Site Characterisation Delivery Partner
Planned date for tender release: Summer/Autumn 2026
Page Updated 27th January 2026
The Site Characterisation Delivery Partner (SCDP) will lead the site characterisation of two areas in the UK in order to develop a geological understanding and suitability to host a GDF. The contract will be for professional services, which are not bespoke in nature – taking elements from multiple established markets including Geotechnical investigations and Oil and Gas exploration.
The SCDP will be procured by Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) under a Bespoke Professional Services Contract. This contract will be based around the principles of the New Engineering Contract (NEC), to deliver the following scope areas via Task Orders;
- to programme manage,
- to prepare designs and specifications,
- to provide procurement support and undertake site management and supervision for a wide range of suppliers and service contractors.
These works will include the drilling and testing of boreholes and a range of geophysical and other surveys which are required to develop the geological understanding of the sites.
The SCDP will work in partnership with NWS as well as the Drilling Contractor(s), the Architect Engineer (AE), Programme Integration Partner (PIP) and any other partner designated by NWS.
Market Engagement
Following the publication of the Pre-Market Engagement notice (UK2) we are now entering into a new phase of Market Engagement which shall run until the 31st March 2026.
NWS will be available to engage with the market via a 1 hour Teams call and have set aside a window of the 15th September and the 3rd October, during these calls NWS shall update the market on the latest schedule and detail how further engagements will run. Any supplier wishing to engage with NWS should submit a request in writing providing a number of dates and times they are available to the e-mail address at the foot of the Procurement documentation section.
Procurement documentation
Any documents on this page are the latest, but not final, position for NWS. As such they are marked as Draft and are hosted for your review and comment. Please use the email to send communications about these documents or to arrange a meeting (in person or via Teams) to discuss.
0032 – SCDP PA23 Pre-Market Engagement Summary is the summary document of the Market Engagement NWS has conducted to date.
If you require an accessible version of any of our documentation, please contact GDFMajorprocurements@nuclearwasteservices.uk
Contact the GDF major procurements team
We welcome feedback on the documentation and any requests for meetings or calls via this mailbox. Please make sure the title of the procurement is clearly stated in the subject line.