WOMAD - the use of NEC-EEC (New Engineering Contract - Engineering Construction Contract) on a major decommissioning contract

WOMAD (Winfrith Operations Maintenance and Decommissioning) is a major restoration project at the UKAEA's Winfrith site. NUKEM Nuclear Ltd (NUKEM) was awarded the implementation contract in March 2000. The contract value is approximately pound30M with a duration of 8.5 years. Briefly the WOMAD contract comprises: Further operation, decommissioning and finally demolition of the A59 Active Handling and Decontamination Facility. Taking over the care and maintenance and decommissioning of various other facilities on site including the SGHWR (Steam Generating Heavy Water Reactor), ZEBRA (Zero Energy Breeder Reactor) and Dragon. Retrieval and processing of active sludge from the SGHWR's sludge tanks. The contract awarded to NUKEM is based on a functional specification and NEC - ECC (Option A Fixed Price with activity schedule) Contract. This approach allowed both UKAEA and NUKEM to have a clear understanding of the project deliverables and a proper apportionment of risk whilst using a recognised standard set of contract conditions. These conditions have clear remedies and obligations, which should both assist with the management of the difficulties, which often beset decommissioning contracts. This paper sets out to describe the process from tender inception to the completion of the first year of the Project.