--- title: "Vapour-Phase Electrolysis Design and Development" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-067fdc" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-067fdc" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067fdc.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067fdc.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "UK FUSION ENERGY LTD" published: "2026-05-08" --- # Vapour-Phase Electrolysis Design and Development Buyer: UK FUSION ENERGY LTD Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-067fdc [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-067fdc) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067fdc.json) ## Summary UK Fusion Energy Ltd is currently engaging in the planning stage of a procurement process for the Vapour-Phase Electrolysis Design and Development project, operating from the Culham Science Centre in Abingdon, United Kingdom. The organisation is focused within the public undertaking category and intends to gather information from potential suppliers regarding their solutions and capabilities to refine specifications for a future tender. The preliminary market engagement notice has a scheduled due date of 18 May 2026, and this falls within the engineering design and research services industry. The opportunity offers an indicative contract value of up to £156,250 and is planned to commence on 31 August 2026, concluding by 19 March 2027. Key aspects include the creation of a prototype electrolyser suitable for operation in a nuclear environment. This procurement process provides significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in electrochemical systems, mechanical design, and process optimisation. Companies with expertise in simulation and modelling of vapour-phase electrolysis and capable of innovating technologies like solid oxide ceramic, protonic ceramic, or molten carbonate cells may find this tender particularly suitable. By participating in the preliminary market engagement, businesses can influence the tender requirements, ensuring alignment with industry capacity and capability, thereby boosting their potential for successful collaboration and contract acquisition with UK Fusion Energy Ltd. ## 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. UKFE is seeking to develop a prototype electrolyser for decomposing a vapour phase feed of water in helium. Prototype development supports the longer-term information of electrolysis technology in the STEP prototype fusion power plant. This MEN pertains to phase 1 of the prototype development: concept design. Concept design will be carried out with the aim to support future additional contracts pertaining to manufacturing, assembly and testing. UKFE are seeking to identify industry appetite and capabilities for the provision of an electrolyser prototype design. Capabilities may include expertise in electrochemical systems, modelling and simulation, optimisation, mechanical design and process design. Any electrolysis technology capable of decomposing vapour-phase water diluted by helium is applicable to this market engagement notice. These technologies may include, but are not limited to, solid oxide ceramic cells, protonic ceramic cells or molten carbonate cells electrolytes. UKFE shall provide the requirements of the prototype including a feed and product specification, performance requirements and bounding values. UKFE shall provide a list of regulatory requirements for operation in a nuclear environment. The scope of work is to generate a concept design for a prototype electrolyser that meets the requirements provided by UKFE, with design decisions that prioritise longevity, compatibility in a nuclear environment and mechanical design. A full scope, including deliverables, shall be provided as part of an invitation to tender. Deliverables may include a design description document, design justification document, process diagrams, mechanical drawings, calculations, strategies for manufacturing and strategies for validation. ### Planning Information This MEN aims to gather information from potential suppliers on solutions and capabilities in relation to the provision of Vapour-Phase Electrolysis Design and Development. This is not a request for quotation but a preliminary stage to assess the market. Suppliers responding to this MEN will have the opportunity to contribute insights that may shape the final tender requirements. All answers and correspondence will be used for market sounding purposes only and will be treated with confidentiality. Any supplier that chooses not to respond to this MEN will not exclude themselves from any subsequent procurement for this workstream. Should an NDA or similar be required, please contact the MEN Customer Contact. Any estimated contract values and contract dates associated with the notice are indicative and do not represent a commitment by UKFE. As part of this PME, UKFE 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 UKFE’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/042566-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | 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 | 8 May 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 18 May 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 30 Aug 2026 - 19 Mar 2027 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £125,000 | | 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 FUSION ENERGY 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 - 71320000 - Engineering design services - 73100000 - Research and experimental development services - 73120000 - Experimental development services ## Release History - 8 May 2026 at 13:29 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042566-2026 - 10 Apr 2026 at 11:00 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032767-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042566-2026 8th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032767-2026 10th April 2026 - Preliminary market engagement 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-067fdc. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067fdc.json.