Award

Liquid Scintillation Counter Procurement for ERATO/THALIA and LIBRTI Project

UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

03 Dec 2025 at 16:53

TenderUpdate

28 Oct 2025 at 10:55

Tender

23 Oct 2025 at 15:30

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for the "Liquid Scintillation Counter Procurement for ERATO/THALIA and LIBRTI Project" has reached the award stage, initiated by the UK Atomic Energy Authority, located at Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. This tender, under the industry category of laboratory equipment, involves the procurement of liquid scintillation counters crucial for tritium accountancy and breeding research. The procurement method followed an open procedure, with the final stage bids submitted totalling three, all by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Important dates include the award assessment summaries sent on 3rd December 2025, a standstill period ending on 12th December 2025, and the contract commencing on 22nd December 2025, running through to 31st March 2026. The procurement adheres to UK legislation 2023/54.

This tender offers substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in the production and supply of laboratory analytical instruments, particularly those focusing on scintillation counters. Enterprises equipped to deliver high-quality technical solutions for tritium handling and measurement would find this procurement highly beneficial. Given the focus on SMEs, companies with innovative technologies and experience in nuclear research areas are encouraged to engage with this sector of fusion energy research. Such engagement can provide a foothold in collaborations with government authorities, enhancing growth through increased visibility and impactful contributions to national projects. Businesses in the scientific equipment industry, capable of ensuring reliable delivery and maintenance services, are well-suited to compete.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Liquid Scintillation Counter Procurement for ERATO/THALIA and LIBRTI Project

Notice Description

A. Lot 1- THALIA Project The THALIA Project serves as the parent initiative with the primary goal of testing and validating analytical work-up methods and instrumentation for tritium accountancy in molten breeder material matrices. The THALIA workstream will be structured into dedicated functional areas, each designed to support specific activities: * Molten breeder handling area - for heating and maintaining breeder material in a molten state, equipped with a purpose-built tritium introduction system to accurately dose and generate tritiated breeder material samples at required concentrations. * Preparation area - for weighing and formulating molten breeder materials, including dosing with impurities where required. * Sample collection and cooling area - for safe collection and solidification of samples. * Sample analysis preparation area - for wet chemistry sample preparation and sample darkening, following methodologies developed under the ERATO Project. * Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC) analysis - following preparation into a suitable LSC cocktail, samples will be analysed using LSC instrumentation. The LIBRTI programme is a central component of UKAEA's fusion energy mission, specifically focusing on the safe and effective handling, storage, and processing of tritium--a critical fuel for fusion reactors. B. Lot 2 - LIBRTI Facility Project The LIBRTI Facility Project aims to establish Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC) capabilities through collaboration with partner organisations, enabling the training of future personnel working at the neutron facility. This capability underpins tritium breeding research, including the analysis of purge gases and breeder materials such as solid, liquid, and molten salts. A sample oxidizer will be required for preparing solid samples that cannot be directly processed for LSC analysis. Following oxidation and preparation into a suitable LSC cocktail, samples will be analysed via LSC instrumentation.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d2cc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079495-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

38942000 - Alpha beta counters

38943000 - Beta counters

38944000 - Beta gamma counters

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£540,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£540,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
£708,620 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Dec 20254 days ago
Submission Deadline
19 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Dec 20254 days ago
Contract Period
22 Dec 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Maili Nugent
Contact Email
maili.nugent@ukaea.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1235468141

Buyer Location

Locality
OXFORDSHIRE
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

SOUTHERN SCIENTIFIC

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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