Independent (Geoscience) Advisory Group on the long-term management of used nuclear fuel in a Deep Geological Repository (Phase V)

1.0 INTRODUCTION The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has a requirement to build and maintain independent and contracted geoscientific expertise, consistent with international best practice, through an independent scientific advisory group. The group supports the CNSC’s regulatory preparedness by providing independent advice on the long-term management of used nuclear fuel in Canada and by supporting technical reviews of regulatory documentation expected from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) in relation to its Deep Geological Repository (DGR) project. The purpose of this advance contract award notice (ACAN) is to signal the CNSC’s intention to award a contract for these services to: Carleton University 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada T +1 613 520 2600 www.carleton.ca Before awarding a contract, however, the CNSC would like to provide other suppliers with the opportunity to demonstrate that they can satisfy the requirements set out in this ACAN, by submitting a statement of capabilities within the posting period for this ACAN, which is 15 calendar days. If, during the posting period, other potential suppliers submit a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in this ACAN, the CNSC may proceed to a full tendering process via the Government Electronic Tendering Service or by inviting bids directly from suppliers. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a statement of capabilities meeting the requirements set out in the ACAN, a contract will be awarded to the above-noted supplier. 2.0 BACKGROUND The NWMO has developed the Adaptive Phased Management (APM) plan for the long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel. The NWMO initiated the formal regulatory review of their proposed DGR (through an integrated IA, which includes the initial CNSC licence) in early 2026. The ultimate goal is the centralized containment and isolation of Canada’s used nuclear fuel within a deep geological repository. DGRs rely on the host rock and engineered barriers to contain and isolate the wastes from the biosphere for hundreds of thousands to millions of years. Currently, the NWMO has selected the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation - Ignace site in Ontario for the implementation of the project. Currently, the CNSC is developing regulatory preparedness for technical reviews of regulatory documentation expected from the NWMO in support of their DGR project. As part of building and maintaining independent knowledge, the CNSC continues independent and contracted geoscientific research. It is also international best practice for the regulator to have an independent scientific advisory group assist in regulatory preparedness and provide independent advice to the regulator. In 2014, the IAG was formed to respond to this need. Phase I commenced from 2014 to 2018. As part of the Phase II of the IAG took place from 2018 to 2021. The IAG continued in Phase III and IV from 2021 to 2024, and 2024 to 2027, respectively. This SOW outlines the requirements for Phase V of the IAG. 3.0 SCOPE OF WORK AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES The IAG is expected to develop an annual work plan in conjunction with CNSC staff, in-line with the state of the Impact Assessment for the NWMO’s DGR project and consistent with the scope of CNSC’s activities. Based on the tasks identified in the work plan, the IAG will provide independent geoscientific advice to the CNSC related to the long-term management of used nuclear fuel in Canada. The annual work plan will include one or more of the following tasks: • Provide input and advice to CNSC’s technical reviews as requested, specific to NWMO’s integrated impact assessment (including licence application), in particular to the technical reports associated with and/or supporting the safe case for DGR project. • Review CNSC’s past, current, and future research plans in the context of international best practices in repository research, and identify opportunities and recommendations for future research. • Review the NWMO’s geoscientific research by using annual reports and /or other technical information documents, and attending geoscience seminars. • Conduct focused review of NWMO and/or CNSC reports, journal and conference papers in specific areas of geoscientific importance in consultation with IAG and CNSC The IAG will carry out these tasks in accordance with the Terms of Reference 4.0 ESTIMATED PERIOD AND VALUE OF CONTRACT The proposed contract is for a period of 3 years, from April 1, 2027. The estimated value of the contract is $450,000. Applicable taxes are extra. 5.0 MINIMUM MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that all members of the group meet the following minimum mandatory requirements: • The supplier must not have been employed by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) within the previous five years. • Academic qualifications of team members shall include graduate degrees from a recognized university (MSc or PhD) in the field of geomechanics, hydrogeology, geology, and geochemistry, geophysics, and any other area deemed necessary by the CNSC as identified during regulatory reviews. • 25 years of experience in field of geomechanics, hydrogeology, geology, and geochemistry • 10 years of experience providing advice in the field of geoscience and radioactive waste management on specific topics including but not limited to deep geological repository, geomechanics, hydrogeology, geology, and geochemistry, geophysics, and any other area deemed necessary by the CNSC as identified during regulatory reviews. 