Tender

Liquid Scintillation Counter Procurement for ERATO/THALIA and LIBRTI Project

UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

28 Oct 2025 at 10:55

Tender

23 Oct 2025 at 15:30

Summary of the contracting process

The UK Atomic Energy Authority, located at the Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire, is currently active in the tender stage of the procurement process titled "Liquid Scintillation Counter Procurement for ERATO/THALIA and LIBRTI Project". This procurement falls under the goods category and involves the acquisition of equipment like beta counters essential for projects focusing on tritium handling in fusion energy research. The open procurement exercise is following an open procedure, with important deadlines being the end of the tender period on 19th November 2025 and the award period concluding on 5th December 2025. The commencement of the contract is set for 22nd December 2025, extending until 31st March 2026, providing a significant window for potential suppliers to engage.

This tender presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses involved in the provision of scientific instrumentation, particularly those specialising in radiological analysis equipment. With a gross contract value of £648,000 and high importance placed on quality over price (60/40 weighting in the award criteria), companies with robust technical expertise in creating alpha, beta, and gamma counter devices will have a competitive edge. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can particularly benefit from this tender due to the process's suitability provisions. Engaging in this project could enhance a company's portfolio in the rapidly advancing fusion energy sector and strengthen relationships with a high-profile government agency like the UKAEA.

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/068852-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Oct 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
19 Nov 20252 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
22 Dec 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
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

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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