Successful bidders will play a crucial assurance role in GBN’s push to bring first-of-a-kind nuclear tech to help meet the country’s rising energy demands.

Each OE could land a contract worth up to £300m, supporting two planned SMR projects through a 14-year delivery window.

But GBN has left the door open to scaling back if only one scheme gets the green light.

Acting as a ‘client friend’, the OE will provide technical expertise and independent assurance across major design and build contracts.

Tasks span everything from civil engineering and commissioning to safety case development, cyber security, decommissioning and NEC contract management.

GBN is expecting bidders to cover 36 technical disciplines and six core programme management areas.

The competitive flexible procedure under the Procurement Act 2023 will run in two stages.

A pre-qualification round opens in June, with full tenders due by 19 September ahead of a March 2026 award.

Email GBN for more info.