Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

T/HR061/26 Tooling and Storage Tender for ESS (Sweden)

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

29 Sep 2026 at 12:03

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

14 Aug 2026 at 18:01

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The UK Atomic Energy Authority bought a set of six storage devices for remotely operated tooling at the European Spallation Source’s Active Cell Facility in Lund, Sweden. The equipment is intended to store tools used to remotely handle and size-reduce highly radioactive components inside the facility’s Active Cells. The required items are a Shaft Cutting Station support plate storage device; a Proton Beam Window strongback and deployable camera stand storage device; a Modular Wall Storage device with bolting tool caddies; a chain storage device; storage containers; and a cable spooling tool. The supplier’s work covers manufacture, assembly, testing and delivery to Sweden. Testing includes mechanical static checks, functional testing and structural testing under the factory acceptance test plan. The goods are lifting and handling equipment and specialist machinery.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to NORTEMECANICA, a Spanish supplier. The award was made on 28 September 2026, with a contract period from 12 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. The awarded value is £100,000 excluding VAT (£120,000 including VAT). UKAEA ran an open competition below the public procurement threshold. The requirement was handled as a single lot. Two bids were received, both from small and medium-sized enterprises. The tender required suppliers to have CDP registration. The evaluation criteria are set out in the tender pack. The award is active; a contract signature was scheduled for 9 October 2026. The tender allowed electronic submissions, and the contract could be extended by agreement subject to the factory acceptance test result.

For suppliers looking to compete when UKAEA next buys tooling storage for the ESS Active Cell Facility, the award demonstrates demand for a complete, engineered package rather than off-the-shelf storage alone. A credible competitor would need to manufacture and assemble multiple specialist storage devices and tooling components, verify mechanical performance and function, complete structural testing against a factory acceptance plan, and arrange delivery to Sweden. The requirement is suitable for an SME, and the competition attracted two SME bids, showing that this scale of specialist manufacturing was accessible to smaller suppliers. CDP registration was a participation requirement. Experience in lifting and handling equipment, precision fabrication, test planning and delivery of equipment for remote operation in highly radioactive environments would be relevant to demonstrating capability against this buyer’s requirement.»

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

T/HR061/26 Tooling and Storage Tender for ESS (Sweden)

Notice Description

The European Spallation Source (ESS) is a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) committed to the goal of building and operating the world leading facility for research using neutrons. Once constructed in Lund, Sweden, it will provide new opportunities for researchers in a broad range of scientific areas including life sciences, energy, environmental technology, cultural heritage, and fundamental physics. It will be an accelerator-based facility producing neutrons for a large array of advanced instruments. The UK is a partner in construction of the ESS alongside 15 other European countries and has committed significant funding for construction. The Science and Technology Facility Council (STFC) is managing the UK contribution to ESS. The Active Cell Facility is one such contribution to be delivered by Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE) -- a department of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) (the 'Purchaser'). Inside the Active Cells exhausted, highly radioactive parts involved in the neutron generation will be size reduced using remote handling technologies and removed for confinement. UKAEA are undertaking delivery of the Tooling Storage System, comprising six storage devices designed to house remotely operated tooling within the Active Cells. The scope of this tender is to manufacture, assemble, test and deliver to Sweden the following items: Shaft Cutting Station (SCS) Support Plate Storage Device Proton Beam Window (PBW) Strongback and Deployable Camera Stand (DCS) Storage Device Modular Wall Storage (MWS) Device, including Bolting Tool Caddies Chain Storage Device Storage Containers Cable Spooling Tool Testing shall include mechanical static checks, functional testing, and structural testing in accordance with the FAT plan.

Lot Information

Lot LOT-0000

Renewal: If agreed and subject to FAT result

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e517
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091798-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

42 - Industrial machinery

CPV Codes

42410000 - Lifting and handling equipment

42900000 - Miscellaneous general and special-purpose machinery

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
11 Sep 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
28 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
12 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 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
United Kingdom 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
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

Nortemecanica SA

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...