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Great British Nuclear (GBN) has opened its tender for technology partners to support the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) for nuclear power generation.
GBN launched yesterday to lead delivery of a programme of new nuclear projects, with SMR procurement one of its initial priorities. It has launched a competition for organisations to bid for funding support for the development of their nuclear products, including small modular reactors (SMRs).
The small modular reactor technology partner tender has also now opened. GBN is procuring partners engaged with design, development, manufacturing, supply, installation and commissioning of products, equipment or services related to the key plant required for SMRs.
The indicative value of the tender is £20bn over 186 months (15 and a half years) and will see up to four partners selected.
The expectations of the selected partners are design, development, manufacturing, supply, installation and commissioning of various products, equipment or services related to the key plant required for SMR nuclear generation, including reactor, steam generation, turbine, electrical generation, as well as the integrated design of these component parts.
The technology partners will be responsible for delivery to site of a designed and tested solution, a complete set of interface specifications, and installation and commissioning of the solution.
The body confirmed it intends to establish Project Development Company(s) (Project Devco), which will provide developer capabilities. A selected technology partner will collaborate with a Project Devco to connect and test interfacing equipment. The two parties will also work to complete integrated system testing and complete final commissioning and handover.
Subject to affordability, GBN reserves the right to make up to four awards. However, GBN reserves the right to award three, two or only one contract(s) to technology partner(s), or not to make any award at all.
GBN said the decision in relation to how many technology partners will be awarded contracts will be taken having regard to the quality of tenders, along with other factors such as affordability and value for money.
The body may also appoint one or more applicants as reserve contractors. The terms of the contract awarded to a reserve contractor would be provided in the invitation to submit initial tender (ISIT) documentation.
If necessary, co-funding will be available to the selected technology partner or partners through a co-funding agreement, with up to 50% funding on commercial terms via the agreement allocated to support technology partners to develop their generic design solution prior to a final investment decision (FID) by 2029. Details of the funding and constraints will be provided in the ISIT documentation.
GBN also intends to award a two-stage contract for technology partners for the provision of their site specific design solution, with the first stage being design and the second stage being supply. GBN will reserve the right to exercise an option for the manufacture and supply, installation and commissioning of component parts subject to delivery against agreed milestones and achievement of FID.
The supply phase, covering the period from FID to Commercial Operation Date (COD) for a first of a kind (FOAK) project in the UK will include the manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning of the supply works on a value-for-money basis by the technology partner. It will also encompass provision of fuel assemblies and supporting maintenance services up to and including first refuelling outage.
The deadline for tenders is August 23. |
