---
title: "Fusion Plant Controls Partner (FPCP)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06ac81"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06ac81"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ac81.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ac81.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "UK FUSION ENERGY LTD"
published: "2026-06-03"
---

# Fusion Plant Controls Partner (FPCP)

Buyer: UK FUSION ENERGY LTD  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06ac81

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## Summary

UK Fusion Energy Ltd is spearheading a procurement initiative titled "Fusion Plant Controls Partner (FPCP)" aimed at the development of a Whole Plant Control System for the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) Power Plant, with the plant located in the UK. The procurement process is currently in the planning stage, with a focus on market engagement to assess possibilities for integrating fusion-specific control systems with conventional ones. The deadline for responding to the Market Engagement Notice is 1st July 2026, with interested parties encouraged to submit responses via the provided eSourcing portal. This initiative falls under the services category, specifically involving engineering and IT services.

This procurement offers significant business growth opportunities, particularly for companies with expertise in engineering, technical support, and IT services related to control systems. Firms specialising in Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) systems, integration support for safety-critical plant control systems, and simulation-led design are well-suited to engage with this opportunity. Companies participating in this early market engagement can not only showcase their capabilities but also potentially influence the future tender framework, contributing to a major project that requires innovative solutions tailored to a first-of-a-kind fusion power plant control system. This could lead to long-term partnerships and involvement in cutting-edge technological advancements in the energy sector.

## Notice

This MEN aims to gather information from potential suppliers on solutions and capabilities in relation to the provision of a Fusion Plant Controls Partner. This is not a request for quotation but a preliminary stage to assess the market which will assist with assessing market capabilities and shaping specification. 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 confidentially. UK Fusion Energy Ltd (UKFE) are considering the approach to establishing a Whole Plant Control System for the STEP Power Plant (SPP). In doing so it recognises that this system will be a first of a kind (FOAK) in requiring plant control systems able to manage the unique requirements of fusion, whilst also utilising more conventional plant control systems. To address this UKFE anticipates the need to procure services to develop a definition of fusion plant control, the systems and technology required to achieve this, and integration with conventional plant control infrastructure. UKFE wishes to engage with the market to test its assumptions regarding novelty of the fusion challenge, to understand the current market landscape for the development of this technology, and to test proposals on direction of travel and contracting methodology for achieving an integrated whole plant control system for the SPP. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Engineering-services./D374DT37N4 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/respond/D374DT37N4

### Planning Information

For the purposes of this early market engagement, UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) are considering the approach to establishing a Whole Plant Control System for the STEP Power Plant (SPP). In doing so it recognises that this system will be a first of a kind (FOAK) in requiring plant control systems able to manage the unique requirements of fusion, whilst also utilising more conventional plant control systems. 
To address this UKFE anticipates the need to procure services to develop a definition of fusion plant control, the systems and technology required to achieve this, and integration with conventional plant control infrastructure. UKFE wishes to engage with the market to test its assumptions regarding novelty of the fusion challenge, to understand the current market landscape for the development of this technology, and to test proposals on direction of travel and contracting methodology for achieving an integrated whole plant control system for the SPP. 
The objective of this Market Engagement is to: 
Identify viable whole plant control architecture approaches for a FOAK fusion environment. 
Assess market capability to provide specialist OEM systems and/or integration support for safety-critical plant control systems. 
Understand approaches to integrating fast physics-based control with conventional industrial control systems. 
Explore methods for implementing defence-in-depth control and machine protection architectures within integrated plant systems. 
Assess capability to support simulation-led design, virtual commissioning, and progressive system validation. 
Understand viable delivery and contracting models, including OEM partnerships, integrator roles, and long-term lifecycle support arrangements; and 
Inform procurement strategy, including packaging of scope, allocation of responsibilities, and integration governance model.
To respond to this MEN, please complete and submit Appendix 1: Questionnaire via the facility in the Delta portal by 5pm the 1st July 2026. 
Early responses would be appreciated to help inform planning decisions. 
If you experience any difficulties with the portal, please contact the portal helpdesk helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com cc operationalprocurement.step@ukifs.uk

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052374-2026 |
| 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 | 3 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Jul 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 3 Jun 2026 - 1 Jul 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 | 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
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 71300000 - Engineering services
- 71356300 - Technical support services
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

## Release History

- 3 Jun 2026 at 12:56 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052374-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052374-2026
  3rd June 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/respond/D374DT37N4
- https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Engineering-services./D374DT37N4
- 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-06ac81. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ac81.json.