Description
NWS has previously developed an ISE Template [7] that sets out the planned content of an ISE to meet regulatory expectations for an ISE detailed in references [3 and 4]. The ISE Template has provided a focus for dialogue with the EA on the content of ISEs and detailed feedback has previously been provided to the Employer by the Environment Agency [8].
The Employer (NWS) now plans to develop ISE for two Search Areas (referred to in this CTS as Copeland and Theddlethorpe) and plans to submit permit applications in 2028 to undertake intrusive investigations works within these areas. These Search Area-specific ISE will synthesis studies and assessments, e.g. feasibility studies and characterisation plans, that are being produced as part of wider GDF programme delivery. These inputs to the ISE have been termed 'source products'. The Integrated Assurance and Approvals Plan (IAAP) establishes an assurance strategy that envisages the iterative development of the ISE in consultation with the EA. The first iteration involves the development of a 'Trial ISE', which will develop the ISE Template using available 'source products' for one of the Search Areas. Search Area-specific ISE will subsequently be produced and undergo two rounds of development: a 'Draft ISE' and 'Final ISE'.
The objective of the contract is for a Consultant to provide impartial scrutiny of the NWS's approach to developing ISEs, with the intention of building wider stakeholder confidence in the approach being adopted. This scrutiny will also facilitate the identification of risks and opportunities associated with the NWS's approach and will seek to mitigate any cognitive biases that may have also developed.
The Consultant's team should consist of a minimum of two peer reviewers. The peer reviewers should be independent of the Employer's work to develop the ISE and the associated permit applications. Give the novel nature of the ISE and associated permit application, direct experience of the staged regulation guidance and ISE development is therefore not possible.
The peer reviewers should have significant (10 years +) international experience of the development of Environmental Safety Cases for geological disposal facilities and the associated regulatory requirements. The Consultant should describe in their tender how the skills and experience of their team will benefit the peer review process and overall quality of the ISE submissions
This procurement will be conducted using the Business and Technical Services Marketplace which is a DPS.
You will be required to register on Atamis, and once registration is complete you can search for this PIN using the Atamis search box and using the title as a reference - PIN BATs - C25208 PIN Peer Review of Initial Site Evaluations
Atamis Ref: C25208
https://atamis-2464.my.site.com/s/Welcome
About the buyer
Contact name
Patrick Butler
Address
Thomson Avenue
Harwell Campus
OX11 0GD
GB
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Closing date: 6 May 2025
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