Award

STEP P&T - High Heat Flux Testing and Verification Facility

UK INDUSTRIAL FUSION SOLUTIONS LTD

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

05 Dec 2025 at 14:05

Award

16 Oct 2025 at 18:05

Award

14 Jul 2025 at 15:05

Summary of the contracting process

The public procurement process initiated by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd, based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, entails the completion of a project titled "STEP P&T – High Heat Flux Testing and Verification Facility." This tender was managed through a direct award procurement method and classified under the services category. The process, which is now at the contract stage, was awarded to ICS Cool Energy Limited, located in Southampton. Key dates include the signing of the contract on 5th December 2025, with the project beginning on 8th December 2025 and concluding by 31st March 2026. The project encompasses the installation and commissioning of a cooling system critical for high heat flux testing, with the location for the services being within the UK.

This tender presents a significant business opportunity, particularly for companies involved in the design and provision of heat-exchange units, air-conditioning, refrigerating equipment, and related engineering services. Businesses that specialise in installation, commissioning, and research and development will find this project well-aligned with their expertise. The collaboration with ICS Cool Energy, who have a history of working with UK Industrial Fusion Solutions, illustrates the potential for long-term partnerships and further opportunities in maintaining and developing similar technological solutions. Moreover, the direct procurement approach underscores the value of existing relationships and the importance of tailoring service offerings to specific technical requirements, thereby creating strategic growth prospects through tailored innovations.

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Notice Title

STEP P&T - High Heat Flux Testing and Verification Facility

Notice Description

An integrated system that will provide cooling for the high heat flux testing for the STEP in-vessel components, as well as cooling the auxiliary systems required for operation, as part of the High Heat Flux Testing and Verification Facility. This system will include: Temperature Control Unit (226 kW cooling capacity, 150 kW heating capacity and a maximum operating temperature of 350degC) Chiller (350 kW cooling capacity) Design of the Temperature Control Unit and Chiller System, along with all necessary components for operation. Commissioning of the system. Installation of the system. This system is very similar to the operational HIVE test rig which has used this supplier for the last seven years and shares the same fundamental design concept, many similar components, the cooling system and operational principles. These specific nuances are currently only understood by ICS Cool Energy. This project is an extension of the organisation's Induction-heating based HHF testing programme and there is a stakeholder requirement to ensure equipment is directly comparable, and compatible to the HIVE facility, including physical interfaces, control, and data acquisition (see approved TD-0012050-A: SHR-010, SHR-011, SHR-013). As a result another supplier would have to retrofit the HIVE test to match the proposed HHFTVF facility increasing the cost beyond what we have been quoted. The absence of this system poses a significant technical risk to the project, as it will result in certain key stakeholder requirements falling out of scope and lead to a diminished operational capability, such as the inability to accurately replicate the first wall environment as well as future use cases. (see approved TD-0012050-A: SHR-008, SHR-009, SHR-016) To view this notice, please click here: https://ukifs.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=997133124

Procurement Information

This project is an extension of the organisation's induction heating-based HHF testing program, with a stakeholder requirement to ensure that the equipment is directly comparable and compatible with the HIVE facility which has utilised a very similar cooling system from this supplier for the last seven years. This includes physical interfaces, control systems, and data acquisition (see approved TD-0012050-A: SHR-013). Our facility needs a distinctive combination of components, most of which are commercial off-the-shelf and suitable for their intended purpose. However, addressing our specific requirements requires a deeper understanding of our needs. The proposed supplier has extensive experience with the HIVE facility, making them uniquely qualified to provide post-purchase support as an extension of their current HIVE services. Using the same supplier allows for consolidation of maintenance contracts which in turn will lead to cost savings through economies of scale, streamlined administrative processes, and improved response times, ultimately enhancing budget predictability and reducing overall operational expenses. The team responsible for operating HIVE will also manage HHFTVF. Utilizing equipment from the same manufacturer will mitigate the inherent risks associated with operating new machinery and reduce the costs associated with training staff to operate and troubleshoot a new test rig. ICS Cool Energy is the best positioned supplier to fully satisfies specific requirements for the temperature control unit, including heating power, cooling power, and operational temperature. (see TCU & Chiller Market Research Document)

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-055ed8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080201-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

42 - Industrial machinery

45 - Construction work

50 - Repair and maintenance services

51 - Installation services (except software)

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services


CPV Codes

42510000 - Heat-exchange units, air-conditioning and refrigerating equipment, and filtering machinery

45331230 - Installation work of cooling equipment

50721000 - Commissioning of heating installations

51100000 - Installation services of electrical and mechanical equipment

71321000 - Engineering design services for mechanical and electrical installations for buildings

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

73430000 - Test and evaluation

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£293,959 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£293,959 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Jul 20257 months ago
Contract Period
8 Dec 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK INDUSTRIAL FUSION SOLUTIONS LTD
Contact Name
Operational Procurement
Contact Email
operationalprocurement.step@ukifs.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ICS COOL ENERGY

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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