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UKRI-6168 Liquid Helium & Industrial Gas

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

TenderCancellation

28 Jul 2026 at 12:45

UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Award

02 Jul 2026 at 15:42

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

02 Jul 2026 at 15:33

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) procured liquid helium and industrial gases for delivery directly into its proprietary Dewars. This is a goods requirement covering industrial gas supplies, rather than gas installation, equipment manufacture or general laboratory support. The purchasing organisation is UKRI, a central government research and innovation body based in Swindon, Wiltshire. The requirement relates to UKRI’s operational and research activities, where gases must be supplied in a format compatible with the organisation’s existing proprietary Dewar vessels. The scope therefore suits gas producers, specialist industrial-gas distributors and suppliers able to manage delivery of liquid helium and other industrial gases into customer-owned or proprietary storage equipment. The procurement was arranged as a single requirement, with the supplied goods classified as industrial gases under CPV 24110000.

The procurement reached completion, but the award to Air Liquide UK Ltd was cancelled on 6 July 2026. The stated reason was that the project requirement changed and UKRI no longer needed to proceed with the planned purchase. UKRI used a direct award because competition was considered absent for technical reasons. The cancelled award covered one lot and had a value of £250,000 excluding VAT, or £300,000 including VAT. The planned contract period was 16 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, and the award was dated 2 July 2026. A standstill period was due to end on 14 July 2026, with signature planned for 15 July 2026. Air Liquide UK Ltd was the named supplier, but no contract award remains in force following cancellation.

This procurement demonstrates UKRI demand for specialist liquid helium and industrial-gas supply integrated with proprietary Dewar arrangements. A future competitor would need dependable access to the required gases, suitable filling and delivery processes, and the technical ability to deposit supplies directly into UKRI’s existing vessels without disrupting research operations. Credibility would depend on reliable logistics, safe handling of cryogenic and industrial gases, strong quality controls, and the capacity to support a central-government research organisation. Suppliers should be able to explain how they manage delivery scheduling, vessel compatibility, continuity of supply and operational risks. The direct-award rationale also indicates that technical compatibility and the availability of genuinely suitable alternatives may be decisive when UKRI next reviews this type of requirement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UKRI-6168 Liquid Helium & Industrial Gas

Notice Description

Industrial gas/liquid delivery deposited directly in to proprietary Dewar.

Procurement Information

Competition absence due to technical reasons

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c2ab
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071187-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, 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

24 - Chemical products

CPV Codes

24110000 - Industrial gases

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
2 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
16 Jul 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON, WILTSHIRE
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Air Liquide UK Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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