---
title: "RAICo Academic Research Theme 2"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05f05f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05f05f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f05f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f05f.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY"
published: "2025-12-08"
---

# RAICo Academic Research Theme 2

Buyer: UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05f05f

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## Summary

The public procurement process highlighted here involves the UK Atomic Energy Authority as the buying organisation, awarding a contract titled "RAICo Academic Research Theme 2" within the research services industry category. The project is situated in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, with a focus on nuclear decommissioning research through the RAICo programme. This procurement has reached the award stage, with the contract awarded to the University of Manchester. The process was conducted using a direct procurement method, justified under the Procurement Act 2023, and was completed as of 8th December 2025. The contract period is scheduled from 17th December 2025 to 31st March 2026.

This tender offers significant opportunities for development within the realm of academic research, particularly for entities possessing unique specialised resources and capabilities. The awarded contract, with a gross value of £1,080,000, underscores the demand for high-level expertise in developing robotic platforms and handling site-specific infrastructure. While this specific award was given without competition due to the unique qualifications of the University of Manchester, similar tenders may benefit small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and third-sector organisations (VCSEs) that can offer specialised services that align with RAICo's strategic objectives in advancing nuclear decommissioning technologies.

## Notice

The Academic Research theme will address research related issues raised by the RAICo Collaboration partners and develop ideas at a low Technical Readiness Level (TRL) to such a point where an initial proof of concept can be developed for further development by the RAICo programme.

### Procurement Information

This Direct Award is justified under Schedule 5, paragraphs 4-6 of the Procurement Act 2023, on the basis that the University of Manchester (UoM) holds unique and bespoke robotic platforms, and site-specific infrastructure developed and deployed during Phase 1 of the RAICo programme. These resources and capabilities are not reasonably available from another supplier. Awarding this contract to a different supplier would require significant duplication of time, cost, and technical development, and would result in material incompatibility with the research tools and demonstrators developed in Phase 1. The University has also embedded research staff and equipment at the RAICo1 facility, and switching suppliers would result in disproportionate onboarding time and loss of embedded institutional knowledge. The work also includes ongoing research and experimental development activities, including design, testing, and validation of new robotic capabilities for nuclear decommissioning. As such, this award also meets the conditions of Schedule 5, paragraphs 2-3, covering services related to prototypes, proof-of-concept demonstrators, and feasibility testing of low-TRL technologies. This combination of prior exclusive capability, and continued R&D work makes UoM the only suitable supplier capable of continuing delivery without unnecessary duplication or delay, in line with the strategic objectives of the RAICo programme

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080447-2025 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Dec 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 8 Dec 2025 |
| Contract period | 17 Dec 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £900,000 |
| 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 ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY |
| Locality | OXFORDSHIRE |
| 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 | UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73110000 - Research services

## Release History

- 8 Dec 2025 at 09:46 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080447-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080447-2025
  8th December 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
- 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-05f05f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f05f.json.