Notice Information
Notice Title
RAICo Academic Research Theme 2
Notice Description
The Academic Research theme will address research related issues raised by the RAICo Collaboration partners and develop ideas at a low Technical Readiness Level (TRL) to such a point where an initial proof of concept can be developed for further development by the RAICo programme.
Procurement Information
This Direct Award is justified under Schedule 5, paragraphs 4-6 of the Procurement Act 2023, on the basis that the University of Manchester (UoM) holds unique and bespoke robotic platforms, and site-specific infrastructure developed and deployed during Phase 1 of the RAICo programme. These resources and capabilities are not reasonably available from another supplier. Awarding this contract to a different supplier would require significant duplication of time, cost, and technical development, and would result in material incompatibility with the research tools and demonstrators developed in Phase 1. The University has also embedded research staff and equipment at the RAICo1 facility, and switching suppliers would result in disproportionate onboarding time and loss of embedded institutional knowledge. The work also includes ongoing research and experimental development activities, including design, testing, and validation of new robotic capabilities for nuclear decommissioning. As such, this award also meets the conditions of Schedule 5, paragraphs 2-3, covering services related to prototypes, proof-of-concept demonstrators, and feasibility testing of low-TRL technologies. This combination of prior exclusive capability, and continued R&D work makes UoM the only suitable supplier capable of continuing delivery without unnecessary duplication or delay, in line with the strategic objectives of the RAICo programme
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-05f05f
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080447-2025
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK5 - Transparency Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Direct
- Procurement Method Details
- Direct award
- Tender Suitability
- SME, VCSE
- Awardee Scale
- Large
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
-
- CPV Codes
73110000 - Research services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- Not specified
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- £900,000 £500K-£1M
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 8 Dec 20252 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- 8 Dec 20252 months ago
- Contract Period
- 17 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
- Colette Broadwith
- Contact Email
- colette.broadwith@ukaea.uk
- Contact Phone
- +44 1142293734
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
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080447-2025
8th December 2025 - Transparency 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.
{
"tag": [
"compiled"
],
"id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f05f-2025-12-08T09:46:04Z",
"date": "2025-12-08T09:46:04Z",
"ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f05f",
"initiationType": "tender",
"parties": [
{
"id": "GB-PPON-PLJV-1169-JTDD",
"name": "UK Atomic Energy Authority",
"identifier": {
"scheme": "GB-PPON",
"id": "PLJV-1169-JTDD"
},
"address": {
"streetAddress": "Culham Science Centre",
"locality": "Oxfordshire",
"postalCode": "OX14 3DB",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom",
"region": "UKJ14"
},
"contactPoint": {
"name": "Colette Broadwith",
"email": "colette.broadwith@ukaea.uk",
"telephone": "+44 1142293734"
},
"roles": [
"buyer"
],
"details": {
"url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority",
"classifications": [
{
"id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
"scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
"description": "Public authority - central government"
}
]
}
},
{
"id": "GB-PPON-PTWB-5852-GWDM",
"name": "University of Manchester",
"identifier": {
"scheme": "GB-PPON",
"id": "PTWB-5852-GWDM"
},
"address": {
"streetAddress": "Oxford Road",
"locality": "Manchester",
"postalCode": "M13 9PL",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom",
"region": "UKD33"
},
"contactPoint": {
"email": "barry.lennox@manchester.ac.uk"
},
"roles": [
"supplier"
],
"details": {
"scale": "large",
"vcse": false
}
}
],
"buyer": {
"id": "GB-PPON-PLJV-1169-JTDD",
"name": "UK Atomic Energy Authority"
},
"tender": {
"id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f05f",
"legalBasis": {
"id": "2023/54",
"scheme": "UKPGA",
"uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
},
"title": "RAICo Academic Research Theme 2",
"description": "The Academic Research theme will address research related issues raised by the RAICo Collaboration partners and develop ideas at a low Technical Readiness Level (TRL) to such a point where an initial proof of concept can be developed for further development by the RAICo programme.",
"status": "complete",
"procurementMethod": "direct",
"procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
"procurementMethodRationale": "This Direct Award is justified under Schedule 5, paragraphs 4-6 of the Procurement Act 2023, on the basis that the University of Manchester (UoM) holds unique and bespoke robotic platforms, and site-specific infrastructure developed and deployed during Phase 1 of the RAICo programme. These resources and capabilities are not reasonably available from another supplier. Awarding this contract to a different supplier would require significant duplication of time, cost, and technical development, and would result in material incompatibility with the research tools and demonstrators developed in Phase 1. The University has also embedded research staff and equipment at the RAICo1 facility, and switching suppliers would result in disproportionate onboarding time and loss of embedded institutional knowledge. The work also includes ongoing research and experimental development activities, including design, testing, and validation of new robotic capabilities for nuclear decommissioning. As such, this award also meets the conditions of Schedule 5, paragraphs 2-3, covering services related to prototypes, proof-of-concept demonstrators, and feasibility testing of low-TRL technologies. This combination of prior exclusive capability, and continued R&D work makes UoM the only suitable supplier capable of continuing delivery without unnecessary duplication or delay, in line with the strategic objectives of the RAICo programme",
"lots": [
{
"id": "LOT-0000",
"status": "complete",
"suitability": {
"sme": true,
"vcse": true
}
}
],
"documents": [
{
"id": "conflictOfInterest",
"documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
"description": "Not published"
}
],
"procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
{
"id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
}
]
},
"awards": [
{
"id": "1",
"title": "RAICo Academic Research Theme 2",
"status": "pending",
"value": {
"amountGross": 1080000,
"amount": 900000,
"currency": "GBP"
},
"mainProcurementCategory": "services",
"aboveThreshold": true,
"suppliers": [
{
"id": "GB-PPON-PTWB-5852-GWDM",
"name": "University of Manchester"
}
],
"items": [
{
"id": "LOT-0000",
"additionalClassifications": [
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "73110000",
"description": "Research services"
}
],
"deliveryAddresses": [
{
"region": "UK",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
}
],
"relatedLot": "LOT-0000"
}
],
"contractPeriod": {
"startDate": "2025-12-17T00:00:00Z",
"endDate": "2026-03-31T23:59:59Z"
},
"relatedLots": [
"LOT-0000"
],
"documents": [
{
"id": "080447-2025",
"documentType": "awardNotice",
"noticeType": "UK5",
"description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
"url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080447-2025",
"datePublished": "2025-12-08T09:46:04Z",
"format": "text/html"
}
],
"milestones": [
{
"id": "1",
"type": "futureSignatureDate",
"dueDate": "2025-12-17T23:59:59Z",
"status": "scheduled"
}
]
}
],
"language": "en"
}