---
title: "New Cutting Capability"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04d534"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04d534"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d534.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d534.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "NATIONAL NUCLEAR LABORATORY LIMITED"
published: "2025-01-22"
---

# New Cutting Capability

Buyer: NATIONAL NUCLEAR LABORATORY LIMITED  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04d534

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## Summary

The National Nuclear Laboratory Limited (UKNNL) is planning to procure three diamond wire CNC cutting machines as part of its "New Cutting Capability" project, classified under the industrial machinery category (CPV: 42000000). This procurement, situated at the Windscale Laboratory in Cumbria (region: UKD), is currently in the planning stage. Essential dates for early market engagement have been set between 3rd February and 7th March 2025. Businesses interested in this tender are encouraged to contact Sarah Walton via email at Sarah.Walton@uknnl.com referencing NNLC547 NCC to register their interest and receive updates. The total estimated contract value is £800,000 GBP.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for suppliers specialising in the manufacture and remote operation of CNC machines. The project requires equipment capable of handling the precise cutting of specialised materials, including irradiated austenitic stainless steels, zirconium alloys, and composites. Businesses with expertise in designing remotely controlled machinery and those experienced with remote maintenance using master-slave manipulators (MSMs) are well-suited to compete. Additionally, the supplier will be tasked with providing design, manufacturing, and functional acceptance testing (FAT) stages, creating ample opportunities for companies that can offer comprehensive technical solutions. This procurement process will facilitate broader engagement and innovation within the CNC cutting machinery sector.

## Notice

United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) intends to purchase three Diamond wire CNC cutting machines which will be situated within caves at UKNNL Windscale Laboratory to produce samples cut from zirconium, hafnium and zirconium composite plates. As a review of the strategy is undertaken, we are conducting an early market engagement between the following dates: 3rd February & 7th March 2025. To register your interest and receive future updates for this tender, please send an email to Sarah.Walton@uknnl.com referencing NNLC547 NCC.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) intends to purchase three Diamond wire CNC cutting machines which will be situated within caves at UKNNL Windscale Laboratory to produce samples (ranging from 6 x 6 mm to 60 x 10mm) cut from irradiated austenitic stainless steels, zirconium and hafnium alloys and a zirconium/hafnium composite with ceramic inclusions. Plate nominal dimensions are 120 x 100mm (LxW) and ranging from 2-10 mm thick. As the equipment is situated in-cave with no man access possible, any manual operations or maintenance, including the replacement of the diamond wire, will need to be carried out remotely using Master Slave Manipulators (MSM). The machines will be required to cut 500 to 1000 samples over a ten-year period. The supplier will be required to supply: * Remotely operated in-cave 2 axis CNC controlled diamond wire saw. * Out of cave control system including software. * Set of umbilical cables to connect the in-cave right to the out of cave control system. The works contract is compiled of the following stages: * Design stages (Preliminary and Detailed) * Manufacturing and FAT Testing using inactive surrogate materials provided free issue by UKNNL. As a review of the strategy is undertaken, we are conducting an early market engagement between the following dates: 3rd February & 7th March 2025. To register your interest and receive future updates for this tender, please send an email to Sarah.Walton@uknnl.com referencing NNLC547 NCC

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002101-2025 |
| Notice type | Planning Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 22 Jan 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 3 Aug 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £800,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NATIONAL NUCLEAR LABORATORY LIMITED |
| Locality | SEASCALE |
| Post town | Carlisle |
| Postcode | CA20 1PG |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD1 Cumbria |
| ITL 3 | TLD13 Cumberland |
| Local authority | Cumberland |
| Electoral ward | Gosforth |
| Westminster constituency | Whitehaven and Workington |
| Delivery location | TLD North West (England) |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 42 - Industrial machinery

### Codes

- 42000000 - Industrial machinery
- 42600000 - Machine tools
- 42900000 - Miscellaneous general and special-purpose machinery

## Release History

- 22 Jan 2025 at 08:46 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002101-2025

## Notice URLs

- https://uknnl.com/

## 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-04d534. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d534.json.