Planning

Power Cycle and Cooling Development

UK INDUSTRIAL FUSION SOLUTIONS LTD

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

09 Dec 2025 at 16:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS), based at Culham Science Centre in Abingdon, is engaging in a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) process for the procurement titled "Power Cycle and Cooling Development." This process pertains to engineering and prototyping services and is intended to inform the future design and development of systems related to the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) initiative. The engagement aims to gather insights from potential suppliers regarding the thermal power transfer system, the working fluid and power generation system, and the site water and waste heat system. The PME is divided into two stages: written submissions due by 10:00 hrs on 9th January 2026 and an online presentation with a Q&A session on 14th January 2026. The contract, worth an estimated gross amount of £11.4 million, is currently in the planning stage and is anticipated to commence on 1st June 2026, with an end date of 31st March 2029.

This tender process offers a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in engineering and prototyping services to collaborate on an innovative project aimed at advancing sustainable fusion energy. The collaboration with UKIFS provides a substantial platform for growth, enabling businesses to contribute to advanced energy solutions and elevate their market presence in the energy sector. Companies with expertise in thermal system integration, thermodynamic power cycles, and waste heat management will find this opportunity particularly aligned with their capabilities. Participation in the PME could not only facilitate immediate opportunities but also position such businesses favourably for subsequent tenders associated with the broader STEP programme.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Power Cycle and Cooling Development

Notice Description

The following summary is not intended as a complete or definitive specification of the requirement. A purpose of this engagement is to seek information from the market to help refine our understanding and aid the development of a future specification. UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) Group and has been established to lead a public-private partnership that will design, build and operate the STEP prototype plant at the West Burton site in Nottinghamshire, England. The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) is an ambitious programme to accelerate the delivery of sustainable fusion energy tasked with paving the way for the commercialisation of fusion. UKIFS's mission is to deliver sustainable fusion energy and maximise scientific and economic impact. STEP is seeking support over the remainder of "Tranche 2A" (01/04/2025 until 31/3/2029) to support both the design and technology development of the following level 2 systems: Thermal power transfer system (TPTS): this system integrates the coolant and heat from the Tokamak In-Vessel Components and transfers the heat to the working fluid and power generation system. Working fluid and power generation system (WFPGS): this system uses the integrated heat from the TPTS within a thermodynamic power cycle to generate power. For clarity this system is the thermodynamic power cycle and associated equipment. Site water and waste heat system (SWWHS): this system rejects the low-grade waste heat from the power cycle and parasitic loads to the environment using cooling systems. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: https://ukifs.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Engineering-services./PMH3W3VTJ2 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://ukifs.delta-esourcing.com/respond/PMH3W3VTJ2

Planning Information

Scope of Preliminary Market Engagement Purposes & Activities: This Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise is intended to gather information from potential suppliers regarding the design and development of Step Power Cycle and Cooling Development. The engagement is currently expected to take place in two stages: The first stage involves a written submission via the questionnaire, which should be returned by 10:00 hrs (UK Time) on 9th January 2026 . The second stage will be an online presentation (delivered by UKIFS) and Q&A session that multiple suppliers may attend. This is expected to take place on 14th January 2026, at 14:00 until 16:00, UK Time (indicative only, subject to change). For the avoidance of doubt: Suppliers who wish to attend the presentation and Q&A session will need to confirm that they wish to participate by indicating this within the questionnaire and submitting this via Delta as directed. Supplier's who do not to respond to this notice are NOT thereby excluded from any subsequent tender process for this workstream. As part of this PME, UKIFS may carry out a range of activities. These may include, but are not limited to: Issuing follow-up questions to suppliers and reviewing their responses; engaging in discussions with suppliers either collectively or individually, such as through webinars or workshops; seeking feedback on proposed requirements; exploring procurement approaches; identifying potentially suitable suppliers; assessing market capacity; and discussing possible contractual terms. PME may also be used to support the development of award criteria and the refinement of tender documentation. Any information provided in this notice, such as CPV codes, estimated contract values, anticipated contract dates and durations, and proposed engagement timelines - are indicative only and based on UKIFS’s current understanding. These details may be subject to change. The purpose of PME is to improve our understanding of the market, refine our requirements, and shape our procurement strategy. The list of purposes and activities included herein is illustrative rather than exhaustive, and the nature, extent and timetable of engagement may evolve in line with UKIFS’s needs.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f20e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081162-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

71300000 - Engineering services

72244000 - Prototyping services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£9,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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