Market engagement launched for £382M vault optimisation and capping delivery contract

Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) has issued a preliminary market engagement notice for a £382M vault optimisation and capping delivery contract for its Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR).

The LLWR in Cumbria is the only facility in the UK that can receive all categories of low level nuclear waste (LLW).

NWS is working on “final capping of legacy disposal trenches and vaults, which are now full and ready for permanent closure”, according to its website, which explains the overarching capping project.

“We are carrying out multiple long-term projects on the Repository site, which all contribute to our final goal – capping the site. Capping is a key part of the disposal lifecycle,” it says.

“It involves placing an engineered protective barrier over the legacy disposal trenches and vaults, where waste is already in its final disposal location and ready for permanent closure.

“Comprising of layers of material, totalling up to 10m thick, this engineered protective barrier (‘cap’) over the legacy disposal trenches and vaults will permanently protect the waste, people and the environment by layering natural aggregates and engineered materials like geotextile fabrics and bentonite-enriched soil,” the website says.

The preliminary market engagement notice, which was issued on 17 June, said NWS is seeking a contractor to: “Provide all necessary design and engineering, labour, equipment, plant & materials to undertake all works associated with the delivery of vault optimisation and capping delivery.

“The contractor should have a proven track record in handling large-scale earthworks projects, equipped with necessary machinery and expertise to ensure the project is completed efficiently and on schedule.”

The project NWS is seeking early market engagement on covers packages of works including “final capping”, which means providing an engineered protective cover over the LLW that has already been disposed of in trenches and vaults, as well as a range of other works.

Other work packages include:

Design of an extension to the existing disposal Vault (V9), retaining wall to allow partial closure seal of V9, new Leachate Management System and weather protection warehousing for HHISO containers awaiting disposal

Construction of an extension to the existing LLW disposal Vault (V9), retaining wall, partial closure seal of V9, new Leachate Management System and weather protection warehousing for HHISO containers awaiting disposal

Design of an Interim Cap over the closed section of Vault 9

Construction of an Interim Cap over the Low Level Waste that has been disposed in Vault 9

The types of works include earthworks (including excavation and backfill works), provision of associated plant, site clearance, groundworks, piling, aggregates, demolition, drainage, engineering and construction works, design and land remediation.

The total estimated value of the contract is £382M including VAT and the contract dates are estimated to be from 25 February 2028 to 25 February 2038.

The deadline for engagement is 1 July, and principal contractors are invited to attend an in-person tour of the LLWR on 14 July, after which they are encouraged to submit clarification requests to NWS.

There will also be “an online Market Engagement Event held on Tuesday 28 July where NWS will present the final procurement strategy, provide further detail on the scope of works and programme, and address any outstanding queries ahead of tender publication”, according to the notice.

Market engagement launched for £382M vault optimisation and capping delivery contract | New Civil Engineer