--- title: "Commercial Use of the Translational Research Hub (TRH) Cleanroom Facility" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-069485" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-069485" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069485.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069485.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "CARDIFF UNIVERSITY" published: "2026-05-08" --- # Commercial Use of the Translational Research Hub (TRH) Cleanroom Facility Buyer: CARDIFF UNIVERSITY Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-069485 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-069485) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069485.json) ## Summary Cardiff University, located at Park Place in Cardiff, is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process for the commercial use of its Translational Research Hub (TRH) Cleanroom Facility. This opportunity falls under the services industry category, specifically within research and development services and laboratory services. The procurement process is exploratory and aims to gauge the market’s interest and capabilities related to the cleanroom facility's operation. Interested organisations are required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) Response Document, and submit their responses via the university's e-tender portal by 17:00 on Friday, 5th June 2026. The entire process is guided by Welsh devolved regulations, and the legal basis is the Procurement Act 2023. This tender process represents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in cleanroom or semiconductor fabrication operations to expand their reach and collaborate with a leading research facility. Companies with experience in managing or operating specialist facilities have the chance to influence future commercial models for the cleanroom, supporting innovation and regional economic growth in the Cardiff Capital Region. With a projected investment value of £6,000,000 and a contract period set to potentially run from February 2027 through January 2031, businesses that can provide innovative commercial and operational models will be well-positioned to establish strategic partnerships with Cardiff University and leverage the cleanroom's capabilities to industrial standards. This engagement will be conducted on a non-competitive basis, ensuring that all participating parties are considered equally. ## Notice The University is seeking to engage with the market on an exploratory basis only to consider potential approaches, capabilities, and appetite relating to the operation and commercial use of a specialist cleanroom facility located within the University's Translational Research Hub (TRH). This is to support the acceleration of the Authority's mission for innovation and regional economic growth across the Cardiff Capital Region. The University owns and operates a specialist compound semiconductor cleanroom facility located within the Translational Research Hub (TRH) at Cardiff University. The TRH is a research-intensive environment for academic researchers and industry partners. It supports the University's activity aligned to the Institute for Compound Semiconductors, the School of Physics and the School of Engineering. The facility comprises a purpose-built c.1500m2 compound semiconductor cleanroom, supporting the fabrication and processing of compound semiconductor wafers up to 200mm (8-inch) diameter. The cleanroom provides the capability to trial, establish, and scale compound semiconductor devices to an industrial standard, supported by advanced, industry-standard processing and characterisation capabilities. Dedicated characterisation and back-end processing areas enable end-to-end wafer processing. The University is considering options for further commercial utilisation of the facility while ensuring that appropriate access for academic and research purposes is maintained. As part of this review, the Authority wishes to engage openly and transparently with the market to consider operating, access, and partnership models that could support these objectives. The University is seeking expressions of interest from organisations with relevant experience in operating or managing specialist cleanroom, laboratory, or semiconductor fabrication facilities. Through this premarket engagement, the University is seeking market feedback on potential commercial and operational models. No preferred commercial or other operating model has been selected at this stage. Organisations responding to this notice will be invited to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) Response Document, receive further technical information, participate in individual meetings or site visits, and provide feedback on potential commercial models. Engagement will be conducted on a non-competitive and non-discriminatory basis. Participation will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement. The outcome of this pre-market engagement will inform the University's decision on whether a procurement is required and the appropriate route to market, if any. The University reserves the right to take no further action, proceed to a competitive procurement, or consider other compliant routes in line with the Procurement Act 2023. Interested organisations are invited to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) Response Document as confirmation of interest in participating in discussions. Suppliers must complete and return the forms via the correspondence function on the Universities e-tender portal In-Tend: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/cardiffuniversity/ Responses should be submitted by the deadline Friday, 5th June 2026 at 17.00 ### Planning Information Organisations responding to this notice will be invited to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) Response Document, receive further technical information, participate in individual meetings or site visits, and provide feedback on potential commercial models. Engagement will be conducted on a non-competitive and non-discriminatory basis. Participation will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement. The outcome of this pre-market engagement will inform the University’s decision on whether a procurement is required and the appropriate route to market, if any. The University reserves the right to take no further action, proceed to a competitive procurement, or consider other compliant routes in line with the Procurement Act 2023. Interested organisations are invited to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) Response Document as confirmation of interest in participating in discussions. Suppliers must complete and return the forms via the correspondence function on the Universities e-tender portal In-Tend: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/cardiffuniversity/ Responses should be submitted by the deadline Friday, 5th June 2026 at 17.00 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042445-2026 | | 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 | 2 Nov 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Feb 2027 - 27 Jan 2031 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £5,000,000 | | 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 | CARDIFF UNIVERSITY | | Locality | CARDIFF | | Post town | Cardiff | | Postcode | CF10 3AT | | Country | Wales | | ITL 1 | TLL Wales | | ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales | | ITL 3 | TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan | | Local authority | Cardiff | | Electoral ward | Cathays | | Westminster constituency | Cardiff South and Penarth | | Delivery location | TLL2 East Wales | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 71900000 - Laboratory services - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ## Release History - 8 May 2026 at 11:08 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042445-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042445-2026 8th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/business/why-work-with-us/for-suppliers - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/cardiffuniversity/ - 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-069485. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069485.json.