Planning

Fusion Plant Controls Partner (FPCP)

UK FUSION ENERGY LTD

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

03 Jun 2026 at 12:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Fusion Energy Ltd is spearheading a procurement initiative titled "Fusion Plant Controls Partner (FPCP)" aimed at the development of a Whole Plant Control System for the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) Power Plant, with the plant located in the UK. The procurement process is currently in the planning stage, with a focus on market engagement to assess possibilities for integrating fusion-specific control systems with conventional ones. The deadline for responding to the Market Engagement Notice is 1st July 2026, with interested parties encouraged to submit responses via the provided eSourcing portal. This initiative falls under the services category, specifically involving engineering and IT services.

This procurement offers significant business growth opportunities, particularly for companies with expertise in engineering, technical support, and IT services related to control systems. Firms specialising in Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) systems, integration support for safety-critical plant control systems, and simulation-led design are well-suited to engage with this opportunity. Companies participating in this early market engagement can not only showcase their capabilities but also potentially influence the future tender framework, contributing to a major project that requires innovative solutions tailored to a first-of-a-kind fusion power plant control system. This could lead to long-term partnerships and involvement in cutting-edge technological advancements in the energy sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Fusion Plant Controls Partner (FPCP)

Notice Description

This MEN aims to gather information from potential suppliers on solutions and capabilities in relation to the provision of a Fusion Plant Controls Partner. This is not a request for quotation but a preliminary stage to assess the market which will assist with assessing market capabilities and shaping specification. 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. UK Fusion Energy Ltd (UKFE) are considering the approach to establishing a Whole Plant Control System for the STEP Power Plant (SPP). In doing so it recognises that this system will be a first of a kind (FOAK) in requiring plant control systems able to manage the unique requirements of fusion, whilst also utilising more conventional plant control systems. To address this UKFE anticipates the need to procure services to develop a definition of fusion plant control, the systems and technology required to achieve this, and integration with conventional plant control infrastructure. UKFE wishes to engage with the market to test its assumptions regarding novelty of the fusion challenge, to understand the current market landscape for the development of this technology, and to test proposals on direction of travel and contracting methodology for achieving an integrated whole plant control system for the SPP. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Engineering-services./D374DT37N4 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/respond/D374DT37N4

Planning Information

For the purposes of this early market engagement, UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) are considering the approach to establishing a Whole Plant Control System for the STEP Power Plant (SPP). In doing so it recognises that this system will be a first of a kind (FOAK) in requiring plant control systems able to manage the unique requirements of fusion, whilst also utilising more conventional plant control systems. To address this UKFE anticipates the need to procure services to develop a definition of fusion plant control, the systems and technology required to achieve this, and integration with conventional plant control infrastructure. UKFE wishes to engage with the market to test its assumptions regarding novelty of the fusion challenge, to understand the current market landscape for the development of this technology, and to test proposals on direction of travel and contracting methodology for achieving an integrated whole plant control system for the SPP. The objective of this Market Engagement is to: Identify viable whole plant control architecture approaches for a FOAK fusion environment. Assess market capability to provide specialist OEM systems and/or integration support for safety-critical plant control systems. Understand approaches to integrating fast physics-based control with conventional industrial control systems. Explore methods for implementing defence-in-depth control and machine protection architectures within integrated plant systems. Assess capability to support simulation-led design, virtual commissioning, and progressive system validation. Understand viable delivery and contracting models, including OEM partnerships, integrator roles, and long-term lifecycle support arrangements; and Inform procurement strategy, including packaging of scope, allocation of responsibilities, and integration governance model. To respond to this MEN, please complete and submit Appendix 1: Questionnaire via the facility in the Delta portal by 5pm the 1st July 2026. Early responses would be appreciated to help inform planning decisions. If you experience any difficulties with the portal, please contact the portal helpdesk helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com cc operationalprocurement.step@ukifs.uk

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ac81
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052374-2026
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

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

71300000 - Engineering services

71356300 - Technical support services

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Jun 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Jul 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
3 Jun 2026 - 1 Jul 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
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

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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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