NWS Independent Assurance Service

The service shall provide confidence that all designs, construction activities, quality management processes and technical decisions are compliant with regulatory requirements, aligned with approved standards, and capable of delivering the required long-term environmental and operational performance of the Repository.

The proposed Independent Assurance Services may support Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) across its wider business and repository-related demand, including but not limited to focusing on the activities at the LLW Repository near Drigg and the lifecycle of the Vault Optimisation & Capping Delivery (VOCD) Framework, which scope includes repository capping, adherence to regulatory guidance on landfill design and construction, use of Best Available Techniques etc.

The Independent Assurance Services scope is not intended to be exclusive to the LLWR site and may extend to other NWS programmes, projects, assets or locations where independent construction quality assurance, technical design assurance or critical friend assurance services are required.

The service shall support the achievement of regulatory confidence, audit readiness and effective delivery of NWS programmes through independent challenge, review, verification and certification activities.

The services shall comprise of three primary functions:

1) Independent Construction Quality Assurance (CQA):

• Review and development of Construction Quality Assurance Plans.

• Inspection, surveillance and audit activities.

• Verification of materials, workmanship and installation.

• Hold point and witness point inspections.

• Review of contractor quality records.

• Assessment of non-conformances and concessions.

• Verification of testing and validation activities.

• Compilation of assurance evidence and records.

• Preparation of Construction Quality Assurance Validation Reports.

The service shall provide confirmation that completed works have been delivered in accordance with approved design and regulatory requirements.

2) Independent Technical Design Assurance (TDA):

• Independent review of design deliverables.

• Verification of technical assumptions and methodologies.

• Independent challenge of engineering decisions.

• Design compliance assessments.

• Constructability reviews.

• Long-term performance reviews.

• Participation in design reviews and technical governance processes.

• Verification of action close-out.

• Production of design assurance recommendations and reports.

The service shall support informed technical decision-making and confidence in design maturity prior to implementation.

3) Critical Friend Assurance:

• Independent review of delivery strategies.

• Technical and programme challenge.

• Review of governance and assurance arrangements.

• Identification of emerging risks and opportunities.

• Benchmarking against industry good practice.

• Participation in workshops, assurance reviews and project boards.

• Independent assessment of key project decisions.

• Strategic technical advisory support.

The Critical Friend function shall provide objective and unbiased advice to support effective programme delivery.