Award

Supply & Installation of Water Cooling System Components for a relocated Vacuum Furnace

UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

07 May 2026 at 07:57

Award

06 May 2026 at 14:00

Summary of the contracting process

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), located at Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire, has completed a procurement process for the "Supply & Installation of Water Cooling System Components for a relocated Vacuum Furnace." This procurement falls within the goods category, primarily focusing on vacuum and cooling-water pumps, and is aligned with industry needs related to vacuum furnaces. The contract was awarded directly to Busch (UK) Ltd trading as Vacuum Furnace Engineering, acknowledging their exclusive rights due to intellectual property considerations. The award was made on 7th May 2026, with the contract period scheduled from 20th May 2026 to 31st January 2027. This procurement process was conducted as a direct award, reflecting the conditions outlined in the Procurement Act 2023, specifically addressing cases involving exclusive rights held by the supplier.

This procurement process presents business growth opportunities particularly for companies specialising in vacuum and cooling technologies. While Busch (UK) Ltd was selected due to its existing intellectual property and specialised knowledge compatible with UKAEA's requirements, businesses with capabilities in developing complementary systems for cutting-edge scientific facilities might find this sector of interest. Suppliers specialising in advanced components that can integrate with existing systems or offer unique, patented solutions may have a competitive edge in future opportunities as industries evolve within the science and engineering domains, particularly at strategic sites like the Culham Campus.

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Notice Title

Supply & Installation of Water Cooling System Components for a relocated Vacuum Furnace

Notice Description

The UK Atomic Energy Authority has a requirement for the Supply & Installation of Water Cooling System Components for a relocated Vacuum Furnace at its Culham Campus site, Oxfordshire. The requirement must fit with a previously supplied vacuum furnace and operate at the furnace parameters.

Procurement Information

Procurement Act 2023, Schedule 5, Paragraph 5 states a particular supplier having intellectual property rights, or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods and there are no reasonable alternative to those goods. The goods in this requirement are required to conform/work with with goods which are protected by Intellectual Property. As such we are unable to obtain or confirm the details to allow a competitive tender exercise to be undertaken.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069277
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041703-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

42 - Industrial machinery


CPV Codes

42122161 - Cooling-water pumps

42122450 - Vacuum pumps

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£188,150 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 May 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
20 May 2026 - 31 Jan 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BUSCH (UK) LTD TRADING AS VACUUM FURNACE ENGINEERING

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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