The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on 31 October launched a new online Nuclear Contracting Toolkit to help member states plan and implement procurement and contracting processes. It provides a step-by-step guide on how to develop a procurement strategy, propose and solicit bids and negotiate and manage contracts. It also provides templates and application guides for various types of contract. The free, web-based toolkit replaces an earlier one that ran on Bideval-3 software. It was developed by the IAEA supported by an extra budgetary contribution from Japan.
"Procurement must be managed effectively to ensure that a facility functions as designed throughout its service life, the IAEA said. “Ineffective procurement can jeopardize facility safety, reduce performance or result in increased costs. The new toolkit is one of the methods developed to identify and promote best practices in procurement and contracting.”
The toolkit is a guide for individuals or project teams involved in planning a nuclear project. Depending on the phase of the project, the team can access information, tools, links, and references that will help with planning activities. It can also be used as a guide by organizations to develop their own web-based planning processes. “By using the toolkit format, documents, templates, and tools, an organization can adapt the toolkit for internal use," the IAEA said.
Mikhail Chudakov, IAEA deputy director general and head of the agency's department of nuclear energy, said: "The procurement and contracting process for new nuclear power plants is a complex endeavour and is essential for the success of such projects. Efficient, fair and equitable contracts are, thus, key for safe, secure and sustainable nuclear power generation, and the IAEA is here to help."
