---
title: "Test Operations Partner - West Burton Region"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06a23f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06a23f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a23f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a23f.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "UNITED KINGDOM FUSION ENERGY LTD"
published: "2026-05-22"
---

# Test Operations Partner - West Burton Region

Buyer: UNITED KINGDOM FUSION ENERGY LTD  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06a23f

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## Summary

The procurement process is currently in the planning stage for a tender initiated by United Kingdom Fusion Energy Ltd, located at Culham Campus, Abingdon. The tender, titled "Test Operations Partner – West Burton Region," falls under the engineering services industry category. It involves setting up an operational facility to support various high-priority test activities and is expected to be located near the West Burton Power plant site. Interested parties are required to respond to a questionnaire by 17:00 on 19th June 2026, with planning decisions to be informed by these responses. The engagement aims to understand market capabilities and to shape future procurement activities.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in engineering services, infrastructure consultancy services, and test and evaluation. Companies with expertise in managing complex test environments, particularly those involving novel cooling cycles, superconducting magnets, and high-power microwaves, would be well-suited to compete. Additionally, businesses that can adapt to operational risks such as hazardous voltages and high magnetic fields using digital tools for spatial coordination will find substantial growth potential in collaborating with UK Fusion Energy Ltd. This engagement not only represents a chance to work on cutting-edge fusion energy projects but also allows businesses to establish partnerships within an evolving market sector.

## Notice

A single operational facility will be stood up to facilitate high priority test activities. This facility is likely to be an existing commercial lease unit. Enabling initial operations to occur, with a later migration to bespoke buildings in 2-4 years' time, these will be located on or close to the West Burton Power plant site - a repurposed Coal Fired Power station site, that will accommodate the novel Prototype Fusion Power Plant being delivered by STEP. The tests that will be accommodated in this facility will involve many FOAK physical test rigs comprising of; Scaled Superconducting Magnets Testing, High Power Microwave Testing, Novel Cooling Cycle testing through high temperature turbo machinery, Control Room simulator and other smaller activities. Each will have its own complexities and operational risks/hazards that must be managed appropriately (including but not limited to: Hazardous Voltages, Pressurised Systems, Flammable substances, Cryogenics, High Magnetic fields/ Radiofrequency energy, (note that no radioactive testing is planned in this facility at this initial site). Co-ordinating of these activities is crucial for programme success, using digital tools / BIMS for space allocation etc. Please find more information within the attachment. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Culham:-Engineering-services./C5FWZYGQXZ To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/respond/C5FWZYGQXZ

### Planning Information

To respond to this PMEN, please complete and submit Appendix 1: Questionnaire via the e-supply portal by 17:00 on 19th June 2026. Early responses would be appreciated to help inform planning decisions. If you experience any difficulties with the portal, please contact the portal helpdesk uksupport@eu-supply.com cc operationalprocurement.step@ukifs.uk 
Information obtained from responses to Appendix 1: Questionnaire will help UKFE understand current market capabilities and shape the scope, direction, and design of the future procurement activities. UKFE may follow up with the Questionnaire responses with a virtual Q&A with all interested parties. The details of this session will be provided at the later stage.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048275-2026 |
| 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 | 22 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 19 Jun 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 22 May 2026 - 19 Jun 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 | UNITED KINGDOM FUSION ENERGY LTD |
| Locality | CULHAM |
| 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

- 71300000 - Engineering services
- 71311300 - Infrastructure works consultancy services
- 73430000 - Test and evaluation

## Release History

- 22 May 2026 at 16:15 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048275-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048275-2026
  22nd May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/respond/C5FWZYGQXZ
- https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Culham:-Engineering-services./C5FWZYGQXZ
- 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-06a23f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a23f.json.