Notice Information
Notice Title
for the completion of the Integrated Control & Safety System (ICSS) for the H3AT Tritium Facility at Culham
Notice Description
Scope of supply is for the continued design development, procurement, manufacture, testing, installation and verification activities for the H3AT Integrated Control and Safety System (ICS).
Procurement Information
This notice provides transparency of UKAEA's intention to award a contract to Bilfinger UK Limited (BUK) for the completion of the Integrated Control & Safety System (ICSS) for the H3AT Tritium Facility at Culham. The ICSS scope forms a critical part of the H3AT facility, covering the design finalisation, manufacture, installation, testing and commissioning of the control, interlock and safety systems required to safely operate the tritium plant. BUK was originally engaged as a specialist subcontractor under a wider contract with a previous main contractor (DBD), with direct responsibility for delivering the ICSS scope. Following the termination of the DBD contract, the ICSS works remain partially complete (approximately 50%) and have been significantly progressed by BUK. UKAEA intends to award a direct contract to BUK to complete the remaining works for the following reasons: * Proprietary Know-How & Design Continuity The ICSS design, software configuration, control architecture, and technical associated documentation have been uniquely developed and partially implemented by BUK, and are specific to their proprietary systems, tooling, and engineering approach. * Safety & Technical Risk Assumption : A change of supplier would require a third party to assume legal and technical liability to take over, reinterpret, and revalidate partially completed design and safety-critical systems, including Safety Integrity Level (SIL )-rated elements, which would introduce material technical and programme risk that cannot be mitigated by an alternative party * System Incompatibility: The ICSS must seamlessly integrate with existing plant systems and previously installed components already delivered by BUK. Substituting the supplier at this stage introduces in incompatibility risks across hardware, software, interfaces and safety validation activities. * Disproportionate Duplication & Rework: Replacement of BUK would lead to significant and wasteful rework, duplication of design assurance and testing, and potential invalidation of completed Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and statutory safety lifecycle deliverables. * Operational Hardship: These impacts would create disproportionate technical and operational difficulties, particularly in relation to safety assurance, system integration, and commissioning of a nuclear-grade system integration and final commissioning of the facility. On this basis, UKAEA considers that: * The proposed contract represents a partial continuation and completion of existing works by the original delivery party, and * Changing supplier would result in incompatible outcomes void existing warranties/assurances and cause disproportionate technical difficulties in operation and maintenance. The proposed direct award is therefore justified in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, Schedule 5, Clause 7 (a) and (b). In addition, due to the unique level of system integration, the proprietary nature of the partially completed design, and BUK's ownership of detailed implementation knowledge, there is an absence of alternatives who can complete the works without significant risk to the facility's safety case, delay, and substantial duplication of cost, further supporting reliance on Schedule 5 provisions.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-06c27d
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062313-2026
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK5 - Transparency Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Direct
- Procurement Method Details
- Direct award
- Tender Suitability
- Not specified
- Awardee Scale
- Large
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
-
- CPV Codes
45315100 - Electrical engineering installation works
71320000 - Engineering design services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- Not specified
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- £3,250,000 £1M-£10M
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 2 Jul 20261 weeks ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- 2 Jul 20261 weeks ago
- Contract Period
- 31 Jul 2026 - 28 Apr 2028 1-2 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Complete
- Awards Status
- Pending
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
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
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062313-2026
2nd July 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
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-06c27d-2026-07-02T14:27:37+01:00",
"date": "2026-07-02T14:27:37+01:00",
"ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06c27d",
"initiationType": "tender",
"parties": [
{
"id": "GB-PPON-PLJV-1169-JTDD",
"name": "UK Atomic Energy Authority",
"identifier": {
"scheme": "GB-PPON",
"id": "PLJV-1169-JTDD"
},
"address": {
"streetAddress": "Culham Science Centre",
"locality": "Oxfordshire",
"postalCode": "OX14 3DB",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom",
"region": "UKJ14"
},
"contactPoint": {
"name": "James Phillpott",
"email": "James.Phillpott@ukaea.uk"
},
"roles": [
"buyer"
],
"details": {
"url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority",
"classifications": [
{
"id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
"scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
"description": "Public authority - central government"
}
]
}
},
{
"id": "GB-PPON-PWRZ-9254-NNBJ",
"name": "Bilfinger UK Limiited",
"identifier": {
"scheme": "GB-PPON",
"id": "PWRZ-9254-NNBJ"
},
