---
title: "ICL Open Air Diffusion Bonding"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05a825"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05a825"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a825.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a825.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK INDUSTRIAL FUSION SOLUTIONS LTD"
published: "2025-10-03"
---

# ICL Open Air Diffusion Bonding

Buyer: UK INDUSTRIAL FUSION SOLUTIONS LTD  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05a825

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## Summary

The UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd has completed a procurement process titled "ICL Open Air Diffusion Bonding," focusing on research and development services. Situated at the Culham Science Centre in Abingdon, this central government public authority engaged in a direct award procurement method to further intellectual property related to open air diffusion bonding technology. The procurement, part of a larger framework agreement, involved the supplier Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine located in London. The contract, awarded on the 3rd of October 2025, is set to commence on the 6th of October 2025 and conclude by the 2nd of April 2026.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in innovative manufacturing and industrial applications, particularly those with expertise in large-scale component production and advanced technology development. Companies involved in or capable of engaging in research and development service provisions, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), could find growth potential in participating or collaborating within such frameworks. The nature of the technology being developed eliminates traditional manufacturing constraints, positioning businesses at the forefront of scalable and cost-effective solutions in the industry.

## Notice

Description of services: 7-month project for continuation of technical work that will further the Intellectual Property application related to open air diffusion bonding technology for fusion application. Why it is needed: The open-air diffusion bonding technology presents a unique approach to manufacture of large-scale tungsten components. Unlike both traditional and advanced methods, this technique eliminates the need for vacuum conditions or tightly controlled atmospheres, thereby offering a more scalable and cost-effective solution for industrial applications.

### Procurement Information

A previous contract - the scope of which was to identify and develop a manufacturing method suitable for large-scale tungsten blocks with embedded pipes - was let through a competitive framework (Manufacturing Framework). The framework set-up was 4 Tier 1 suppliers, each with a consortium of Tier 2s and further option of sub-contracting to relevant SMEs according to project scope requirements, set up this way in order to maximise reach to relevant technical offerings. The supplier of the winning bid for this contract was Altrad Babcock, due to the project proposal offered: their bid was to develop the technology and IP that Imperial own and was assessed as the best technical offering. Hence, the contract was awarded (FY24/25, project ref: MFFW034). Imperial hold the technical foundation of knowledge; Altrad Babcock's role in that previous project was Tier 1 project management.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062243-2025 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 3 Oct 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 3 Oct 2025 |
| Contract period | 5 Oct 2025 - 2 Apr 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £220,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK INDUSTRIAL FUSION SOLUTIONS LTD |
| 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 3 Oct 2025 at 14:27 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062243-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062243-2025
  3rd October 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.imperial.ac.uk
- 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-05a825. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a825.json.