Multi-million R&D contracts: suppliers invited to find out more

NDA has embarked on a process to award new four-year R&D framework contracts and is inviting suppliers to find out more at an information day in west Cumbria.The contracts are part of the NDA’s Direct Research Portfolio (DRP) work, which is focused on projects to:find innovative solutions to technical challenges associated with cleaning up the NDA’s 17 ageing nuclear sitesdevelop high-level technical skillsinfluence or underpin overall strategyDRP contracts were last awarded in 2016 to a range of organisations and consortia, including large corporations, academic institutions and small businesses. Worth £12 million in total, more than 70 organisations were involved, including 3 consortia led by SMEs.The 2019 procurement will lead to a series of framework contracts, each lasting 4 years, for research covering the following themes:University interactions (single supplier)Integrated waste management and site restoration and decommissioning (multi-supplier)Spent fuel and nuclear materials (multi-supplier)The NDA’s recently published 5-year R&D plan outlines future topics for research in greater detail, including those that will form part of the DRP portfolio.