Planning

Ask AI

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

Open in ChatGPT
OpenAI's assistant
Open in Claude
Anthropic's assistant
Open in Perplexity
Answer engine, cites sources
Open in Google AI Mode
Google's AI search
View Markdown
Share

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Email
Send a link by email
WhatsApp
Share in a WhatsApp chat
LinkedIn
Post to your network
Microsoft Teams
Share to a Teams chat

Adhesive-less Materials for Vacuum Cryopump Cryopanels (AMVAC)

UK FUSION ENERGY LTD

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

05 May 2026 at 16:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

21 Apr 2026 at 14:53

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Fusion Energy Ltd is undertaking a procurement initiative titled "Adhesive-less Materials for Vacuum Cryopump Cryopanels (AMVAC)" and is currently in the planning stage of the contracting process. This initiative focuses on the engineering and testing of anodization and sorbent coating technologies for novel cryopumping systems. The relevant industry category includes engineering design, integrated engineering services, and technical testing services. Operating from Culham Science Centre in Abingdon, the buying organisation is looking to engage with potential suppliers through a Market Engagement Notice, which will close on 18th May 2026. The contract period is anticipated to be from 14th June 2026 to 31st March 2027, with an indicative budget value of £300,000 to £360,000.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in engineering design and technical testing services, with a focus on research and development in cryopumping technologies. Companies equipped with capabilities in industrial process engineering and laboratory services may find this opportunity advantageous to showcase their innovations and contribute to shaping future tender requirements through the preliminary market engagement. Engaging in this process allows businesses to provide crucial insights, potentially influencing the final procurement strategy and specifications, thereby offering a pathway for business growth and establishing long-term collaborations with UK Fusion Energy Ltd.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Adhesive-less Materials for Vacuum Cryopump Cryopanels (AMVAC)

Notice Description

This Market Engagement Notice (MEN) aim is to identify potential suppliers to develop, test and manufacture anodization and sorbent coating technologies for novel cryopumping systems.

Planning Information

This Market Engagement Notice (MEN) aim is to identify potential suppliers to develop, test and manufacture anodization and sorbent coating technologies for novel cryopumping systems. This is not a request for quotation but a preliminary stage to assess the availability of suitable capability and facilities in the market. Suppliers responding to this MEN will have the opportunity to contribute insights that may shape the final tender requirements. All answers and correspondence will be used for market sounding purposes only and will be treated confidentially. Any supplier that chooses to not respond to this MEN will not exclude themselves from any subsequent procurement for this workstream. Should an NDA or similar be required, please contact the MEN Customer Contact. Any estimated contract values and contract dates associated with the notice are indicative and do not represent a commitment by UKFE. UKFE’s IP Policy: UKFE will own all foreground IP which is developed to deliver the STEP programme, including IP generated in projects with partners. UKFE requires a licence to any partner-owned background IP that is required to use and licence UKFE’s foreground IP freely As part of this PME, UKFE 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 UKFE’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 activities included here is illustrative rather than exhaustive, and the nature, extent and timetable of engagement may evolve in line with UKFE’s needs.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0687c3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041245-2026
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

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

71323000 - Engineering-design services for industrial process and production

71340000 - Integrated engineering services

71632000 - Technical testing services

71900000 - Laboratory services

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

73110000 - Research services

73111000 - Research laboratory services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 May 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
18 May 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
13 Jun 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 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 FUSION ENERGY LTD
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

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

JSON Markdown

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-0687c3-2026-05-05T17:25:20+01:00",
    "date": "2026-05-05T17:25:20+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0687c3",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PCRM-7973-DCBL",
            "name": "UK Fusion Energy Ltd",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PCRM-7973-DCBL"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Culham Science Centre, Abingdon",
                "locality": "Abingdon",
                "postalCode": "OX14 3DB",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ14"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Operational Procurement",
                "email": "operationalprocurement.step@ukifs.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicUndertaking",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public undertaking"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PCRM-7973-DCBL",
        "name": "UK Fusion Energy Ltd"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "This Market Engagement Notice (MEN) aim is to identify potential suppliers to develop, test and manufacture anodization and sorbent coating technologies for novel cryopumping systems. This is not a request for quotation but a preliminary stage to assess the availability of suitable capability and facilities in the market. Suppliers responding to this MEN will have the opportunity to contribute insights that may shape the final tender requirements. All answers and correspondence will be used for market sounding purposes only and will be treated confidentially. Any supplier that chooses to not respond to this MEN will not exclude themselves from any subsequent procurement for this workstream. Should an NDA or similar be required, please contact the MEN Customer Contact. Any estimated contract values and contract dates associated with the notice are indicative and do not represent a commitment by UKFE. UKFE's IP Policy: UKFE will own all foreground IP which is developed to deliver the STEP programme, including IP generated in projects with partners. UKFE requires a licence to any partner-owned background IP that is required to use and licence UKFE's foreground IP freely As part of this PME, UKFE 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 UKFE'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 activities included here is illustrative rather than exhaustive, and the nature, extent and timetable of engagement may evolve in line with UKFE's needs.",
                "dueDate": "2026-05-18T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "036257-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036257-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-21T15:53:31+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "041245-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041245-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-05-05T17:25:20+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "PP-UKIFS-597",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Adhesive-less Materials for Vacuum Cryopump Cryopanels (AMVAC)",
        "description": "This Market Engagement Notice (MEN) aim is to identify potential suppliers to develop, test and manufacture anodization and sorbent coating technologies for novel cryopumping systems.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "71323000",
                        "description": "Engineering-design services for industrial process and production"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "71340000",
                        "description": "Integrated engineering services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "71632000",
                        "description": "Technical testing services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "71900000",
                        "description": "Laboratory services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "73100000",
                        "description": "Research and experimental development services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "73110000",
                        "description": "Research services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "73111000",
                        "description": "Research laboratory services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 360000,
            "amount": 300000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-06-14T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2027-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}