Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade Framework

Atomic Weapons EstablishmentcontractFind a TenderRef ocds-h6vhtk-0602edProcurement Act 2023Defence & securityactive
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Estimated value

£650.0m

works

Awarded value

Suppliers

0

Lots

1

0 awarded

Published

09 Jan 2026

Description

AWE Plc ("AWE") is embarking on a critical transformation of its infrastructure as part of the national endeavour to support the UK's nuclear deterrent and has been refining and formalising a new approach to infrastructure delivery, designed to drive greater consistency, pace, and long-term value. This model is being largely implemented via 3 programmes: - Future Materials Campus: A programme to renew existing facilities for the manufacture of nuclear components, storage of nuclear materials, provide improved science and analysis capabilities, and invest in new capabilities for nuclear material recovery. - Future Infrastructure Programme: a programme that focuses on delivering wider infrastructure needs e.g. new office accommodation; laboratories; testing facilities, site services, and advanced manufacturing facilities. - Estates and Liabilities management: on-going liabilities management to run programmes that safely decommission and demolish legacy facilities and manage generated waste via seeking suppliers with experience of the same. This framework focuses on upgrading the electrical network under FIP, with the possibility of some works supporting the Future Materials Campus. Strategic aspirations are to upgrade and modernise AWE's electrical network infrastructure, improve network resilience and obsolescence management, to benefit from modern standards and requirements, while reducing the cost base of new infrastructure. The Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade Programme will grow significantly over the coming years, and AWE looks to appoint 2 partners through this procurement, with the capacity and capability to meet the programme's increasing demand. The Framework is a zero-value contract against which AWE may call off work for the Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade programme. The Framework will provide no guarantee of any work to any Supplier, it is a contract mechanism against which AWE may (but is not obliged) to call off work from the relevant Supplier for the Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade Framework. Full Framework Information "ITP Volume 2 Framework Specification" will be available to Suppliers that have registered and been granted access, as below. AWE will award a place on the Framework to the 2 highest scoring suppliers, that offer the most advantageous tenders that is, the tenders that balance price with quality, technical capability, and sustainability. There will be a transparent mechanism to award work under the Framework as set out in the procurement documents Bidders should download, complete and sign the Electrical Infrastructure Non-Disclosure Agreement and Tender Security Questionnaire available from the Defence Sourcing Portal here https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60647 and return these by email to: electricalinfrastructure@awe.co.uk. The deadline for submission of these documents is 12:00 on 23rd January 2026 in order to gain access to the Invitation to Participate and associated procurement documents. Once AWE has reviewed and signed the documents where appropriate, Bidders will be invited to the Invitation to Participate stage of the procurement where they will have access to the detailed documentation. A list of the documentation to be provided at the different stages of this procurement will be found in Appendix A of 'EIU - ITP - About the Procurement' and further details of the assessment approach that will apply under this procurement, will be found in "EIU - ITP Vol1. Instruction for Suppliers."

Scope

Reference
ocds-h6vhtk-0602ed
Total value
£650,000,000 excluding VAT
£780,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Commercial tool
Standalone contract
Contract dates
11 Jan 2027 to 09 Jan 2034
Possible extension to 08 Jan 2042

The framework may be extended for a further 8 years (2 terms of 4 years each) giving the framework a maximum term of 15 years

Main category
works
CPV classifications
31200000
31670000
31682000
45100000
45210000
45223820
45232220
45232221
45311000
45317200
45317300
45351000
45400000
Contract locations
South East England, United Kingdom

Award criteria

Criteria the buyer will use to evaluate bids.

NameDescriptionTypeWeighting
Commercialprice
Qualityquality

Participation

Conditions suppliers must meet to bid.

Suppliers must demonstrate that they have the legal standing to perform the contract and meet minimum financial thresholds. These thresholds are stated in the procurement documents.

Suppliers must demonstrate relevant technical ability and experience in delivering similar projects in high-security and/or regulated environments. These conditions of participation are stated in the procurement documents. This procurement involves a Defence and Security contract and classified information. AWE will undertake a security assessment against the information provided in the supplier registration before release of any associated procurement documents. Meeting the required national security clearance is a condition of participation. Suppliers will not be invited to participate further if, as a result of this assessment (or on other grounds), they do not meet the necessary security requirements. The procurement will operate within the relevant legislation to protect essential national security interests. If a Supplier has connections with any hostile entity or foreign state deemed to pose a risk to UK national security, or is otherwise considered not to possess the necessary reliability on national security grounds, AWE reserves the right to exclude them from the procurement. Full details of all other conditions of participation, the evidence required, and the assessment methodology are provided in the procurement documents.

The Invitation To Participate will be assessed against the award criteria and weightings as follows: - Capability 60%; - Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Principal Contractor capability 10%; - Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Principal Designer capability 10%; - Health & Safety 5%; - Quality 5%; - Environment Management, Performance and Sustainability 10%. This is in addition to pass/fail questions in terms of Cyber Security, Foreign Control and Ownership Information, Export Control, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Environmental Management, Performance, and Sustainability.

Submission & procedure

Enquiry deadline
19 Feb 2026, 12:00 pm
Submission address
Responses must be submitted by the stipulated deadline via the Defence Sourcing Portal (https://contracts.mod.uk). Please note that the tender will be by invitation only following completion of the non-disclosure and tender security questionnaires. Access to the Opportunity Listing is open to any supplier. Any responses not submitted in this manner will not be considered. The deadline for submitting a non-disclosure agreement and tender security questionnaire is 23 January 2026 at 12:00, Invitation to Participate documents will be released 26 January 2026, the deadline for submitting an invitation is 5 March 2026 at 12:00.
Electronic submission
Yes
Procedure
Competitive flexible procedure