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Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) Vault Optimisation and Capping Delivery
AI Summary
The tender concerns the delivery of vault optimisation and capping works for the Low‑Level Waste Repository (LLWR) situated in West Cumbria. The contracting entity, Nuclear Waste Services, requires a contractor capable of providing comprehensive design, engineering, labour, plant and material provision to execute a suite of closure and extension activities within the existing waste vaults and adjacent trench sites. The programme is part of a long‑term strategy to safeguard environmental and public health over the next century, with immediate emphasis on installing engineer‑designed membranes and structural upgrades in the next 15 years.
The works extend across final capping of all disposed waste in trenches and vaults, the design and construction of an extension to Vault 9 including a retaining wall, a partial closure seal and a new leachate management system, and the development of weather‑proof warehousing for HHISO containers awaiting disposal. Additional tasks cover the design and building of an interim cap over the closed section of Vault 9. The contractor will perform earthworks such as excavation, back‑filling, site clearance and piling, supply aggregates, execute demolition and drainage installations, and carry out all necessary groundworks, engineering and land remediation to meet the repository’s safety requirements.
The contractor must deliver all earthworks, design, construction and remediation activities in accordance with applicable environmental and safety regulations.
Description
Nuclear Waste Services operates the Low-Level Waste Repository (LLWR) Site in West Cumbria on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. The LLWR Site is the national disposal facility for Low Level Waste (LLW) arising from the nuclear industry and wider industries, such as medical and defence.
Protecting and developing the Repository’s radioactive waste disposal capability is a long-term programme of works, over the next 100+ years, that will provide future disposal facilities and protection of people and the environment from the disposed waste through to closure of the Repository Site. In the shorter term, over the next 15 years, the focus is on installing closure engineering works for long-term environmental protection from the wastes currently disposed of in Vault 8 and the adjacent legacy disposal trenches as well as constructing additional disposal capacity in the form of new LLW vaults.
The project under NWS covers the following packages of works:
- Final Capping (provide an engineered protective cover) over all the Low Level Waste that has been disposed of in the trenches and vaults.
- 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.
Works include but is not limited to;
- Earthworks, including excavation and Backfill work
- Provision of associated plant
- Site Clearance
- Groundworks
- Piling
- Aggregates
- Demolition
- Drainage
- Engineering & Construction Works
- Design
- Land remediation
The route to market decision will be based on ongoing engagement and feedback from the supply chain as well as ongoing development of the NWS procurement documents.
Estimated date of publication of contract notice: 2026-07-01T23:59:59+01:00
Contract location: UKD11
Engagement process description
A virtual market engagement event is planned for w/c 29th September 2025 where we will confirm contract vehicle, duration, options under NEC, and sequencing of works. Suppliers are encouraged to express an interest in attending the event to the email address VOCDProcurement@nuclearwasteservices.uk by 26th September 2025. Potential follow up 1 to 1’s may be held in the Warrington or Cumbria area in due course.
Lot: 1
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En