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Detailed design and build of a scaled down Fast Acting Low Conductance (FALCON)

United Kingdom Fusion Energy Ltd

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

17 Aug 2026 at 16:38

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

United Kingdom Fusion Energy Ltd is procuring services to provide the detailed design and manufacture of a scaled-down Fast Acting Low Conductance (FALCON) valve prototype for the STEP Prototype Powerplant. The prototype is intended to safeguard proposed exhaust vacuum pumping technology against disruption-mitigation events or sudden, massive air ingress. The scope covers everything within the vacuum gate or isolation-valve casing, including the casing, actuation mechanism and seals needed to maintain valve operation and the vacuum integrity of the process gas line. The valve must be capable of reaching its defined closed position within 37.5 milliseconds. The work combines pressure-control valve manufacture, engineering design and research-and-development design and execution. Delivery is in the United Kingdom.

The procurement has reached tender: the buyer invited offers through an open procedure. The tender is above threshold and has an estimated value of £200,000 excluding VAT, or £240,000 including VAT. The enquiry deadline was 14 September 2026 at 12:00. Offers were due by 18 September 2026 at 12:00, with electronic submission allowed in English. The planned award decision date is 2 October 2026. The single lot has a contract period from 16 October 2026 to 16 October 2027. Evaluation is weighted 60% technical quality, 30% commercial price and 10% social value. This is a services procurement covering the complete prototype design-and-build requirement.

This opportunity suits engineering and manufacturing businesses able to design and build specialist fast-acting valve prototypes for demanding vacuum and process-gas applications. Relevant capability includes mechanical and detailed engineering design, manufacture of valve casings and actuation systems, and development of seals that preserve vacuum integrity while supporting rapid isolation. Suppliers will need the technical capacity to achieve a defined closing response of 37.5 milliseconds and to integrate the prototype as a complete assembly rather than supplying an isolated component. Experience in pressure-control, isolation or safety valves, vacuum systems, disruption mitigation, or research-and-development hardware would be directly relevant. The requirement is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, and includes social-value evaluation alongside technical quality and price.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Detailed design and build of a scaled down Fast Acting Low Conductance (FALCON)

Notice Description

The scope of this work is to provide the detailed design and manufacture of a scaled down Fast Acting Low Conductance valve (FALCON) prototype which will be used to safeguard the proposed exhaust vacuum pumping technology against Disruption mitigation or sudden massive air ingress events for the STEP Prototype Powerplant (SPP). The scope of work includes the detail design and build of a scaled down prototype, which includes everything within the Vacuum Gate/Isolation valve casing (including the casing itself), mainly the actuation mechanism and the seals required to maintain both the operation of the isolation valve and the vacuum integrity of the process gas line. The fast-acting nature of the valve requires it to reach its defined 'close' position within 37.5 ms. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Pressure-reducing%2C-control%2C-check-or-safety-valves./3YG29X64DB To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/respond/3YG29X64DB

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e5f6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078272-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

42 - Industrial machinery

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

42131140 - Pressure-reducing, control, check or safety valves

71320000 - Engineering design services

73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£200,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£200,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
18 Sep 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
16 Oct 2026 - 16 Oct 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
United Kingdom 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

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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