Design and execution of research and development

Tender description

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has requested that the Environment Agency (EA) provide support to BEIS’ nuclear innovation strategy. The EA (in conjunction with the ONR) will support a range of tasks that BEIS will be undertaking as part of a programme for Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR) announced by BEIS on 7.12.2017. As part of this project the BEIS has approached the EA to support BEIS’ AMR project including policy development, competition design and delivery in accordance with an agreed technical specification. In order to develop the necessary safety and security protections to regulate AMRs the EA will need to develop the necessary capacity to do this. The new regulatory framework developed by EA must be fit-for-purpose for AMRs and not just a modification of existing regulation. See further for more information. Government is required to meet the cost of this work as EA cannot recover it from industry. BEIS has commissioned the EA pursuant to a charging agreement under sections 37(2) and 43 of the Environment Act 1995 (at a cost of 2m GBP) to develop further capability and capacity to regulate modular reactor designs. Note that BEIS commissioned EA to complete this work (rather than pursuant to a formal contract). The provision of support principally relates to the EA’s statutory role in implementing the environmental permitting regime in England and to any preliminary reactor design assessment process. These costs include: reviewing regulatory processes and assessment standards and guidance; AMR industry engagement; engagement with international regulators; development and assessment of AMR criteria; support MT-AMR engagement; up-skilling of regulatory staff and project management.