Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Palladium Silver Membranes Tensile and Fatigue Testing

UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

23 Oct 2026 at 07:46

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Fusion Energy Ltd commissioned specialist mechanical testing of palladium-silver membrane assemblies to produce design data for their use in hydrogen purification systems for the STEP fuel cycle. The work covers slow strain rate tensile testing and strain-controlled fatigue testing under representative operating conditions, with in-situ hydrogen permeation testing where required. The supplier is responsible for providing suitably equipped laboratory facilities, equipment and technical staff, as well as collecting, analysing and reporting results. Testing takes place at elevated temperatures in pressurised gaseous hydrogen, with outputs including mechanical properties, performance characteristics and comprehensive reports to support engineering assessment, design development and future qualification of the membrane technology. The delivery location is given as the United Kingdom.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to Darvick Ltd on 22 October 2026. The awarded value is £143,500 excluding VAT (£172,200 including VAT). The contract period runs from 1 April to 16 September 2027. This was a single-lot services procurement, described as below threshold. The available process information does not set out a specific procedure or evaluation criteria. The award is active. The procurement required testing and reporting on palladium-silver membrane assemblies, including tensile and fatigue performance under conditions relevant to hydrogen purification; permeation testing was also required where applicable. The contract milestone records a scheduled signature date of 6 November 2026.

For this buyer’s future membrane-testing requirement, credible suppliers will need specialist laboratory capability for safe operation at 400–500 °C in gaseous hydrogen at pressures up to 10 bar. Relevant expertise includes slow strain rate tensile testing, strain-controlled fatigue testing and, where needed, in-situ hydrogen permeation measurements during mechanical loading. The work also calls for technical staff able to analyse mechanical properties and membrane performance, and to produce comprehensive, engineering-ready reports covering methodology, raw and processed data, analysis, observations and conclusions. Suppliers need to demonstrate suitable equipment, quality assurance, full traceability and testing to recognised industry standards or agreed procedures. The successful award shows demand for a focused technical testing service supporting development and qualification of palladium-silver membranes for hydrogen purification, rather than general-purpose laboratory testing.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Palladium Silver Membranes Tensile and Fatigue Testing

Notice Description

he scope of this procurement is to appoint a suitably qualified supplier to undertake a programme of mechanical testing on palladium-silver membrane assemblies to generate design data that supports their application in hydrogen purification systems for the STEP fuel cycle. The supplier shall provide the specialist facilities, equipment, technical expertise, and personnel necessary to conduct slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) testing and strain-controlled fatigue testing under representative operating conditions. Testing shall be carried out at elevated temperatures between 400 degC and 500 degC in gaseous hydrogen at pressures of up to 10 bar. Where required, the supplier shall also undertake in-situ hydrogen permeation testing before and during mechanical loading to assess membrane performance under operational conditions. The supplier shall be responsible for collecting, analysing, and reporting all test data, including the mechanical properties and performance characteristics of the membrane assemblies, and shall provide comprehensive test reports containing the test methodology, raw and processed data, analysis, observations, and conclusions suitable for engineering assessment and future design activities. All testing shall be undertaken using appropriately equipped laboratory facilities capable of safely operating under elevated temperatures and pressurised hydrogen environments, in accordance with recognised industry standards or agreed test procedures, with appropriate quality assurance and full traceability throughout the programme. The outputs from this procurement will provide STEP-relevant mechanical property data to support the development, qualification, and future deployment of palladium-silver membrane technology for hydrogen purification applications.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078e68
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100222-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - unknown
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

71600000 - Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services

71632000 - Technical testing services

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

73110000 - Research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£143,500 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
22 Oct 20265 days ago
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 16 Sep 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
UK Industrial Fusion Solutions 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

Darvick Limited

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...