Details of our purchasing arrangements and information for those looking to become a supplier or contractor can be found below:

Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). NTS is the overarching organisation that brings together the three leading UK nuclear transport and logistics companies: Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited (PNTL), International Nuclear Services (INS) and Direct Rail Services (DRS).

NTS Procurement Principles

INS conducts its commercial activities under the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) in line with UK public procurement legislation and associated Procurement Policy Notes. INS procures a variety of supplies, services and works, taking into consideration the value of the proposed contract, and whether a suitable commercial arrangement such as a collaborative government Framework or Dynamic Markets that already exist and can be utilised by INS.

PNTL’s supplier needs are handled by INS.

DRS does not consider itself bound by the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) and associated procurement legislation (together the “UK procurement legislation”) on the basis that, operating commercially, it is not a public authority, nor does it carry out any utility activities.  Accordingly, any procurements undertaken by DRS are not and do not purport to be, subject to UK procurement legislation. Any adherence with the principles of UK procurement legislation shall not in any way imply that DRS is bound by the PA23, nor enable any party to place reliance on DRS’s compliance (or departure) from the principles of the PA23. DRS may also deviate from the purchasing arrangements listed below.

How to do business with us

Any supplier who meets the stated requirements and criteria of an opportunity is permitted to submit a tender proposal. NTS does not have a preferred supplier list.

There are several ways to search for contract opportunities with NTS:

1. Atamis

Advertised Procurement opportunities shall be sourced via our eSourcing system,  Atamis. All tender submissions must be submitted using this system.

Atamis is a shared platform used across the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority group. To register, access and search for live opportunities at NTS and across the NDA group, please visit one-nda.force.com. Atamis is NTS’ chosen eSourcing platform.

2. Central Digital Platform/ Find a Tender

Advertised procurement opportunities are published on the Government’s website Find a Tender.

Future integration of various procurement channels is underway under the Central Digital Platform.

3. Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Agreements

Where appropriate, NTS will procure goods and services through an available Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Agreement. CCS has over 100 different agreements covering a wide range of goods and services.

Further information on how to supply goods and services to the public sector through CCS is available online.

Guidelines for an effective tender

How you prepare and present your tender proposal can be a crucial factor in securing a contract. You should:

• read the invitation to tender (ITT) properly – understand fully what is being asked of you
• respond in the required format – follow the layout requested, keep to the order for documents if one is given, and ensure you submit via Atamis
• give full answers – ensure you answer the question asked
• plan ahead to ensure you meet the stated deadline
• Prioritise quality over quantity. With the rise of AI-generated content, too many pages or excessive detail can dilute your message and make it harder to land your key point

Procurement Reform

The Procurement Act 2023 is new legislation that came into effect on 24 February 2025.

 These documents have been prepared and released by Cabinet Office to provide an update on the procurement reform for suppliers and we hope you will find them useful in providing answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

If you have a question about the new procurement act, contact the Transforming Public Procurement helpdesk.