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Insulating Materials Testing

UK Fusion Energy Ltd

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

06 Aug 2026 at 15:07

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Fusion Energy Ltd procured insulating-materials testing for the Materials Testing Framework supporting STEP, its fusion-energy programme. The awarded requirement covered mechanical and thermal testing of magnet materials, with the specific focus on insulating materials. This is a specialist technical testing and research service, combining laboratory test delivery with research and experimental development activity. The work is associated with UK Fusion Energy Ltd at Culham Campus, Abingdon, while the awarded supplier, NPL Management Ltd, is based in Teddington. Businesses relevant to this requirement would typically provide controlled testing of materials used in magnets, generate reliable technical results, and support engineering or research decisions arising from those results. The procurement was structured as a single lot covering the stated testing requirement.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to NPL Management Ltd on 13 February 2026. It used a selective procedure under a framework, with the award made under the framework and without a competitive call-off. The award covers one lot and has a net value of £192,091, or £230,509 including gross value, in GBP. The contract period runs from 7 August 2026 to 24 December 2026. The procurement was above the relevant threshold. The requirement was classified as services, including technical testing services and research and experimental development services. The award is active, and a future contract-signature milestone was scheduled for 6 August 2026.

This award shows demand from UK Fusion Energy Ltd for specialist laboratory services supporting fusion-energy magnet development through STEP. A credible future competitor would need practical capability in mechanical and thermal testing of insulating materials, particularly where materials are used in magnet-related applications. It would also need to turn test activity into technically defensible evidence suitable for engineering, materials and research decisions, rather than offering only general-purpose laboratory analysis. Experience spanning technical testing and research or experimental development would be relevant to the requirement. The successful supplier was an SME, indicating that the work can be delivered by a focused specialist rather than only by a large corporate organisation. Suppliers should also understand how to operate within a public-sector framework arrangement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Insulating Materials Testing

Notice Description

Testing of insulating materials under the Materials Testing Framework for STEP.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06de0d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074844-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Award under framework
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

71632000 - Technical testing services

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£192,091 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Feb 20266 months ago
Contract Period
7 Aug 2026 - 24 Dec 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
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
Postcode Area
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

NPL Management Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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