Complete autonomous system for the secure transportation of nuclear material

Concepts

• research and development
• workington
• nuclear materials concept
• nuclear material
• complete autonomous system
• a complete autonomous system
• the secure transportation
• the autonomous transportation
• national nuclear laboratory
• system

Location

Workington

Description

National Nuclear Laboratory ("NNL") intends to award a contract to IDV Robotics who will further develop the concept for a complete autonomous system for the secure transportation of nuclear material across the Sellafield site as part of the Gamechangers Innovation Programme.

Total Quantity or Scope

The funding for this Proof of Concept Gamechangers is to enable further development of the Autonomous transportation of nuclear materials concept and technology further.

Award Detail

Renewal Options

Should additional funding become available to further develop this scope of work then the potential to extend is available.

CPV Codes

• 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Indicators

• Options are available.

Legal Justification

National Nuclear Laboratory ("NNL") intends to award a contract to IDV Robotics who will further develop the concept for a complete autonomous system for the secure transportation of nuclear material across the Sellafield site as part of the Gamechangers Innovation Programme. IDV Robotics has been developing autonomous systems for Defence for almost 20 years and were selected through a response to a Gamechangers Challenge Statement which sought applications for feasibility funding. This was advertised in an Early Engagement Notice via Contracts Finder (ref: GC25) on 23rd October 2024(Autonomous transportation of nuclear materials - Contracts Finder) and published via https://www.gamechangers.technology/challenge/Autonomous_Transportation_of_Nucle... Following all supplier applications for feasibility funding for the above project, IDV Robotics were selected as a successful supplier by the funders (Sellafield Ltd). An initial £10,000 of feasibility funding was provided in January 2024, which supported IDV Robotics to: • Create a Business Case for the development of a complete Concept Demonstrator • Generate a Project Risk Register • Generate of a Project Plan for the development of a Concept Demonstrator including milestones and funding requirements The output of this feasibility study was then further evaluated by Sellafield Ltd and IDV Robotics have been selected for additional funding for the Proof-of-Concept phase of this project, which will enable them to further develop this concept and technology further. This additional funding to support technology development is due to be awarded following the expiry of this VEAT notice. Gamechangers is an innovation programme which finds solutions for complex nuclear industry challenges and allows the supplier to retain ownership of the Intellectual Property throughout the advancement of technology readiness level. They accept applications and work with all sizes and across all sectors to identify and develop the most promising of technology. Suppliers who have an idea which might be of interest, please follow the below link to the Gamechangers Technology challenge website for further information or to explore Challenges that may be of interest. Delivering innovation in the nuclear industry (https://www.gamechangers.technology)