One NDA: Embedding Inclusion into Procurement Practices
One NDA: Embedding Inclusion into Procurement Practices
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is an arms-length Government body, sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). The NDA is responsible for the safe, secure and environmentally responsible decommissioning of the UK’s nuclear legacy.
Working as One NDA, the organisation is committed to fairness, equality and inclusion, creating great places to work and expanding opportunities for all. This commitment extends across the NDA group (the NDA and its four subsidiary companies) and its supply chain.
With 263 suppliers and 348 contracts across its supply chain, the NDA recognises the opportunity procurement provides to influence fair, inclusive and responsible business practices across a broad network of organisations.
To strengthen the implementation of commitment seven of Business in the Community’s (BITC) Race at Work Charter1, which aims to include diverse-led businesses in supply chains, the team undertook BITC’s Inclusive Procurement Maturity Model (IPMM) assessment. The IPMM helps organisations embed fairness, transparency and inclusion into their supply chain. The assessment benchmarked the NDA’s inclusive procurement approach against best practice, while providing independent validation of its existing activity. It also identified practical opportunities to further strengthen and better evidence its approach.
1. Strengths identified by the IPMM assessment
1.1 Strengths identified by the IPMM assessment
The NDA has made significant progress in embedding commitment seven of the Race at Work Charter. The IPMM assessment provided reassurance that the NDA had already implemented a number of inclusive procurement practices, although not all had been documented, enabling the team to recognise and build upon work that had already been undertaken.
Inclusive procurement principles have been incorporated into tender documentation, including terms and conditions, invitations to tender and selected evaluation criteria, particularly under the theme of wellbeing and inclusion.
Additionally, the NDA is committed to paying suppliers within 10 working days, recognising the importance of prompt payment in supporting fair, sustainable and inclusive supply chains, particularly for smaller suppliers.
As part of social value requirements for some contracts, awarded suppliers are mandated to provide data and management information on their workforce and set out how they will deliver and improve social value outcomes relevant to the contract.
This reflects the NDA’s wider procurement approach, which aligns with the Government’s updated Social Value Model (PPN002), embedding Fair Work, Skills for Growth, and Resilient, Innovative and Flexible Supply Chains into procurement activity.
Diversity and inclusion (D&I) have also been embedded into several strategic contracts. Suppliers are required to demonstrate project‑specific actions that support social value objectives. These actions may include reporting on diversity and equality data, explaining how social value will be improved, and raising the profile of race equality.
Suppliers are also required to outline how these commitments will be delivered and measured throughout the contract lifecycle. This approach reinforces accountability and supports meaningful, measurable change rather than aspirational statements alone.
This work forms part of the NDA group’s wider Inclusion Strategy, with progress overseen through organisation-wide governance, including the Diversity and Inclusion Council, cross-group D&I Delivery Group and Board reporting arrangements.
1.2 Working with suppliers and partners
The NDA continues to benchmark and learn from others, engaging with organisations including Prospect Union, the Cabinet Office and the University of Cambridge to share insights and identify good practice.
Building on this, the NDA publicly encourages suppliers to recognise and support the principles of BITC’s Race at Work Charter as part of their wider approach to equality, diversity and inclusion. While becoming a signatory is not a requirement for working with the NDA, suppliers are encouraged to consider adopting the Charter as part of their own inclusion journey.
The annual commercial Voice of the Supplier survey includes dedicated questions on diversity and inclusion. The survey provides an opportunity to understand supply chain diversity maturity, encourage continuous improvement amongst strategic and Tier 1 suppliers, and raise awareness of the Race at Work Charter.
Beyond procurement, the NDA also contributes to wider sector collaboration through initiatives including the Nuclear Sector EDI Working Group, helping share good practice and strengthen D&I across the nuclear industry.
2. Opportunities for further development identified by the IPMM assessment
One of the benefits of the IPMM tool is its ability to identify areas for development. Key areas for development that the NDA are now addressing as a result of the assessment include:
3. Looking ahead
Following the IPMM assessment, which highlighted both strengths and opportunities for further development, the NDA is planning to host a supplier workshop to share progress to date and explore how suppliers can work collaboratively to drive positive change across the supply chain.
This work aligns with the NDA’s wider ambition to continue embedding equality, diversity and inclusion across the organisation. As NDA develops its Inclusion Strategy for 2026–2030, procurement will continue to play an important role in supporting fair, transparent and inclusive supply chains.
