Guidance

Sellafield Ltd - Procurement routes for innovation

Published 4 August 2021

1. Gamechangers

1.1 Overview

Game Changers is an innovation programme designed to identify and develop cutting-edge technologies that could provide significant advances in the decommissioning of the Sellafield site.

The programme is delivered by the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) and FIS360, specialists in supporting innovative technologies from concept through to commercial production

1.2 Aims and objectives

A simple and efficient platform which allows any type of organisation develop a solution to specific challenges. Challenges will often link to solutions requiring some development (transferring cross sector or academia)

1.3 Where to find out about opportunities

Visit the Gamechangers website

1.4 Value

• Feasibility award - £10,000
• Proof of concept funding award - £50,000 to £100,000
• Match funding sought - 30% at proof of concept stage

1.5 Further information

• Technology Readiness Level - 2 to 7
• Average delivery time - 12 to 18 months
• Lead applicant - All
• Consortium bid allowable - Yes
• Multiple parallel bids allowed across Sellafield Ltd programmes - Yes

1.6 T&Cs

• No registration but online submission process
• Can re-apply with multiple applications even to same challenge

2. LINC

2.1 Overview

LINC with Sellafield Ltd is a procurement platform that encourages small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at local and national level to collaborate and deliver innovative solutions to the mission at Sellafield.

LINC has been designed to provide Sellafield Ltd with direct access to SMEs in addition to supporting Sellafield Ltd’s contribution to the UK SME agenda.

Work packages that set out some of the challenges we are addressing at Sellafield Ltd are published via our Atamis system for those companies who have qualified for LINC.

For up- to- date information on LINC, please visit the [SMEs - LINC with Sellafield Ltd] section(https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-do-business-with-sellafield-ltd#smes—linc-with-sellafield-ltd)

For any queries, please email: [email protected].

2.2 Aims and objectives

A simple and efficient procurement platform which allows small and medium enterprises to deliver solutions to specific challenges. Challenges will often link to solutions requiring little or no development.

2.3 Where to find out about opportunities

Visit the LINC area of our ‘How to do business’ page or email: [email protected]

2.4 Value

• Maximum value of award - £189,000
• Match funding sought - n/a

2.5 Further Information

• Technology Readiness – 6 to 9
• Average delivery time - 20 months
• Lead applicant - Small and medium enterprises only
• Consortium bid allowable - Some restrictions
• Multiple parallel bids allowed across Sellafield Ltd programmes – Yes

2.6 T&Cs

All small and medium enterprises (SMEs) must be pre-qualified for LINC with Sellafield Ltd before being able to review and respond to opportunities.

Non-SMEs are free to qualify for LINC, but their participation will be limited to a supporting role only.

All companies who have qualified for LINC are available as a downloadable spreadsheet to encourage further collaboration

3. Engineering and technology solutions marketplace

The Engineering and Technology Solutions Marketplace Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) is a dynamic purchasing system with 4 categories:

• asset maintenance and management
• digital
• engineering services
• manufacture

This is a procurement platform which allows qualified companies to bid on challenges in the categories outlined.

For further information, please see our DPS webpage

For any queries, please email: [email protected]

3.1 Aims and objectives

To provide Sellafield Ltd and other contracting authorities with the ability to quickly purchase off the shelf solutions from suppliers.

Where appropriate, allows for amendment to an off the shelf product through the application of the Technology Readiness Levels (TRL).

Where appropriate a product can be adapted back to TRL 6 and then progressed back through to TRL 9. This supports in ensuring products are appropriate to be integrated and operated on the relevant site and/or in the relevant system or environment.

3.2 Where to find out about opportunities

Visit our Atamis system.

Registration

Partners already selected as a framework with 10 suppliers.

Works like a prime supplier, although the EIF encourages true collaboration within the framework so limited opportunity to participate in tasks.

4. Direct Award

A contract that is awarded directly to an organisation by Sellafield Ltd. These are actively discouraged.

4.1 Aims and objectives (Game Changers and Sellafield Ltd supply chain)

In some circumstances it may be appropriate to use a sole source route – where for a variety of reasons only one supplier can be contracted to deliver a piece of work.

Sellafield Ltd are looking to reduce the number of direct awards so there must be strong justification provided.

4.2 Where to find out about opportunities

Can only be proposed by Sellafield Ltd personnel.

