The first contract awarded as part of the Programme and Project Partners new goods and services agreement will see key connections installed between existing and new facilities at Sellafield.

Ansaldo Nuclear, based in Wolverhampton, has been selected to develop the key ‘tie-in’ connections that will support the flow of effluent treatment streams between the Sellafield site’s existing Site Ion Exchange Effluent Plant (SIXEP) facility and the new SIXEP Continuity Plant being delivered by the Programme and Project Partners at Sellafield.

Together the 2 facilities will act as the ‘kidneys’ of the Sellafield site filtering out nuclear material before being safely discharged to sea.

Andrea Basso, managing director at Ansaldo Nuclear, said:

“Ansaldo is delighted to have been awarded the SIXEP tie-in trials contract. This endorsement by the Programme and Project Partners in our ability to deliver this critical development activity for Sellafield is most welcome.”

“This work provides another platform for us to continue our successful relationship with Sellafield Ltd and to further develop our Cumbrian presence and supply chain.”

Peter Hogg, Programme and Project Partners, head of supply chain added:

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to award the first contract as part of the goods and services agreement framework to Ansaldo Nuclear.”

“This framework has been established to enable our projects to make quicker contract awards by removing some elements of a typical procurement exercise. This award proves that the model works, and I look forward to the projects placing more contracts in the near future.”

The Programme and Project Partners appointed its first goods and services agreement framework suppliers earlier this year.

NIS Ltd, Hyde Group, Ansaldo Nuclear, James Fisher Nuclear, Carr’s Group, West Cumberland Engineering and NWEC Alliance were selected to deliver fabricated and manufactured equipment packages for the projects, a framework agreement for an initial 3 years, worth up to £20 million.

It’s been procured under a new multi project procurement model which encourages long-term collaboration throughout the supply chain, enhanced project delivery, and paves the way for greater economic and social impact in the West Cumbria region.