---
title: "UKRI-5351 Large Vacuum chamber for Vulcan 20-20 Target Area-1"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05dc72"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05dc72"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05dc72.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05dc72.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)"
published: "2025-11-07"
---

# UKRI-5351 Large Vacuum chamber for Vulcan 20-20 Target Area-1

Buyer: UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05dc72

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## Summary

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) is in the planning stage for a public procurement titled "UKRI-5351 Large Vacuum chamber for Vulcan 20-20 Target Area-1". This procurement falls under the goods category and relates to laboratory, optical, and precision equipment, specifically parts of vacuum pumps. The project is part of the development of the Central Laser Facility's new high-power laser system, Vulcan 20-20. The procurement process is scheduled to involve Supplier Engagement Sessions at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) in Oxfordshire during the week commencing 24th November 2025. Suppliers are invited to confirm attendance by 12pm on 21st November 2025. The main delivery location is in the region of UKJ14, United Kingdom.

This procurement presents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in the design and manufacture of high-specification laboratory equipment and vacuum technologies to contribute to an innovative research facility. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly encouraged to participate. The procurement process allows businesses to showcase their unique capabilities and technical solutions, potentially leading to a contract for supplying the required equipment valued at £1,500,000 to £1,800,000 GBP. Engaging in this project will position businesses within an emerging field critical to cutting-edge scientific research and development.

## Notice

The Central Laser Facility (CLF) is developing a new high-power laser system, Vulcan 20-20, to support cutting-edge research in fundamental physics. The facility will enable experiments simulating extreme astrophysical conditions, particle acceleration, radiation generation, and fusion energy research. These experiments will take place within a custom-built vacuum chamber designed to support high-power, high-energy laser interactions under controlled conditions. The chamber must meet stringent vacuum, structural, and safety requirements to ensure reliable and safe operation.

### Planning Information

UKRI-STFC with be holding individual Supplier Engagement Sessions at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) in Oxfordshire on the week commencing 24th November 2025. The session will last no more than 2 hours and a maximum of two attendees from each supplier organisation to register for the session. The sessions will start at either 10am UK Time or 2pm UK Time. UKRI-STFC is flexible on having a meeting online or meeting onsite at RAL. If you are planning to be onsite arrival time to be 9:30am for 10 AM meeting and 1:30pm for 2:00 PM meeting.
The purpose of these discussions is to gain a clearer understanding of supplier capabilities, potential technical approaches, indicative costs, and any challenges or opportunities that could inform the final specification and tender documentation. The same information will be given to all suppliers who attend a session.
To book onto the Supplier Engagement Session, please submit the names, email addresses, contact phone numbers, whether your perference is online or in person and vehicle registrations (if attending onsite) to the following email address: STFCprocurement@ukri.org, with the subject in the email being UKRI-5351 Vacuum chamber for Vulcan 20-20 Target Area-1-Supplier Engagement Session
Please can you also confirm a preferred date and time on the week of 24th November, and we will try and accommodate. Please confirm your attendance no later than 12pm (noon) on Friday 21st November. If you are planning to attend the meeting onsite you should bring photo ID with you to RAL otherwise you may not be allowed on site. The full address is; Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX.
If you would like to review an overview of the project before registering for the supplier event to determine whether this requirement is suitable for you, please email stfcprocurement@ukri.org with the subject line: UKRI-5351 Vacuum chamber for Vulcan 20-20 Target Area-1 -Project overview document.”

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071909-2025 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 Nov 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 13 Feb 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 14 May 2026 - 16 Oct 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,500,000 |
| 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 RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI) |
| Locality | SWINDON, WILTSHIRE |
| Post town | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN2 1FL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Rodbourne Cheney |
| Westminster constituency | Swindon North |
| Delivery location | TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 42124320 - Parts of vacuum pumps

## Release History

- 7 Nov 2025 at 10:28 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071909-2025
- 7 Nov 2025 at 10:18 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071904-2025
- 7 Nov 2025 at 10:17 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071903-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071909-2025
  7th November 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071904-2025
  7th November 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071903-2025
  7th November 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

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

## 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-05dc72. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05dc72.json.