---
title: "Parabola Refurbishment"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-058275"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-058275"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058275.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058275.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "ATOMIC WEAPONS ESTABLISHMENT"
published: "2025-09-10"
---

# Parabola Refurbishment

Buyer: ATOMIC WEAPONS ESTABLISHMENT  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-058275

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## Summary

The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) is inviting tenders for the refurbishment of its parabola optics system, specifically involving the remanufacture of a short pulse final focusing mirror. This project falls under the industry category of optical instruments and is being conducted as a two-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure. Prospective suppliers can submit expressions of interest until September 26, 2025, with the deadline for initial submissions closing on the same date. The final contract will commence on January 7, 2026, running through to December 14, 2026. The entire procurement process, valued at £640,000, will be administered from AWE's headquarters in Reading, UK, and encompasses delivery zones across several UK regions.

This tender offers significant growth opportunities, particularly for businesses specialising in optical instruments and devices that meet the high technical standards required for central government projects. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that can demonstrate expertise and innovation in optical coatings and mirror refurbishment processes are encouraged to engage in this opportunity. The procurement method focuses on technical quality, cost-effectiveness, and social value, with evaluation criteria inclusively designed to foster competitive bids. Suppliers capable of meeting the stringent technical requirements and offering innovative solutions may leverage this contract to consolidate their market presence in the defence and security sector.

## Notice

Remanufacture of a short pulse final focusing mirror, remove coating, refinish substrate and recoat. Two short pulse beamlines require the use of an off-axis parabola (OAP) as the final focusing optic. Due to the optics proximity to target the surface becomes degraded over time due to target shrapnel and condensate from material vaporization. The optics are 720 mm in diameter and have a specific surface profile and optical coating requirement. They either have a 1 Omega (1053 nm) or 2 Omega (527 nm) high reflectance coating with a specified laser damage threshold at the pulse length of use

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055610-2025 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 10 Sep 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 7 Jan 2026 - 14 Dec 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £640,000 |
| Lots value | £640,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ATOMIC WEAPONS ESTABLISHMENT |
| Locality | READING |
| Post town | Reading |
| Postcode | RG7 4PR |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ16 Berkshire West |
| Local authority | West Berkshire |
| Electoral ward | Aldermaston |
| Westminster constituency | Reading West and Mid Berkshire |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 38600000 - Optical instruments

## Release History

- 10 Sep 2025 at 17:00 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055610-2025
- 6 Aug 2025 at 12:23 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046518-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055610-2025
  10th September 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046518-2025
  6th August 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-058275. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058275.json.