Planning

Test Operations Partner - West Burton Region

UNITED KINGDOM FUSION ENERGY LTD

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 May 2026 at 16:15

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process is currently in the planning stage for a tender initiated by United Kingdom Fusion Energy Ltd, located at Culham Campus, Abingdon. The tender, titled "Test Operations Partner – West Burton Region," falls under the engineering services industry category. It involves setting up an operational facility to support various high-priority test activities and is expected to be located near the West Burton Power plant site. Interested parties are required to respond to a questionnaire by 17:00 on 19th June 2026, with planning decisions to be informed by these responses. The engagement aims to understand market capabilities and to shape future procurement activities.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in engineering services, infrastructure consultancy services, and test and evaluation. Companies with expertise in managing complex test environments, particularly those involving novel cooling cycles, superconducting magnets, and high-power microwaves, would be well-suited to compete. Additionally, businesses that can adapt to operational risks such as hazardous voltages and high magnetic fields using digital tools for spatial coordination will find substantial growth potential in collaborating with UK Fusion Energy Ltd. This engagement not only represents a chance to work on cutting-edge fusion energy projects but also allows businesses to establish partnerships within an evolving market sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Test Operations Partner - West Burton Region

Notice Description

A single operational facility will be stood up to facilitate high priority test activities. This facility is likely to be an existing commercial lease unit. Enabling initial operations to occur, with a later migration to bespoke buildings in 2-4 years' time, these will be located on or close to the West Burton Power plant site - a repurposed Coal Fired Power station site, that will accommodate the novel Prototype Fusion Power Plant being delivered by STEP. The tests that will be accommodated in this facility will involve many FOAK physical test rigs comprising of; Scaled Superconducting Magnets Testing, High Power Microwave Testing, Novel Cooling Cycle testing through high temperature turbo machinery, Control Room simulator and other smaller activities. Each will have its own complexities and operational risks/hazards that must be managed appropriately (including but not limited to: Hazardous Voltages, Pressurised Systems, Flammable substances, Cryogenics, High Magnetic fields/ Radiofrequency energy, (note that no radioactive testing is planned in this facility at this initial site). Co-ordinating of these activities is crucial for programme success, using digital tools / BIMS for space allocation etc. Please find more information within the attachment. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Culham:-Engineering-services./C5FWZYGQXZ To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/respond/C5FWZYGQXZ

Planning Information

To respond to this PMEN, please complete and submit Appendix 1: Questionnaire via the e-supply portal by 17:00 on 19th June 2026. Early responses would be appreciated to help inform planning decisions. If you experience any difficulties with the portal, please contact the portal helpdesk uksupport@eu-supply.com cc operationalprocurement.step@ukifs.uk Information obtained from responses to Appendix 1: Questionnaire will help UKFE understand current market capabilities and shape the scope, direction, and design of the future procurement activities. UKFE may follow up with the Questionnaire responses with a virtual Q&A with all interested parties. The details of this session will be provided at the later stage.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a23f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048275-2026
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

71300000 - Engineering services

71311300 - Infrastructure works consultancy services

73430000 - Test and evaluation

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 May 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
19 Jun 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
22 May 2026 - 19 Jun 2026 30 days
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
UNITED KINGDOM 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
CULHAM
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

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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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