National Waste Quality Checking Service for Radioactive Waste

Defra Network eTendering Portal
17 Nobel House
London
SW1P 3JR
United Kingdom
Contact person: Carol Caddick
Telephone: +44 2030250451
E-mail: carol.caddick@environment-agency.gov.uk
NUTS code: UK

Internet address(es):Main address: www.defra.bravosolution.co.uk

Address of the buyer profile: www.defra.bravosolution.co.uk

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: www.defra.bravosolution.com

Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via: www.defra.bravosolution.com

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the abovementioned address

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at: www.defra.bravosolution.com

National or federal agency/office

Environment

National Waste Quality Checking Service for Radioactive Waste.

Reference number: 22433

Services

The Environment Agency is looking to issue a tender for the provision of Waste Quality Checking Services for Radioactive Waste. The contract will provide the Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and other bodies, with the capability to undertake independent verification and assurance activities of radioactive waste (lower activity wastes (e.g. LLW and short lived ILW) suitable for near surface disposal prior to their treatment or disposal. This work could occur at sites within England, Wales and Scotland. The assurance service will be used to support regulatory activities related to compliance with the relevant radioactive substances activity permissions (e.g. permits or authorisations).

Value excluding VAT: 1 000 000.00 GBP

This contract is divided into lots: no

NUTS code: UK

Main site or place of performance:

United Kingdom.

The framework will provide the Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), and other bodies, with the capability to undertake, at sites throughout England, Scotland and Wales, independent verification and assurance activities of lower activity radioactive wastes prior to their treatment or disposal. Such radioactive wastes predominantly comprise Low Level Radioactive Waste, but may also include short-lived Intermediate Level Wastes that form part of radioactive waste consignments appropriate for management in near-surface environments. The contract will also be open for use by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), SEPA, Defra and its associated bodies. The service provision should be suitable to give assurance to the Environment Agencies’ regulatory staff that radioactive wastes originating from nuclear sites have been characterised and consigned appropriately. The assurance service will be used to support regulatory activities related to compliance with the relevant radioactive substances activity permissions (e.g. permits or authorisations). Work would be targeted on a risk basis, to include consideration of new treatment and disposal routes, and seeking to check radioactive wastes arising from across all nuclear sites over a given period. In addition the work areas may include checking of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) wastes being received for treatment or disposal at permitted sites, and bottom ash originating from radioactive substances activity permitted incinerators. Assurance activities will include:

— in-situ monitoring of individual items, drums or ISO containers of waste to assess the radioactivity content,

— seizing items of radioactive waste and drums (small quantities) for independent analysis for radioactivity (including transport to and from analytical facilities),

— auditing site operators’ procedures and operations for the consignment or receipt of radioactive wastes for treatment and disposal,

— audit and review the assurance approaches established by waste consignees’, including the Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) operator, relating to any radioactive waste management services they obtain under contract,

— storing and utilising existing reference materials (including drums and packages) for testing of site operators’ own monitoring systems and, potentially, the design and creation of new reference materials.

Whilst the majority of the work will focus on radiological characterisation we are also exploring the need and feasibility of assuring those non-radiological characteristics of radioactive wastes that have the potential to affect the behaviour/mobility of radionuclides. This may lead to future capability needs in this area. The supplier may also be called up on to provide technical advice and represent the Environment Agency at relevant meetings, nationally and internationally.

A full description of the services required can be found in the ITT documents available via the Bravo links above.

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

Value excluding VAT: 1 000 000.00 GBP

Duration in months: 48

This contract is subject to renewal: yes

Description of renewals:

The framework will be for an initial 3 year term and can be renewed for an additional 12 month period subject to satisfactory performance and ongoing requirement by the Environment Agency.

It is expected this framework will be re-tendered during the final year of operation to establish a replacement arrangement at the end of the framework term subject to a continuing business requirements.

Envisaged minimum number: 3

Maximum number: 6

Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:

All candidates expressing an interest in this opportunity will be required to complete a pre-qualification stage by submitting the Supplier Selection Questionnaire (SSC) available via the Bravo portal within the stipulated timeframe. The SSC responses will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria contained in the ITT documents. It is anticipated that the top 3 to 6 scoring candidates will then be invited to submit full tenders to supply the services required. Full details of the selection and tendering process can be found in the ITT pack.

Variants will be accepted: no

Options: no

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

Each economic operator to be jointly and severally liable for the performance of the contracts.

Analyses carried out by the contractor on the framework shall be in accordance with a quality assurance system fully accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), or equivalent standard.

Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract

Competitive procedure with negotiation

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement

Framework agreement with a single operator

In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: n/a

Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated

The contracting authority reserves the right to award the contract on the basis of the initial tenders without conducting negotiations

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: yes

Notice number in the OJ S: 2016/S 089-158131

Date: 12/01/2018

Local time: 23:59

Date: 26/01/2018

English

Tender must be valid until: 30/06/2018

This is a recurrent procurement: yes

Estimated timing for further notices to be published:

36 months.

Electronic ordering will be used

Electronic invoicing will be accepted

Electronic payment will be used

Other contracting authorities: This framework is primarily intended to meet the needs of the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The Environment Agency may require the successful bidder(s) to provide the goods/services on the same terms that are agreed as a result of this tender to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and to its associated bodies including any Agencies and non-departmental public bodies and others (the Defra Group). The Agency may also require the provision of the goods/services to members of the aforementioned Defra Group via the Environment Agency, rather than directly. A full list of the Defra Group can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations#department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs

The successful bidder(s) may also be required to provide the services to local authorities in England and Wales. A full list may be found at http://local.direct.gov.uk/Data/

Similarly, the successful bidder(s) may be required to supply the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales.

The successful bidder(s) may also be required to provide the services to Central Government departments, executive agencies, and other NDPBs. Full lists can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-bodies-2014

Environment Agency
Bristol
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 2030250451

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:

The Authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period following electronic notification (minimum of 15 calendar days for any other means of communication) to unsuccessful applicants of the award decision. Applicants who are unsuccessful shall be informed by the Authority as soon as possible after the decision has been made as to the reasons why the applicant was unsuccessful. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 nº 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by breach of the rules to take legal action. Any such action must be brought within the applicable limitation period. Where a contract has not been entered into, the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the Court may, depending on the circumstances, award damages, make a declaration of ineffectiveness, order the Authority to pay a fine, and/or order that the duration of the contract be shortened. The purpose of the standstill period referred to above is to allow the parties to apply to the Courts to set aside the award decision before the contract is entered into the Environment Agency expressly reserves the right:

(i) not to award or enter into any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by the publication of this notice;

(ii) to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering competition;

(iii) to award one or more public contract(s) in relation to part only of the requirements covered by this notice; and/or

(iv) to award a contract(s) in stages.

In no circumstances will the Environment Agency be liable for any costs incurred by the Applicants/Tenderers and their associated parties. Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken prior to contract award is accordingly a matter solely for the commercial judgement of potential Applicants and the Environment Agency will not be responsible for any such expenditure.

30/11/2017