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Materials Testing Framework for STEP

UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

06 Aug 2026 at 14:56

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

07 Nov 2025 at 19:05

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

28 Aug 2025 at 19:05

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

12 Aug 2025 at 14:05

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

30 Jul 2025 at 19:05

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd established a materials testing framework for its STEP programme. The requirement covers specialist research, experimental development, technical testing, analysis and consultancy for magnet materials and vacuum vessel and in-vessel systems (ViVS). Six service areas are covered: magnet mechanical and thermal tests; magnet electrical tests; magnet high-temperature superconducting tests; ViVS mechanical tests; ViVS thermophysical tests; and ViVS miscellaneous tests. The framework provides an overarching route for UKIFS to order specific tests through later call-off contracts as requirements arise. Work is delivered in the UK. The buying organisation is UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd, based at Culham Science Centre in Abingdon. The procurement is categorised as services and includes technical testing, engineering-related scientific services and research and development.

The procurement is complete and was run as an above-threshold open procedure under the Open procedure method. Six lots were awarded on 7 November 2025, with contracts signed on 20 November 2025. Each lot has a gross awarded value of £700,000: Lot 1 to Amentum Clean Energy, University of Strathclyde and NPL Management; Lot 2 to University of Strathclyde, Fujikura Europe and Kinectrics UK; Lot 3 to Oxford Sigma, Tohoku University and University of Strathclyde; Lot 4 to Amentum Clean Energy and Altrad Babcock; Lot 5 to Amentum Clean Energy and NPL Management; and Lot 6 to Amentum Clean Energy and Kinectrics UK. The contracts run from 1 December 2025, with most ending on 30 November 2027 and Lot 1 ending on 30 October 2027; each may be extended by one year. Evaluation was quality-only for Lots 2, 3 and 6; price and quality were weighted 10% and 90% for Lot 1, and 20% and 80% for Lots 4 and 5.

This opportunity demonstrates recurring demand from a fusion programme for specialist materials testing rather than a single project delivery. Relevant suppliers would need capability in mechanical, thermal, electrical, high-temperature superconducting and thermophysical testing, together with testing of magnet, vacuum vessel and in-vessel system materials. Scientific research, experimental development, engineering analysis and technical consultancy experience would support credible delivery. The awarded supply base shows that the requirement can be met by a mixture of major engineering and energy companies, specialist testing businesses, universities and smaller enterprises, including international research capability. A future competitor would need robust laboratory and technical resources, the capacity to respond to varied test requirements through call-offs, and evidence of high-quality scientific and engineering work. Quality performance is particularly important across the framework, with quality carrying all or most of the evaluation weighting depending on the service area.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Materials Testing Framework for STEP

Notice Description

UKIFS STEP programme seeks to establish a materials testing framework to enable timely and efficient testing of magnet and Vacuum vessel and in-vessel systems (ViVS) materials over the next eight years. The purpose of this procurement is to pre-qualify a number of market-leading specialist test providers who will be called upon to fulfil the requirements for testing as and when these requirements ("call-off contracts") arise. UKIFS will enter into Framework Agreement contract with these suppliers, which will be used as an overarching contract putting in place a compliant mechanism to order specific tests.

Lot Information

Lot 1 Magnets Materials Mechanical and Thermal tests

Renewal: The first framework term can be extended by one year.

Magnets Materials Electrical Tests

Renewal: The first framework term can be extended by one year.

Magnets Materials HTS Tests

Renewal: The first framework term can be extended by one year.

VIVS Mechanical Tests

Renewal: The first framework term can be extended by one year.

VIVS Thermophysical Tests

Renewal: The first framework term can be extended by one year.

VIVS Miscellaneous Tests

Renewal: The first framework term can be extended by one year.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05699a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074827-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

38970000 - Research, testing and scientific technical simulator

71350000 - Engineering-related scientific and technical services

71600000 - Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services

71632000 - Technical testing services

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£4,200,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£700,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£583,333 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
22 Sep 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Nov 20259 months ago
Contract Period
1 Dec 2025 - 30 Nov 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
ABINGDON
Postcode
OX14 3DB
Postcode Area
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
8
Supplier Names

Altrad Babcock Limited

Amentum Clean Energy Limited

Fujikura Europe Ltd

Kinectrics UK Limited

NPL Management Limited

Oxford Sigma Limited

Tohoku University

University of Strathclyde

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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