In a series of answers to questions from potential suppliers on the federal tender site, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources also advised that there may be a need to reference the future AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program through the contract, but only in educational materials.

It comes after a major government approach to market was uncovered by The Canberra Times, revealing that a nuclear-specific crisis management team is being sought - six months after the government abandoned plans for a low-level waste dump near Kimba in remote South Australia - to bid for a two-year contract to help manage public discussion of nuclear waste in Australia.

The move has been criticised by the Greens and the Coalition as spin and "steamrolling regional communities," but the new approach to market appears to address other criticism that nuclear waste dumps are announced and later argued as needed.

Asked by an unnamed potential supplier if the department has a list of sites or communities looking to be engaged over the two-year contract period, the answer is "no."

"This information is unknown," the answer reads. "The Australian Radioactive Waste Agency has started work on alternative proposals for the storage and disposal of the commonwealth's civilian low-level and intermediate-level radioactive waste."

So that is not just the low-level option that was being sought, but abandoned, at Napandee at the top of the Eyre Peninsula.

The answers to the questions of potential suppliers, which have to bid for the contract, offer greater insight to the process for delivering a secure storage facility, but are limited to current timelines.

"No site has been been shortlisted or selected and no benefits package has been determined, this will be a matter for government," the department stated.

The department also advises that there are not currently "specific deliverables" that the department is looking to complete. It is also advised there may be some stakeholder engagement activities that involve a role in decision making.

The original approach to market, posted March 26, asked for assistance with "nuclear-specific" public relations and professional communications services during the early stages of a new radioactive waste management approach being identified. This is described as the first three to five years of a 100-year project.

It would involve engagement with "impacted communities", "stringent preparation for technical and challenging questions" from the public, and support for the public's "comprehensive understanding of the nation's radioactive waste inventory, origins and need for safe management."

"This is a highly specialised high-outrage area and there are times of uplift where urgent assistance is required and additional industry-relevant specialist support is needed, including upskilling staff to undertake these activities in a high outrage environment," the document reads.

It comes as Australia, as well as AUKUS partners the United States and the United Kingdom, continues to be without a long-term solution for radioactive waste disposal.

Asked by a potential supplier if there is consideration for SSN-AUKUS (nuclear powered submarines under the AUKUS trilateral pact) or visiting nuclear-powered naval capabilities, the department said maybe, but not much.

"While information about Australia's nuclear-powered submarine program may form a small part of ARWA educational materials, the supplier will not be required to undertake engagement work focused on AUKUS or nuclear-powered submarines," it responded.

There appears to be no willingness to waive the requirement for baseline security clearance, even for a world-leading technical subject matter expert.

Asked if a waiver was possible for the duties which include assisting in preparing "factually correct nuclear technology and radioactive waste engagement materials", the department responded, "Any specified personnel must be able to obtain and hold a Baseline Security Clearance."

Asked further if people with equivalent security clearances from other five eyes nations (the US, UK, New Zealand and Canada) are able to work on the project, the response was the same: "Any specified personnel must be able to obtain and hold a Baseline Security Clearance."