--- title: "Palladium Silver Membranes Tensile and Fatigue Testing" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06c75a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06c75a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c75a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c75a.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "UK FUSION ENERGY LTD" published: "2026-07-09" --- # Palladium Silver Membranes Tensile and Fatigue Testing Buyer: UK FUSION ENERGY LTD Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06c75a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06c75a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c75a.json) ## Summary UK Fusion Energy Ltd, based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, is seeking proposals for the provision of testing services as outlined in the tender titled "Palladium Silver Membranes Tensile and Fatigue Testing." This opportunity, classified under the industry category of Technical Testing and Analysis Services, invites suppliers to deliver a comprehensive testing programme on palladium-silver membranes. The procurement is currently at the tender stage, following an open procurement method below the threshold, with key deadlines set: the enquiry period concludes on 31st July 2026, and the tender submission deadline is on 6th August 2026. The contract is expected to commence on 3rd September 2026 and conclude by 16th March 2027. The tender presents an excellent opportunity for businesses specialising in technical testing and consultancy services, particularly those with expertise in high-temperature and high-pressure testing environments suitable for hydrogen purification systems. The project involves providing facilities, equipment, and technical expertise to support the STEP fuel cycle, which could significantly benefit companies with a focus on research and experimental development. This tender is particularly suited to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering a gross estimated contract value of £198,000, aimed at supporting innovative solutions in the fields of mechanical testing and engineering analysis. ## Notice The scope of this procurement is to appoint a suitably qualified supplier to undertake a programme of mechanical testing on palladium-silver membrane assemblies to generate design data that supports their application in hydrogen purification systems for the STEP fuel cycle. The supplier shall provide the specialist facilities, equipment, technical expertise, and personnel necessary to conduct slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) testing and strain-controlled fatigue testing under representative operating conditions. Testing shall be carried out at elevated temperatures between 400 degC and 500 degC in gaseous hydrogen at pressures of up to 10 bar. Where required, the supplier shall also undertake in-situ hydrogen permeation testing before and during mechanical loading to assess membrane performance under operational conditions. The supplier shall be responsible for collecting, analysing, and reporting all test data, including the mechanical properties and performance characteristics of the membrane assemblies, and shall provide comprehensive test reports containing the test methodology, raw and processed data, analysis, observations, and conclusions suitable for engineering assessment and future design activities. All testing shall be undertaken using appropriately equipped laboratory facilities capable of safely operating under elevated temperatures and pressurised hydrogen environments, in accordance with recognised industry standards or agreed test procedures, with appropriate quality assurance and full traceability throughout the programme. The outputs from this procurement will provide STEP-relevant mechanical property data to support the development, qualification, and future deployment of palladium-silver membrane technology for hydrogen purification applications. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Technical-testing%2C-analysis-and-consultancy-services./YM5VB3NDJJ To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/respond/YM5VB3NDJJ ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064633-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 9 Jul 2026 | | Submission deadline | 6 Aug 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 2 Sep 2026 - 16 Mar 2027 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £165,000 | | Lots value | £165,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | 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 - 71600000 - Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services - 71610000 - Composition and purity testing and analysis services - 71630000 - Technical inspection and testing services - 71632000 - Technical testing services - 73100000 - Research and experimental development services - 73110000 - Research services ## Release History - 9 Jul 2026 at 10:54 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064633-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064633-2026 9th July 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/respond/YM5VB3NDJJ - https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Technical-testing%2C-analysis-and-consultancy-services./YM5VB3NDJJ - https://ukifs.delta-esourcing.com - 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-06c75a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c75a.json.