--- title: "Lithium Lead Liquid Metal Manufacture and Testing" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05d484" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05d484" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d484.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d484.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "UK INDUSTRIAL FUSION SOLUTIONS LTD" published: "2025-10-27" --- # Lithium Lead Liquid Metal Manufacture and Testing Buyer: UK INDUSTRIAL FUSION SOLUTIONS LTD Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05d484 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05d484) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d484.json) ## Summary UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd is in the planning stage of a procurement process focused on the title "Lithium Lead Liquid Metal Manufacture and Testing". This initiative falls under the services industry category, particularly involving composition and purity testing and analysis services. The buying organisation, situated at Culham Science Centre in Abingdon, is engaging in a market preliminary engagement (PME) to refine its requirements and inform a future tender. Key dates for this process include the submission of a written questionnaire by 10th November 2025, with further engagement activities such as Q&A sessions projected for the following week. The intended contract period is from 11th January 2026 to 31st March 2026. This process aims to gather insights on developing Lithium Lead compositions for breeder blanket applications and assessing their thermophysical and chemical compatibility. This opportunity represents a significant avenue for growth for businesses with expertise in research and experimental development services, particularly those experienced in composition and analysis services. Companies capable of providing innovative solutions to the challenges outlined, such as structural material impacts and LiPb stability, may stand out in the selection process. Furthermore, the process encourages suppliers to propose alternative delivery approaches, promoting a flexible engagement model and presenting businesses a chance to tailor their offerings to align with UKIFS's ambitious timelines and resource needs. Such engagements can enhance the supplier's profile, lead to future collaborations, and expand their presence in the market for advanced research and development services. ## Notice The following summary is not intended as a complete or definitive specification of the requirement. A purpose of this engagement is to seek information from the market to help refine our understanding and aid the development of a future specification. UKIFS is seeking to understand the possible development of Lithium Lead (LiPb) of varying compositions to for breeder blanket applications. A short-term experimental programme, aimed to address key concerns over thermophysical and chemical compatibility is required. UKIFS would like to assess risks in LiPb stability and phase separation at higher Li contents, as well as understand corrosion effects, with and without non-metallic impurities in the molten metal. This project aims to manufacture and carry out an initial screening assessment of the chemistry and thermophysical properties of LiPb as a function of Li content. The stability of compositions and uptake of impurities will also be quantified. Ingots of lithium lead eutectic of 17, 30, 40 and 50% lithium will be manufactured and characterised. Materials testing, consisting of static or stirred corrosion testing of SiC and steel samples will inform the changes to LiPb properties and impact to structural materials of corrosive reactions. Our aim is to complete Work Packages 1-4 by 31st March 2026 and we acknowledge that the proposed timescale for the delivery of the outlined requirements is ambitious. In recognition of this, we welcome suppliers to provide alternative approaches to delivery, including phased implementation, concurrent work package planning, or other innovative scheduling strategies that may better align with their capabilities and resource availability. All such proposals will be considered as part of the overall assessment process, with a view to achieving the most effective and pragmatic delivery outcome. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: https://ukifs.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Composition-and-purity-testing-and-analysis-services./5U75JGY572 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://ukifs.delta-esourcing.com/respond/5U75JGY572 ### Planning Information This MEN aims to gather information from potential suppliers on solutions and capabilities in relation to the provision of Lithium Lead Liquid Metal Manufacture and Testing. This is not a request for quotation but a preliminary stage to assess the market. The first stage involves a written submission via the questionnaire, which should be returned by 15:00 hrs on 10th November 2025. Any following stages, such as a Q&A session, will be arranged from week commencing 10 November 2025. For the avoidance of doubt: Suppliers who wish to attend a possible Q&A session will need to confirm that they wish to participate by indicating this within the questionnaire and submitting this via Delta as directed. Supplier's who do not to respond to this notice are NOT thereby excluded from any subsequent tender process for this workstream. As part of this PME, UKIFS may carry out a range of activities. These may include, but are not limited to: issuing follow-up questions to suppliers and reviewing their responses; engaging in discussions with suppliers either collectively or individually, such as through webinars or workshops; seeking feedback on proposed requirements; exploring procurement approaches; identifying potentially suitable suppliers; assessing market capacity; and discussing possible contractual terms. PME may also be used to support the development of award criteria and the refinement of tender documentation. Any information provided in this notice, such as CPV codes, estimated contract values, anticipated contract dates and durations, and proposed engagement timelines - are indicative only and based on UKIFS's current understanding. These details may be subject to change. The purpose of PME is to improve our understanding of the market, refine our requirements, and shape our procurement strategy. The list of activities included here is illustrative rather than exhaustive, and the nature, extent and timetable of engagement may evolve in line with UKIFS's needs. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068683-2025 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Dynamic | | Procurement category | Services | | 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 | 27 Oct 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 10 Nov 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 11 Jan 2026 - 31 Mar 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | 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 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 71610000 - Composition and purity testing and analysis services - 71620000 - Analysis services - 73100000 - Research and experimental development services ## Release History - 27 Oct 2025 at 16:05 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068683-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068683-2025 27th October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://ukifs.delta-esourcing.com/respond/5U75JGY572 - https://ukifs.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Composition-and-purity-testing-and-analysis-services./5U75JGY572 - 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-05d484. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d484.json.