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Hot Cells integration

UK Atomic Energy Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

21 Aug 2026 at 17:01

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The UK Atomic Energy Authority intends to procure services to integrate the MRF Hot Cell bank so that three older hot cells and two newer hot cells operate under a single nuclear-relevant ventilation system. The work combines systems integration and design planning with testing and measurement equipment, industrial process-control and remote-control equipment, and nuclear evaluation instruments. It is relevant to engineering consultancies, specialist systems integrators and suppliers of nuclear, ventilation, control or testing systems. Delivery is across the United Kingdom. The buyer is the UK Atomic Energy Authority, based at Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire. The requirement concerns a technically integrated operating system for a group of hot cells, rather than routine building services or general mechanical installation.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the Authority has stated its intention to procure, but has not yet invited tenders. The Authority plans preliminary market engagement, with engagement scheduled for 18 September 2026, and expects a subsequent notice on 21 December 2026. The anticipated contract period is 8 March 2027 to 10 March 2028. The procurement is above the relevant threshold and is planned as a services contract under an open competition, with one lot. The sole lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The recorded gross value is £0. The planning information does not set out an award basis, participation requirements or detailed tender procedure; suppliers should use the engagement stage to understand and influence the developing requirement.

The work is likely to suit suppliers with proven nuclear engineering, hot-cell, radioactive-environment or nuclear ventilation experience, particularly firms able to integrate legacy and new equipment into one safety-critical system. Strong candidates are likely to combine design and systems-integration capability with practical knowledge of ventilation, testing and measurement, industrial process control, remote operation and nuclear evaluation instrumentation. Experience of commissioning, validating and operating equipment in regulated nuclear environments would be relevant, as would the ability to manage interfaces between existing assets, new installations and control systems. The Authority has marked the single lot as suitable for SMEs, so specialist smaller businesses may be well placed to prepare, either as lead suppliers or as technically focused partners in wider delivery teams.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Hot Cells integration

Notice Description

The MRF Hot Cell bank comprises 3 old, and 2 new, hot cells. These must be integrated to operate under a single nuclear-relevant ventilation system.

Planning Information

https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=108469&TID=100113531&B=

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e9f7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080096-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

38540000 - Machines and apparatus for testing and measuring

38800000 - Industrial process control equipment and remote-control equipment

38940000 - Nuclear evaluation instruments

71243000 - Draft plans (systems and integration)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Aug 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
21 Dec 20264 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
8 Mar 2027 - 10 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
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
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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