Editing Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (section)

{{short description|Public body sponsored by the United Kingdom Government}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name            = Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
| type            = 
| seal            = Nuclear Decommissioning Authority logo.svg
| seal_width      = 200px
| formed          = 1 April 2005
| preceding1      = Coal and Nuclear Liabilities Unit
| preceding2      = 
| dissolved       = 
| superseding     = 
| jurisdiction    = United Kingdom
| headquarters    = [[Moor Row]], England, UK
| employees       = 250 (subsidiaries about 15,000)<ref name = 2020report />
| budget          = 
| minister1_name  = [[Philip Hunt, Baron Hunt of Kings Heath]]
| minister1_pfo   = [[Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero]]
| chief1_name     = Peter Hill
| chief1_position = Chairman
| chief2_name     = David Peattie
| chief2_position = Chief executive
| parent_department = [[Department for Energy Security and Net Zero]]
| child1_agency   = [[International Nuclear Services]]
| child2_agency   = [[Direct Rail Services]]
| child3_agency   = [[Radioactive Waste Management]]
| child4_agency   = [[Sellafield Ltd]]
| website         = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes       = 
}}
The '''Nuclear Decommissioning Authority''' ('''NDA''') is a [[non-departmental public body]] of the [[Department for Energy Security and Net Zero]] (formerly the [[Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy]]) formed by the [[Energy Act 2004]]. It evolved from the Coal and Nuclear Liabilities Unit of the [[Department of Trade and Industry (United Kingdom)|Department of Trade and Industry]]. It came into existence during late 2004, and took on its main functions on 1 April 2005. Its purpose is to deliver the [[Nuclear decommissioning|decommissioning]] and clean-up of the [[Nuclear power in the United Kingdom|UK's civil nuclear]] legacy in a safe and cost-effective manner, and where possible to accelerate programmes of work that reduce hazard.

Although the NDA itself employs about 250 staff, its subsidiaries employ about 15,000 staff across the NDA estate.<ref name = 2020report >{{cite web | url = https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nuclear-decommissioning-authority-annual-report-and-accounts-2019-to-2020/nda-annual-report-and-accounts-2019-to-2020 | title = NDA Annual Report and Accounts 2019 to 2020 | date = 21 July 2020 | publisher = Nuclear Decommissioning Authority | access-date = 8 June 2021}}</ref>
Its annual budget is £3.5{{nbsp}}billion, the vast majority of which is spent through contracts with site licence companies, who also subcontract to other companies which provide special services. The NDA aims to do this by introducing innovation and contractor expertise through a series of competitions similar to the model that has been used in the United States.

In April 2017, the NDA lost a legal case in the [[UK Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] regarding the [[public procurement|procurement]] of a sizeable contract for the decommissioning of twelve different [[Magnox]] nuclear facilities when EnergySolutions EU (now called ATK Energy EU) challenged a decision in connection with ATK's unsuccessful bid.<ref>[https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/docs/uksc-2016-0006-press-summary.pdf Press Summary: Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (Appellant) v EnergySolutions EU Ltd (now called ATK Energy EU Ltd) (Respondent) &#91;2017&#93; UKSC 34 on appeal from: &#91;2015&#93; EWCA Civ 1262], 11 April 2017</ref> In February 2018 Parliament's [[Public Accounts Committee (United Kingdom)|Public Accounts Committee]] (PAC) concluded that the NDA had "dramatically under-estimated" costs and "completely failed" in the procurement and management of the [[Magnox Ltd]] contract, which was one of the highest value contracts let by the government. An independent inquiry into the deal was set up.<ref name=wnn-20180703>{{cite news |url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C-NDA-to-take-over-management-of-Magnox-sites-0307185.html |title=NDA to take over management of Magnox sites |publisher=World Nuclear News |date=3 July 2018 |access-date=9 July 2018}}</ref><ref name=pac-20180227>{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmpubacc/461/46102.htm |title=The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's Magnox contract |publisher=UK Parliament |work=Public Accounts Committee |date=27 February 2018 |access-date=9 July 2018}}</ref>