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UKRI-6349 UPLiFT Refrigerant-based Helium Gas Cooler

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

18 Sep 2026 at 13:34

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research and Innovation, through the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Central Laser Facility, intends to procure a bespoke amplifier-head cooling system. The system will use refrigerant-based cooling technology to provide flexibility and remove reliance on an external coolant supply. The requirement combines the design and manufacture of specialist cooling equipment with engineering design services. The work is categorised as refrigerating equipment, heat-exchange units and engineering design. Delivery is in the United Kingdom. The procurement concerns a single planned requirement, rather than separate packages of equipment or services. Suppliers with experience in designing and building specialised thermal-management systems for scientific, industrial or laser applications are likely to find the subject matter relevant, particularly where they can integrate mechanical, refrigeration and engineering-design expertise.

This procurement is at the planning stage: UKRI has stated an intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender. It expects to use an open procedure for a contract covering one lot. The estimated value is £140,000 excluding VAT and £168,000 including VAT. The planned contract period is 4 January 2027 to 3 January 2028. UKRI expects the next notice to be published on 23 October 2026. Before then, it is conducting voluntary pre-market engagement through a questionnaire, intended to assess supplier interest and the market. Interested suppliers are asked to request and return the questionnaire by 11:00 GMT on 2 October 2026. The requirement is above the applicable threshold, and the planned lot is identified as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs.

The requirement should suit specialist refrigeration, heat-exchange, thermal-management and engineering businesses able to develop a bespoke system rather than supply standard catalogue equipment. Strong candidates are likely to combine refrigeration technology with mechanical and engineering design, prototyping, fabrication, integration and testing capability. Experience of cooling high-performance amplifiers, lasers, scientific instruments or other sensitive industrial equipment would be relevant to the Central Laser Facility’s need. Suppliers should be prepared to demonstrate that their proposed design can operate reliably while reducing dependence on externally supplied coolant. The single lot is explicitly considered suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises, so smaller specialist firms or collaborative teams with the required technical capacity may be well placed to prepare for the future competition.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UKRI-6349 UPLiFT Refrigerant-based Helium Gas Cooler

Notice Description

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Central Laser Facility (CLF) are looking to appoint a supplier who can design and make a bespoke amplifier head cooling system. The system needs to be based on refrigerant based cooling technology to provide flexibility and remove reliance on an external source of coolant supply.

Planning Information

UKRI are requesting that interested suppliers complete a pre-market engagement questionnaire to help determine interest and assess the market for UKRI-6349. Participation in this Pre-Market Engagement exercise is voluntary and will not form part of a formal bid. If you are interested, please email stfcprocurement@ukri.org to receive the pre-market engagement questionnaire and return completed form to the same email address by 11:00 GMT on Friday 2nd October 2026. Ensure you include the following in the subject line of the email: "EOI RFI UKRI-6349 Pre-Market Engagement Questionnaire".

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077574
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088695-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

42 - Industrial machinery

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

42510000 - Heat-exchange units, air-conditioning and refrigerating equipment, and filtering machinery

42511100 - Heat-exchange units

42513200 - Refrigerating equipment

71320000 - Engineering design services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£140,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
23 Oct 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 3 Jan 2028 6-12 months
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 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

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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