Planning

STEP Whole Programme Cost Estimate - Independent Assurance

UK INDUSTRIAL FUSION SOLUTIONS LTD

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

09 Jan 2026 at 14:05

Summary of the contracting process

The public procurement process is in the planning stage, initiated by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd, a public undertaking located at the Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, United Kingdom. The procurement title is "STEP Whole Programme Cost Estimate – Independent Assurance," within the services industry category, focusing on project and design preparation and cost estimation. A key milestone involves returning a completed questionnaire by 23rd January 2026, with clarification questions accepted until 16th January 2026. The procurement process aims to appoint an external party for independent verification and validation of a cost estimate for submission to the government. The total contract value is anticipated to be £240,000, with the contract period scheduled to start on 1st June 2026 and end on 28th September 2026.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in project and design preparation and cost estimation. Entities with expertise in independent assurance and validation activities, especially those familiar with government cost estimating requirements such as those outlined in the AQuA Book, could find this opportunity lucrative and strategically beneficial. Organisations that specialise in offering validation and cost monitoring services and who can operate within a government-oriented framework are particularly well-suited to compete in this tender process, potentially leveraging it to expand their portfolios and establish a foothold within government projects.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

STEP Whole Programme Cost Estimate - Independent Assurance

Notice Description

In Q4 2026, the STEP Programme has a requirement to issue their first Whole Programme Cost Estimate to Government. In order to comply with IPA (now NISTA) cost estimating requirements and the guidance of the AQuA Book, this cost estimate must be independently reviewed and assured. UKIFS is seeking to appoint an external party to perform the necessary independent verification and validation (V&V) activities of the Whole Programme Cost Estimate, to support the submission to Government. The consultant will be expected to comment on the validity and accuracy of the cost estimate, identify any concerns and areas of future work, and provide a V&V statement in-line with the outcome of the analysis. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Project-and-design-preparation%2C-estimation-of-costs./768XNG85C4 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/768XNG85C4

Planning Information

Please return the questionnaire included within the tenderbox completed with your answers. Clarification questions will be accepted until 16th January.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0602e9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001893-2026
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


CPV Codes

71242000 - Project and design preparation, estimation of costs

71244000 - Calculation of costs, monitoring of costs

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£200,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Jan 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
23 Jan 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2026 - 28 Sep 2026 1-6 months
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
Not specified
Contact Email
operationalprocurement.step@ukifs.uk
Contact Phone
07852001696

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

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0602e9-2026-01-09T14:05:10Z",
    "date": "2026-01-09T14:05:10Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0602e9",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PCRM-7973-DCBL",
            "name": "UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PCRM-7973-DCBL"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Culham Science Centre",
                "locality": "Abingdon",
                "postalCode": "OX14 3DB",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ14"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "operationalprocurement.step@ukifs.uk",
                "telephone": "07852001696"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicUndertaking",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public undertaking"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PCRM-7973-DCBL",
        "name": "UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Please return the questionnaire included within the tenderbox completed with your answers. Clarification questions will be accepted until 16th January.",
                "dueDate": "2026-01-23T23:59:59+00:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "001893-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001893-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-01-09T14:05:10Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "PP-UKIFS-175",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "STEP Whole Programme Cost Estimate - Independent Assurance",
        "description": "In Q4 2026, the STEP Programme has a requirement to issue their first Whole Programme Cost Estimate to Government. In order to comply with IPA (now NISTA) cost estimating requirements and the guidance of the AQuA Book, this cost estimate must be independently reviewed and assured. UKIFS is seeking to appoint an external party to perform the necessary independent verification and validation (V&V) activities of the Whole Programme Cost Estimate, to support the submission to Government. The consultant will be expected to comment on the validity and accuracy of the cost estimate, identify any concerns and areas of future work, and provide a V&V statement in-line with the outcome of the analysis. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Project-and-design-preparation%2C-estimation-of-costs./768XNG85C4 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/768XNG85C4",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "71242000",
                        "description": "Project and design preparation, estimation of costs"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "71244000",
                        "description": "Calculation of costs, monitoring of costs"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 240000,
            "amount": 200000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-06-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2026-09-28T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}