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UKRI-5543 Cryoplant for the National Cryogenic Facility

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

Award

18 Aug 2026 at 11:19

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

08 May 2026 at 11:53

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

22 Apr 2026 at 14:21

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

22 Apr 2026 at 14:09

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

22 Apr 2026 at 13:43

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

13 Jan 2026 at 13:32

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) is procuring a cryoplant for the National Cryogenic Facility at Daresbury Laboratory. The equipment must provide cooling at 2K, 4K and 20K for multiple users, with capacity rated at 2kW at 4K, equivalent to 350W at 2K. It is intended to expand UKRI–STFC’s existing cryogenics expertise and its experience of operating a cryoplant as a facility. The requirement is for industrial machinery, specifically air- or gas-liquefaction equipment (CPV 42511200), rather than a general facilities-management service. The system must be scalable to meet varying demand and support the requirements identified by the facility’s initial users. The buyer is UKRI, a central government public authority, and delivery is for the United Kingdom-based Daresbury Laboratory.

This procurement is complete and has been awarded following an open procedure. One lot was evaluated on price (30%) and technical or quality factors (70%); three valid bids were received. Air Liquide Advanced Technologies was awarded the contract on 17 August 2026 for £15,138,407 excluding VAT (£18,166,088.40 including VAT). The awarded contract period runs from 2 September 2026 to 31 March 2028, with a scheduled signature date of 1 September 2026. The original estimated value was £15,000,000 excluding VAT (£18,000,000 including VAT). The award includes options for ongoing Controls Engineer support after delivery, capital spare parts, installation supervision and PVPS, to be called off as required. The procurement was above the relevant threshold and electronic submissions in English were allowed.

This requirement demonstrates demand for specialist cryogenic plant capable of delivering stable cooling at several temperature levels, serving multiple users and scaling with demand. Suppliers best placed for comparable work will have proven expertise in designing, manufacturing, supplying and supporting large cryogenic systems, particularly air- or gas-liquefaction machinery and refrigeration at 2K, 4K and 20K. Credibility will also depend on the ability to integrate a plant into a research facility, customise its control scheme around user requirements, supervise installation and provide technically competent controls engineering support. Businesses supplying capital spare parts, commissioning or installation supervision may be relevant where they can support the main plant solution. The award attracted three valid bids, indicating competition from established specialist suppliers, and the strong weighting on technical and quality factors shows that technical performance is central to this buyer’s requirement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

UKRI-5543 Cryoplant for the National Cryogenic Facility

Notice Description

UKRI wishes to establish a Contract for the provision of a Cyroplant which has the capacity rated at 2kW at 4K (equivalent to 350W at 2K.), for the National Cryogenic Facility at Daresbury Laboratory. The cryoplant is to have the capability to provide cooling at 2K, 4K and 20K to multiple users. This capability has been specified to enable UKRI-STFC to meet requirements identified by all initial users and is scalable to meet varying demand. This is to expand UKRI-STFCs existing expertise in cryogenics and experience in running a cryoplant as a facility user.

Planning Information

The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is to inform the market that UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is exploring the future procurement of a new cryoplant for the National Cryogenic Facility. UKRI has already undertaken initial, non-binding discussions with a small number of suppliers with relevant specialist expertise to inform early project thinking. This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is intended to broaden engagement across the market, validate assumptions, and ensure that any future procurement is informed by a wide range of potential delivery approaches, commercial models, and technical capabilities. Participation in this early engagement does not confer any advantage or preference in any future procurement process. UKRI will be undertaking a Supplier Engagement Session via Teams at 14:00hours on Wednesday 28th January 2026. If you would like to express your organisations interest in this event, please send the following information to STFCProcurement@ukri.org no later than Monday 26th January 2026: - Name of organisation - Names and email address of those attending the session Please not, we would limit the number of attendees to 3 per organisation. Please note that this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice does not constitute a commitment by UKRI to commence a procurement or to award any contract. Any future procurement activity will be subject to internal approvals, including business case approval by the relevant UK Government departments. All future tender documentation, should a procurement proceed, will be made available via UKRI’s e-sourcing portal, and potential bidders will be required to register on that portal to access further information.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0604aa
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078450-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, 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
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

42 - Industrial machinery

CPV Codes

42000000 - Industrial machinery

42511200 - Machinery for liquefying air or other gases

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£15,138,407 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Aug 20264 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
5 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
20 Apr 2026Expired
Award Date
17 Aug 20261 months ago
Contract Period
2 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON, WILTSHIRE
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
TLD61 Warrington
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Air Liquide Advanced Technologies

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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