---
title: "SBRI FIP Challenge Application"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02e239"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02e239"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02e239.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02e239.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY"
published: "2021-09-17"
---

# SBRI FIP Challenge Application

Buyer: UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02e239

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## Summary

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is conducting a tender titled "SBRI FIP Challenge Application" focused on research and experimental development services within the fusion energy sector. The procurement process is currently in the "Award" stage, with contracts related to two main themes: one aimed at accelerating fusion power plant design through advanced digital tools and another focused on reducing fuel requirements for fusion power plants. Key dates include the tender's initiation on 17th September 2021, and various contract awards signed on 27th August 2021, with a designated location in the UK (Culham Science Centre, Abingdon).

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses engaged in innovative technologies related to energy and research consultancy services. Companies with expertise in artificial intelligence, digital engineering solutions, and hydrogen isotope handling technologies would find this procurement particularly appealing. The initiative encourages SMEs and larger research institutions, such as universities and technology firms, to collaborate on cutting-edge projects that align with the UK’s energy goals, potentially leading to significant growth and commercialisation prospects in the fusion energy field.

## Notice

This is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition funded by the UK Atomic Energy Authority. The aim of the competition is to develop solutions to fusion energy challenges in two key priority areas. This competition has two themes: Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for hydrogen isotopes This is phase 1 of a potential 2 phase competition. A decision to proceed with phase 2 will depend on the outcomes from phase 1 and assessment of a separate application into a subsequent phase 2 competition. Only successful applicants from phase 1 will be able to apply to take part in phase 2. Applicants for phase 2 will need to apply directly to the UK Atomic Energy Authority.

### Lot Information

Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools

A Pre-commercial Procurement Activity 1.Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools To meet Net Zero targets, there is not enough time for traditional Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) approach for fusion power plants. Increasing emphasis will be placed upon emerging innovation from in silico engineering design: Exascale artificial Intelligence era Digital Thread platform beyond current Product Lifecycle Management endures for the lifetime of the product (100 years) low-code time efficient scalable enable and promote automation enable design integration Optimise the extraction of information and knowledge from experiment and simulation Text update 19 May 2021: we have changed the detail below to clarify what we are looking for in applications. data science for experiment and simulation automation and optimisation decisions based upon all prior data rather than tacit knowledge dramatically improve extraction of information from data surrogate models and emulators improve extrapolation of simulation and empirical data Additional information: https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/925/overview#summary

Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for hydrogen isotopes

A Pre-commercial procurement activity 2. Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for Hydrogen isotopes Tritium is a radioactive isotope with a half-life of around 12 years, because of this natural reserves are scarce. Developing techniques for safely and efficiently managing hydrogen isotopes is an essential step in the path to making fusion a commercial energy source, for example: Hydrogen Isotope Separation Technologies improving efficiency of tritium and hydrogen systems (e.g. pumps, sealants, inner loop) waste management and decommissioning development of on-line Tritium production measurement (e.g. Raman spectroscopy) tracking and location of hydrogen, e.g. Atom probe tomography, Raman spectroscopy Additional information: https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/925/overview#scope

### Procurement Information

This was a pre-commercial procurement activity lead by Innovate UK. All information relating to the tender can be found here : https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/925/overview#summary. An open, transparent and fair procurement process was still adhered to despite this RTM falling outside of PCR15.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023238-2021 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 17 Sep 2021 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 24 Sep 2020 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £2,322,059 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY |
| Locality | ABINGDON |
| Post town | Oxford |
| Postcode | OX14 3DB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC |
| Local authority | South Oxfordshire |
| Electoral ward | Sandford & the Wittenhams |
| Westminster constituency | Didcot and Wantage |
| Delivery location | TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 15 |
| Supplier names | AQSORPTION; ASSYSTEM ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE; CAE TECH; CAGECAPTURE; CORPORATE RISK ASSOSCIATES; FIRST LIGHT FUSION; FULL MATRIX; GENCOA; HYBIRD; IDOM (UK; IS-INSTRUMENTS; JACOBS CLEAN ENERGY; SLINGSHOT SIMULATIONSLTD; THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER; UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73100000 - Research and experimental development services
- 73210000 - Research consultancy services

## Release History

- 17 Sep 2021 at 16:08 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023238-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
- https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/925/overview#scope
- https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/925/overview#summary
- https://uk.eu-supply.com/ctm/Company/CompanyInformation/Index/72814
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02e239. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02e239.json.