Nuclear Safeguards Programme

The Nuclear Safeguards Programme (NSP) provides international nuclear safeguards technical support to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

Nuclear safeguards are technical measures to verify that States comply with their international obligations not to misuse nuclear materials for the manufacture of nuclear explosives. They are an essential part of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and underpin the international system of assurance which enables trade in civil nuclear material, equipment and technology between states – as such they have a key enabling role in the UK’s own plans for civil nuclear energy as part of the low carbon energy mix.

The NSP is part of the UK contribution to the maintenance of the international safeguards regime with main aims as follows:

- to assist the IAEA in ensuring the continued and improved effectiveness of its safeguards system and to influence the formulation of technical safeguards policy in the IAEA;

- to assist the United Kingdom in meeting international obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (‘the NPT’) in as cost-effective a manner as possible;

- to provide direct safeguards and technical support to DESNZ and the wider UK Government to assist in the formulation of domestic policy on safeguards and non-proliferation issues

Market engagement

A structured programme of market engagement was undertaken to inform the procurement strategy and ensure alignment with supplier capability and market conditions. This included: Three online sessions were held (23rd September, 28th October 2025 and 21st January 2026). We carried out market engagement to test capability, gather feedback, and inform the procurement approach.