"address": {
"streetAddress": "Wilson House, Kelburn Court, Birchwood",
"locality": "Warrington",
"postalCode": "WA3 6UT",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom",
"region": "UKD61"
},
"contactPoint": {
"email": "rob.taylor@bilfinger.com"
},
"roles": [
"supplier"
],
"details": {
"scale": "large",
"vcse": false
}
}
],
"buyer": {
"id": "GB-PPON-PLJV-1169-JTDD",
"name": "UK Atomic Energy Authority"
},
"tender": {
"id": "JP-ICS-001",
"legalBasis": {
"id": "2023/54",
"scheme": "UKPGA",
"uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
},
"title": "for the completion of the Integrated Control & Safety System (ICSS) for the H3AT Tritium Facility at Culham",
"description": "Scope of supply is for the continued design development, procurement, manufacture, testing, installation and verification activities for the H3AT Integrated Control and Safety System (ICS).",
"status": "complete",
"procurementMethod": "direct",
"procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
"procurementMethodRationale": "This notice provides transparency of UKAEA's intention to award a contract to Bilfinger UK Limited (BUK) for the completion of the Integrated Control & Safety System (ICSS) for the H3AT Tritium Facility at Culham. The ICSS scope forms a critical part of the H3AT facility, covering the design finalisation, manufacture, installation, testing and commissioning of the control, interlock and safety systems required to safely operate the tritium plant. BUK was originally engaged as a specialist subcontractor under a wider contract with a previous main contractor (DBD), with direct responsibility for delivering the ICSS scope. Following the termination of the DBD contract, the ICSS works remain partially complete (approximately 50%) and have been significantly progressed by BUK. UKAEA intends to award a direct contract to BUK to complete the remaining works for the following reasons: * Proprietary Know-How & Design Continuity The ICSS design, software configuration, control architecture, and technical associated documentation have been uniquely developed and partially implemented by BUK, and are specific to their proprietary systems, tooling, and engineering approach. * Safety & Technical Risk Assumption : A change of supplier would require a third party to assume legal and technical liability to take over, reinterpret, and revalidate partially completed design and safety-critical systems, including Safety Integrity Level (SIL )-rated elements, which would introduce material technical and programme risk that cannot be mitigated by an alternative party * System Incompatibility: The ICSS must seamlessly integrate with existing plant systems and previously installed components already delivered by BUK. Substituting the supplier at this stage introduces in incompatibility risks across hardware, software, interfaces and safety validation activities. * Disproportionate Duplication & Rework: Replacement of BUK would lead to significant and wasteful rework, duplication of design assurance and testing, and potential invalidation of completed Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and statutory safety lifecycle deliverables. * Operational Hardship: These impacts would create disproportionate technical and operational difficulties, particularly in relation to safety assurance, system integration, and commissioning of a nuclear-grade system integration and final commissioning of the facility. On this basis, UKAEA considers that: * The proposed contract represents a partial continuation and completion of existing works by the original delivery party, and * Changing supplier would result in incompatible outcomes void existing warranties/assurances and cause disproportionate technical difficulties in operation and maintenance. The proposed direct award is therefore justified in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, Schedule 5, Clause 7 (a) and (b). In addition, due to the unique level of system integration, the proprietary nature of the partially completed design, and BUK's ownership of detailed implementation knowledge, there is an absence of alternatives who can complete the works without significant risk to the facility's safety case, delay, and substantial duplication of cost, further supporting reliance on Schedule 5 provisions.",
"lots": [
{
"id": "LOT-0000",
"status": "complete"
}
],
"documents": [
{
"id": "conflictOfInterest",
"documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
"description": "Not published"
}
],
"procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
{
"id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
}
]
},
"awards": [
{
"id": "1",
"status": "pending",
"value": {
"amountGross": 3900000,
"amount": 3250000,
"currency": "GBP"
},
"mainProcurementCategory": "services",
"aboveThreshold": true,
"suppliers": [
{
"id": "GB-PPON-PWRZ-9254-NNBJ",
"name": "Bilfinger UK Limiited"
}
],
"items": [
{
"id": "LOT-0000",
"additionalClassifications": [
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "71320000",
"description": "Engineering design services"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "45315100",
"description": "Electrical engineering installation works"
}
],
"deliveryAddresses": [
{
"region": "UK",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
}
],
"relatedLot": "LOT-0000"
}
],
"contractPeriod": {
"startDate": "2026-07-31T00:00:00Z",
"endDate": "2028-04-28T23:59:59+01:00"
},
"relatedLots": [
"LOT-0000"
],
"documents": [
{
"id": "062313-2026",
"documentType": "awardNotice",
"noticeType": "UK5",
"description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
"url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062313-2026",
"datePublished": "2026-07-02T14:27:37+01:00",
"format": "text/html"
}
],
"milestones": [
{
"id": "1",
"type": "futureSignatureDate",
"dueDate": "2026-07-22T23:59:59+01:00",
"status": "scheduled"
}
]
}
],
"language": "en"
}