Contracts awarded for Sellafield infrastructure work

The three companies will be part of a long-term arrangement called the Infrastructure Delivery Partnership (IDP), which is a key element of Sellafield Ltd's Overarching Acquisition Strategy and replaces the existing Infrastructure Strategic Alliance. The IDP will deliver projects and tasks to support essential services at Sellafield like electricity distribution, water, road and rail networks, bridges, foundations and security installations.

The contracts will be for an initial nine years with an option for a further six years, through to 2040. The work is split into three lots: electrical distribution partner; utilities partner; and civils partner. Under the contracts, the companies will complete detailed design plus all procurement, installation, construction, commissioning, and handover activities that form part of project delivery. The companies will also develop a joint sustainability plan to ensure a joined-up approach which is aligned to local priorities and delivers maximum impact and return on investment.

As the Electrical Distribution Partner, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure will lead on maintaining and upgrading the Sellafield site's electrical network. It will be supported in this by its design partners Baker Hicks and GHD.

Costain has been confirmed as Utilities Delivery Partner, worth up to GBP1 billion to the company. Costain’s responsibilities will involve refurbishing and replacing a variety of on-site and off-site utility distribution systems and services, including steam, water supply, water treatment, compressed gas and other essential utilities serving Sellafield.

HOCHTIEF (UK) Construction will deliver a major nuclear and civil works framework contract worth up to GBP595 million  as part of the IDP. The contract involves design, engineering, and delivery of civil infrastructure works in support of nuclear operations and decommissioning in collaboration with Sellafield and its partners.

The Sellafield site - which houses more than 1000 buildings - is the largest nuclear complex in Western Europe. Sellafield's nuclear facilities include those connected with the Magnox reprocessing programme, the Sellafield mixed-oxide fuel plant, the Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant, and nuclear waste treatment plants. It is also home to redundant facilities from defence work in the 1950s, which included making plutonium for nuclear weapons.

"Our job at Sellafield is to create a clean and safe environment for future generations," said James Riddick, Sellafield Ltd chief supply chain officer. "That means safely, securely, and cost-effectively dealing with the legacy of historic operations on our site. To deliver this we need robust and reliable infrastructure to support our nuclear decommissioning and waste management activities. IDP is a long-term strategic partnership designed to provide that support while unlocking investment and opportunities for our local community and delivering sustainable value for money to the taxpayer."

Costain CEO Alex Vaughan added: "This new contract award with Sellafield, with whom we have been working with since 2005, is testament to our strategy of developing long-term relationships with tier 1 customers, building strong and collaborative partnerships, broadening our service offering, and maintaining consistency and continuity of workflows. This long-term award further demonstrates our integral position in the UK's civil nuclear energy market. The government is clear that the safe and responsible decommissioning of the UK's nuclear legacy is a critical part of creating a sustainable future and delivering local and national economic prosperity. As one of Sellafield's trusted partners we will deliver safe, high-quality utilities upgrades in a complex working environment."

"We have been delivering in West Cumbria for over 15 years, and we are delighted to build on this further with the award of the Infrastructure Delivery Partnership," said Morgan Sindall Infrastructure Managing Director Simon Smith. "This long-term programme is not only nationally significant for Sellafield and its decommissioning programme, but we know first-hand the benefits to local communities and the region from an award of this nature. This award reflects the brilliant work our teams have delivered and continue to deliver."

Juan Santamaría Cases, CEO of HOCHTIEF said: "HOCHTIEF has an unbroken legacy in the nuclear sector since the 1950s and is a trusted partner in engineering and construction for some of the world's most critical nuclear programmes. Together with Sellafield and its delivery partners, we have secured this strategic, long-term partnership. The award builds on HOCHTIEF's expanding portfolio of long-term delivery contracts with globally significant clients across the nuclear and infrastructure sectors."