Sustainment Delivery Partnership

As stated in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper, published by the Ministry of Defence on 25th March 2024, AWE Plc ("AWE") is embarking on a critical transformation of its infrastructure as part of the National Endeavour to support the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent. We have three major infrastructure programmes: • Future Materials Campus (FMC) - focusing on the required investment to renew AWE's manufacturing and storage capability for nuclear materials and increasing capability for material recovery. • Future Infrastructure Programme (FIP) - focusing on delivering AWE's wider infrastructure needs in relation to new office accommodation; laboratories; testing facilities, site services, and advanced manufacturing facilities. • Liabilities management - Our sites have been operating for a number of decades, and as a result many facilities are reaching the end of their operational life. Liabilities management runs programmes to safely decommission and demolish these legacy facilities and manage the wastes generated. The Plutonium Technology Centre (PTC) is one of the key facilities included as part of the FIP. This Prior Information Notice specifically relates to the support required for the PTC sustainment programme under the FIP. Further information regarding AWE can be found at https://www.awe.co.uk/ Additional information: PTC sustainment programme: Sustainment Delivery Partnership AWE intends to award a framework to Sustainment Delivery Partners (SDPs) who it will work closely with as part of an integrated team to plan, design and deliver the sustainment programme in the PTC, based on a high-performance culture and best practice. AWE is now seeking expressions of interest for organisations who are considering bidding for the SDPs. An early market engagement PIN [Notice reference: 2023/S 000-000638] was issued in January 2023 to gather information from the market on the proposed SDPs. AWE has reflected on the responses, has updated the SDPs model and will shortly commence the formal procurement process. AWE will award a framework to five partners to deliver four key areas of services:

1. Lot 1 Programme Partner (x 1 supplier) will be responsible for working closely with AWE to oversee the supply chain and ensure effective planning, delivery, oversight, and control of work.
2. Lot 2 Optioneering Partner (x 1 supplier) will establish and assess AWE's requirements for maintenance and re-kit, develop and document options, and apply rigorous option assessment criteria before developing robust Scope of Works (SOW). The supplier will maintain a close relationship with AWE to improve and standardise processes.
3. Lot 3 Design & Delivery Partners (x 2 suppliers): will be responsible for progressing a SOW from concept design through detailed design to installation and commissioning. This will include the production of concept designs, detailed designs and their substantiation, sourcing, manufacturing installation and build as well as production of technical documentation and commissioning of equipment.
4. Lot 4 Enhanced Asset Operations Partner (x 1 supplier) will support AWE to carry-out a range of routine and planned maintenance tasks against a rolling schedule of work, to support the maintenance of assets through their lifecycle. It is envisaged that the framework shall be for a minimum term of 7 years (including an option to extend for a further 1 x 3-year extension at AWE's discretion). The framework is expected to have a cumulative value ranging from £550m to £950m over the 10-year term.