4.3 Funding

N/A

4.4 Further information

None

4.5 T&Cs

N/A

5. Technology Readiness Level (TRL) reference

Technology	TRL	TRL definition	Description
System operations	TRL 9	Actual system operated over the full range of expected mission conditions.	The technology is in its final form and operated under the full range of operating mission conditions
System commissioning	TRL 8	Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration.	The technology has been proven to work in its final form and under expected conditions. In almost all cases, this TRL represents the end of true system development. Supporting information includes operational procedures that are virtually complete. An Operational Readiness Review (ORR) has been successfully completed prior to the start of hot testing
System commissioning	TRL 7	Full-scale, similar (prototypical) system demonstrated in relevant environment	This represents a major step up from TRL 6, requiring demonstration of an actual system prototype in a relevant environment. Supporting information includes results from the full-scale testing and analysis of the differences between the test environment, and analysis of what the experimental results mean for the eventual operating system/environment. Final design is virtually complete.
Technology Demonstration	TRL 6	Engineering/pilot- scale, similar (prototypical) system validation in relevant environment.	Engineering-scale models or prototypes are tested in a relevant environment this represents a major step up in a technology’s demonstrated readiness. Supporting information includes results from the engineering scale testing and analysis of the differences between the engineering scale, prototypical system/environment, and analysis of what the experimental results mean for the eventual operating system/environment. TRL 6 begins true engineering development of the technology as an operational system. The major difference between TRL 5 and 6 is the step up from laboratory scale to engineering scale and the determination of scaling factors that will enable design of the operating system. The prototype should be capable of performing all the functions that will be required of the operational system. The operating environment for the testing should closely represent the actual operating environment.
Technology Development	TRL 5	Laboratory scale, similar system validation in relevant environment.	The basic technological components are integrated so that the system configuration is similar to (matches) the final application in almost all respects. Supporting information includes results from the laboratory scale testing, analysis of the differences between the laboratory and eventual operating system/environment, and analysis of what the experimental results mean for the eventual operating system/environment. The major difference between TRL 4 and 5 is the increase in the fidelity of the system and environment to the actual application. The system tested is almost prototypical.
Technology Development	TRL 4	Component and/or system validation in laboratory environment.	The basic technological components are integrated to establish that the pieces will work together. This is relatively “low fidelity” compared with the eventual system. Supporting information includes the results of the integrated experiments and estimates of how the experimental components and experimental test results differ from the expected system performance goals. TRL 4- 6 represent the bridge from scientific research to engineering. TRL 4 is the first step in determining whether the individual components will work together as a system. The laboratory system will probably be a mix of on hand equipment and a few special purpose components that may require special handling, calibration, or alignment to get them to function.
Research to Prove Feasibility	TRL 3	Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept.	Active research and development (R&D) is initiated. This includes analytical studies and laboratory-scale studies to physically validate the analytical predictions of separate elements of the technology. Supporting information includes results of laboratory tests performed to measure parameters of interest and comparison to analytical predictions for critical subsystems. At TRL 3 the work has moved beyond the paper phase to experimental work that verifies that the concept works as expected on simulants. Components of the technology are validated, but there is no attempt to integrate the components into a complete system. Modelling and simulation may be used to complement physical experiments.
Research to Prove Feasibility	TRL 2	Technology concept and/or application formulated.	Once basic principles are observed, practical applications can be invented. Applications are speculative, and there may be no proof or detailed analysis to support the assumptions. Examples are still limited to analytic studies. Supporting information includes publications or other references that outline the application being considered and that provide analysis to support the concept. The step up from TRL 1 to TRL 2 moves the ideas from pure to applied research. Most of the work is analytical or paper studies with the emphasis on understanding the science better. Experimental work is designed to corroborate the basic scientific observations made during TRL 1 work.
Basic Technology Research	TRL 1	Basic principles observed and reported.	This is the lowest level of technology readiness. Scientific research begins to be translated into applied R&D. Examples might include paper studies of a technology’s basic properties or experimental work that consists mainly of observations of the physical world. Supporting Information includes published research or other references that identify the principles that underlie the technology.

6. Further information

Other Procurement Routes

• Crown Commercial Services (CCS) for professional services

• Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Business and Technical services

We also work in partnership with other organisations to issue innovation challenges including:

Innovate UK

Knowledge Transfer Network and Innovation Exchange

We are members of i3P – Industry Innovation Partnership – a community of client and supply chain organisations that have made a commitment to delivering collaborative innovation in the infrastructure and construction industry.

This information must be read in conjunction with the general advice and guidance provided on our ‘How to do Business’ section on our GOV website.