Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) Vault Optimisation and Capping Delivery

Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) is seeking a Contractor to provide all necessary Design & 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.

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.

Lots

This procurement was divided into 1 lots, each awarded separately.

Government spending data: These suppliers have received £39,663,428 in 82 payments (over £25k) from Department for Work and Pensions, DESNZ, BEIS, Scottish Government, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and 1 more public bodies (2012-10-01 to 2025-12-23).