黑洞社区

The body in charge of decommissioning the UK鈥檚 nuclear power stations has denied any fault in a 拢200m legal claim over its award of a 拢7bn contract, saying the claimants bid was 鈥渄eficient鈥�.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) awarded the contract to run the 拢7bn Magnox and Reactor Site Restoration portfolio of decommissioning sites to a consortium comprising Babcock subsidiary Cavendish Nuclear and US engineer Fluor - called the Cavendish Fluor Partnership (CFP) - in March.

The job is one of the largest in the UK construction market.

But Energy Solutions, the incumbent bidder, subsequently launched a legal challenge to the award, claiming 拢200m of damages in the High Court.

Energy Solutions, which was bidding for the job with partner Bechtel, said it had 鈥渟erious and legitimate concerns鈥� about how the procurement race was run, and that an 鈥渁ccidental error鈥� in scoring its bid meant its score was upgraded near the end of the bidding process.

However, in its defence, filed at the High Court and seen by 黑洞社区, the NDA denied Energy Solutions claims.

The NDA said it did have to amend the score it gave Energy Solutions鈥� bid after an 鈥渆rror in calculation鈥� was identified, but said this had 鈥渘o effect on the result of the procurement鈥�.

It added that a number of Energy Solutions鈥� bid responses were either 鈥渄eficient鈥�; had 鈥渓imited鈥� evidence; or 鈥渄id not provide sufficiently clear or detailed explanation鈥�.

Energy Solutions declined to comment.

Bechtel is not involved in the legal challenge.