6.0 JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PRE-SELECTED SUPPLIER Carleton University is considered unique because it has an established network of specialized individuals with expertise in the technical fields required for this work, including geomechanics, hydrogeology, geology, geochemistry, geoscience, radioactive waste management, deep geological repositories, site characterization, safety case development, and the long-term safety assessment of geological disposal. While there may be other suppliers with general geoscience expertise, this requirement also requires access to a coordinated group of experts who can provide independent, third-party advice on NWMO submissions related to licensing, while maintaining familiarity with the CNSC’s technical review needs and the Canadian regulatory context. A further key requirement is that the experts must be fully independent from the NWMO. Specifically, they must not have previously performed work for the NWMO and must not have any current or previous relationship with the NWMO as an employee, contractor, or advisor in the past 5 years. This independence requirement significantly limits the availability of alternative sources of supply. Carleton’s established network is therefore uniquely positioned to provide the required breadth of specialized expertise while meeting the strict independence requirement for this contract. These subject matter experts have extensive experience, demonstrated by a track record of providing advice, and conducting research, relevant to the field of nuclear waste disposal. Carleton University has previously provided independent geoscientific advice to the CNSC, demonstrating familiarity with regulatory expectations, review processes, and the provision of objective technical assessments. In addition, the proposed supplier has thorough and up-to-date knowledge of the ongoing research and development (R&D) activities, as well as the licensing framework and supporting technical work associated with the NWMO DGR program. This includes awareness of evolving methodologies, safety case development practices, and site-specific investigations being undertaken as part of the siting and upcoming regulatory review process. This group is thus critical and important for assessing the geological understanding of the site at early stage. Collectively, this combination of independent advisory experience, domain-specific expertise, and familiarity with the Canadian nuclear regulatory and NWMO context positions Carleton University as uniquely qualified to support the CNSC in its mandate to conduct rigorous, independent geoscientific assessments of the DGR project. 7.0 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Ownership of any foreground intellectual property arising out of the proposed contract will vest in the contractor. 8.0 STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to meet the specified requirements may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contracting authority identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements. The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is Friday, November 6th, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. EST. Suppliers are requested to submit documents in any of the following formats: i. PDF attachments; and ii. documents that can be opened with either Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel. Suppliers that submit documents in other formats do so at their own risk, as CNSC may be unable to read them. CNSC is not responsible for any technical problems experienced by Supplier in the email transmission or email receipt of their response. 9.0 CONTACT INFORMATION Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed in writing to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) solicitation inbox: [email protected] 10.0 APPLICABILITY OF THE TRADE AGREEMENT(S) This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements: • Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) • Revised World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP) • Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) • Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) • Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) • Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement • Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement • Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement • Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement • Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) • Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada-UK TCA) • Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA) 11.0 EXCLUSIONS AND/OR LIMITED TENDERING REASONS The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the: a) Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) – Article 513 (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons; b) World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP) – Article XIII (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons; c) Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – Article 19.12 (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons; d) Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) – Article 15.10 (2) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons; e) Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) – Article Kbis-16 (2) (c): necessary to protect intellectual property; f) Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement – Article 1409 (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons; g) Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement – Article 17.11 (2) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons; h) Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement – referencing the WTO Protocol Amending the GPA, Article XIII (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons; i) Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement – Article 16.10 (1) (b) (iii): because of the absence of competition for technical reasons; j) Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) –Article 1409 (1) (b) (iii): due to an absence of competition for technical reasons; k) Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA) – Annex 10-6 (2) (a): any form of preference, including set asides, to benefit micro, small and medium enterprises; and l) Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement: refer to CETA as the provisions of CETA are incorporated by reference into and made part of this Agreement. (CETA) Article 19.12 (b) (iii). 12.0 GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS REGULATIONS EXCEPTIONS The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement: • subsection 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work".