---
title: "Small Scale Experiments for Tritium Breeding (SSETB)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04b30f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04b30f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04b30f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04b30f.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY"
published: "2025-02-07"
---

# Small Scale Experiments for Tritium Breeding (SSETB)

Buyer: UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04b30f

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## Summary

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is undertaking a public procurement process for the Small Scale Experiments for Tritium Breeding (SSETB) project. This tender, identified as T/LB161/24, falls under the research and development services category and includes four lots: Solid Lithium Ceramics, Lithium in Liquid Phase, Molten Salt of Lithium, and Digital Simulation and Modelling. The tender primarily targets services in scientific research and development in regions including UKJ14 and UKK. The procurement is in the award stage, with contracts signed on 17 January 2025. Key suppliers include Astral Systems, Lancaster University, Oxford Sigma, University of Birmingham, Kyoto Fusioneering, Tokamak Energy, University of Edinburgh, Amentum Clean Energy Limited, Bangor University - Nuclear Futures Institute, IDOM UK Limited, and the Materials Department of the University of Manchester. The programme aims to address various aspects of Tritium breeding technology through small-scale experiments with a total value of contracts amounting to approximately £15 million GBP.

This tender opens up significant opportunities for businesses, particularly those involved in scientific research and development, material science, and digital simulation. Organisations with expertise in lithium-based technologies, computational science, and fusion energy research stand to benefit the most. SMEs like Astral Systems, along with prominent universities such as Lancaster and Birmingham, and internationally renowned institutions like Kyoto Fusioneering and Tokamak Energy, are among those awarded contracts, showcasing the potential for both small and large enterprises. This procurement promotes innovation and collaboration within the fusion community, encouraging entities to leverage their existing capabilities to support the development of future larger breeder experiments, thus fostering business growth and advancement in the scientific sector.

## Notice

A programme of four scientific experiments in the field of Tritium Breeding.

### Lot Information

Lot 1 Solid lithium ceramics

A research programme to address a critical aspect of the tritium breeding technology based on solid lithium ceramics. Delivery of a small-scale experiment or other project, preferably based on an existing experimental or other capability. Additional information: Refer to the ITT.

Lot 2 Lithium in liquid phase

Aa research programme to address a critical aspect of the tritium breeding technology based on the use of lithium in liquid phase (either as a pure metal or as part of mixture/eutectic) as the breeding material (and potential the tritium carrier medium). Delivery of a small-scale experiment or other project, preferably based on an existing experimental or other capability within your organisation, that could support the fusion community to develop in future larger breeder experiments. Additional information: Refer to the ITT.

Lot 3 Molten salt of lithium

A research programme to address a critical aspect of the tritium breeding technology based on the use of a molten salt of lithium for the breeding and neutron-moderating material. Delivery of a small-scale experiment or other project, preferably based on an existing experimental or other capability within your organisation. Additional information: Refer to the ITT.

Lot 4 Digital Simulation and modelling

A research programme to address a critical aspect of the tritium breeding technology based on the use of Digital Simulation and Modelling of a Neutron Source, the breeding in a range of materials, neutron-moderating materials and geometries pertinent to the three technology families in the above lots. Delivery of a small-scale in-silico experimental project, preferably based on an existing computational science or other capability within your organisation, that could support the fusion community. Additional information: Refer to the ITT.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004133-2025 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 Feb 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 3 Dec 2024 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 17 Jan 2025 |
| Contract period | 9 Jan 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £3,200,000 |
| Lots value | £3,200,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £8,197,826 |

## 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 | TLJ South East (England), TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC, TLK South West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 11 |
| Supplier names | AMENTUM CLEAN ENERGY LIMITED (FORMERLY JACOBS CLEAN ENERGY; ASTRAL SYSTEMS; BANGOR UNIVERSITY - NUCLEAR FUTURES INSTITUTE; IDOM; KYOTO FUSIONEERING; LANCASTER UNIVERSITY; MATERIALS, UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER; OXFORD SIGMA; TOKAMAK ENERGY; UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM; UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 73110000 - Research services
- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
- 73210000 - Research consultancy services

## Release History

- 7 Feb 2025 at 11:31 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004133-2025
- 31 Oct 2024 at 16:19 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035382-2024

## Notice URLs

- http://https://www.amentum.com/
- http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/isu
- http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
- http://www.idom.com
- http://www.oxfordsigma.com
- https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=87218&B=UKAEA
- 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-04b30f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04b30f.json.