ESS Electrical , Remedial & Integration Works Project is Sweden

The requirement relates to the continuation of existing electrical, remedial, snagging, labelling, energisation/de-energisation support, commissioning support and integration works being undertaken by Optimum Electrical Engineering Ltd on the ESS Active Cells Facility project in Lund, Sweden. Optimum has been delivering the electrical installation and associated support works on site since the original competitively tendered arrangement.

The remaining requirement is not a discrete new package of work that can be separated and competed without significant technical, safety, quality and programme risk. It is a continuation of ongoing works across partially completed electrical installations, live snagging, system interfaces, Quality Assurance handover, commissioning support and subcontractor Site Acceptance Test readiness.

Optimum currently manages the electrical installation programme at the ESS Active Cells Facility site and is responsible for the day-to-day electrical safety activities associated with the works. Optimum has established site processes, RAMS, QA documentation routes, ESS competency arrangements and electrical safety responsibilities that are already embedded into the project delivery model.

Optimum’s Lead Project Engineer has also held key electrical safety responsibilities on site, including AP(E)-type duties and authority to support switching arrangements agreed with ESS. Replacing Optimum would require these arrangements to be re-established, reassessed and accepted by ESS, which would introduce delay and additional safety assurance risk.

A change in supplier at this stage would result in disproportionate technical difficulties and delivery risk. Any replacement supplier would need to mobilise, familiarise itself with the facility, review partially completed electrical works, understand historical design and installation decisions, engage with Optimum for technical and QA handover, establish RAMS and ESS competency approvals, and take responsibility for live electrical safety and commissioning interfaces.

This would create duplicated effort, additional UKAEA management burden and a high risk of delay to the remaining installation, testing, commissioning and handover programme. There is also a regulatory constraint.

UKAEA cannot directly undertake electrical installation works in Sweden because Swedish electrical installation companies must hold compliance officer status. UKAEA has previously been rejected by Sweden’s National Electrical Safety Board for company registration and compliance officer status.

ESS holds this status but has not agreed for UKAEA to work under ESS’s compliance officer arrangements. Optimum holds the required Swedish compliance officer status and is therefore the current route through which UKAEA can continue electrical installation, energisation, de-energisation, commissioning support and associated electrical safety activities on site.

The new contract will be supported by a defined Scope of Work, managed through the contract documentation, Primavera P6 programme, electrical package snagging list and UKAEA instruction. This will allow UKAEA to control, instruct, prioritise and monitor the remaining activities while retaining flexibility to respond to emerging snags, system readiness, external supplier delays and commissioning requirements.