Notice Information
Notice Title
Materials Testing Framework for STEP - UKIFS
Notice Description
UKIFS STEP programme (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) seeks to establish a materials testing framework as follows: 1.Magnets materials testing - mechanical/ thermal, electrical, and REBCO tests under cryogenic conditions at a range of temperatures down to 20 K, for magnet materials (HTS tapes, metals, insulators (composites), solders), and mock-up samples of magnets and structures where applicable. 2.Vacuum Vessel & In-Vessel Systems (VIVS) manufacturing testing - mechanical, thermophysical and bespoke materials testing required to build a reliable material property database for increasing confidence in the system design into four key technologies: breeder blankets, divertors, plasma facing components and shields. Two previous Requests for Information for this requirements were published with the following notices: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000564-2025 https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002310-2025 We are looking for suppliers who can provide a range of services (one of more tests) to join the framework that will be in operation over the next 6 years (2 years + 2 years + 2 years). Tender publication is planned for 24th June. As part of the tender, bidders will be invited to attend a webinar explaining framework format and framework management principles. To view this notice, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=954979795
Lot Information
Lot 1 Magnets Mechanical and Thermal tests
Tests included in the lots are as follows: Mechanical Tests Tensile Mechanical Tests Shear (at various angles) Mechanical Tests Interlaminar shear Mechanical Tests Combined compression-shear (at various angles) Mechanical Tests Bond strength Mechanical Tests Fatigue Thermal Tests Thermal conductivity Thermal Tests Coefficient of thermal expansion Thermal Tests Thermal shock and thermal cycling Thermal Tests Differential scanning calorimetry Thermal Tests Specific heat Please note the list is not exhaustive.
Renewal: Framework will be reopened for new entrants, with new tests included, after year 2 and year 4.
Lot 2 Magnets Electrical TestsTests included in the lots are as follows: Electrical Tests Contact resistance Electrical Tests Dielectric strength Electrical Tests Insulation resistance Electrical Tests Paschen breakdown Please note the list is not exhaustive.
Renewal: The framework will be reopened for new entrants and new tests after year 2 and year 4.
Lot 3 Magnets REBCO Characterisation TestsThe following tests will be included in this lot: REBCO Coated Conductor TestsCritical current as a function of temperature, magnetic field strength and field angle REBCO Coated Conductor TestsCritical current as a function of axial strain applied along the tape REBCO Coated Conductor TestsShear strength along and/or across the tape REBCO Coated Conductor TestsUltimate tensile strength perpendicular to tape plane REBCO Coated Conductor TestsMinimum bend radius REBCO Coated Conductor TestsFailure strength due to out-of-balance loads perpendicular to tape plane REBCO Coated Conductor TestsPeel test Please note the list is not exhaustive.
Renewal: The framework will be reopened for new entrants and new tests after year 2 and year 4.
Lot 4 VIVS Mechanical TestsThe following tests are included in this lot: Mechanical Tensile Mechanical Tensile - notched Mechanical Tensile - creep Mechanical Creep-fatigue - cyclic uniaxial Mechanical Microindentation Mechanical Impulse excitation Mechanical Shear (at various angles) Mechanical 4-point bend Mechanical 4-point bend - notched Mechanical 4-point bend - notched Mechanical Ball-on-3-ball Mechanical Fracture toughness - compact tension Mechanical Fracture toughness - impact Mechanical Ratcheting - cyclic tension/torsion Mechanical Fatigue crack growth - compact tension Mechanical Fatigue - thermomechanical Please note the list is not exhaustive.
Renewal: The framework will be reopened for new entrants and new tests after year 2 and year 4.
Lot 5 VIVS Thermophysical TestsThe following tests are included in this lot: ThermophysicalLaser flash ThermophysicalDilatometry ThermophysicalThermal shock and thermal cycling ThermophysicalDifferential scanning calorimetry ThermophysicalFatigue - thermal Please note the list is not exhaustive.
Renewal: The framework will be reopened for new entrants and new tests after year 2 and year 4.
Lot 6 VIVS Non-standard TestsThis lot will include CompositionMass spectrometry testing as well as any non-standard testing requirements.
Renewal: The framework will be reopened for new entrants and new tests after year 2 and year 4.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-052a46
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029009-2025
- Current Stage
- Planning
- All Stages
- Planning
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Open
- Procurement Method Details
- Open procedure
- Tender Suitability
- SME, VCSE
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting
38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
-
- CPV Codes
31157000 - Inductors
38970000 - Research, testing and scientific technical simulator
71334000 - Mechanical and electrical engineering services
71600000 - Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services
71610000 - Composition and purity testing and analysis services
71630000 - Technical inspection and testing services
71632000 - Technical testing services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £7,000,000 £1M-£10M
- Lots Value
- £8,400,000 £1M-£10M
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 2 Jun 20258 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- 29 Jul 2025Expired
- Future Notice Date
- 24 Jun 2025Expired
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 17 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2027 1-2 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Planned
- Lots Status
- Planned
- Awards Status
- Not Specified
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- UK INDUSTRIAL FUSION SOLUTIONS LTD
- Contact Name
- Not specified
- Contact Email
- operationalprocurement.step@ukifs.uk
- Contact Phone
- +44 1235 464381
Buyer Location
- Locality
- ABINGDON
- Postcode
- OX14 3DB
- Post Town
- Oxford
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLJ South East (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
- Delivery Location
- Not specified
-
- Local Authority
- South Oxfordshire
- Electoral Ward
- Sandford & the Wittenhams
- Westminster Constituency
- Didcot and Wantage
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029009-2025
2nd June 2025 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.
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