---
title: "H3AT Isotope Separation System (ISS) Gloveboxes"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06d6c9"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06d6c9"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06d6c9.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06d6c9.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY"
published: "2026-07-29"
---

# H3AT Isotope Separation System (ISS) Gloveboxes

Buyer: UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06d6c9

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## Summary

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), based at Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire, has awarded a framework contract to Kinectrics Inc. for the design, manufacture, and support of glovebox assemblies as part of the H3AT Isotope Separation System (ISS) at the Tritium Loop Facility. This procurement, which falls under the NEC4 suite framework, is focused on the manufacture, delivery, and installation of systems critical to isotope separation at the H3AT Tritium Loop Facility. The contract stage is currently at the Award phase, with the contract period commencing on 18 September 2026 and concluding on 18 September 2031. Designed as a direct award due to exclusive intellectual property rights and technical reasons, this contract illustrates a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing cryogenic and glovebox technologies.

The award of the ISS glovebox contract presents substantial business opportunities, particularly for entities with experience in specialised machinery and engineering in the realm of isotope separation systems. Large suppliers like Kinectrics Inc., who hold unique manufacturing intellectual properties, are particularly well-suited for such projects. Companies specialising in technical engineering solutions, especially those catering to public authorities or central government sectors, will find this contract aligns with industry growth and technological advancement in high-specification research environments. This award also potentially opens avenues for further purchases under the framework, fostering long-term partnerships and innovations in the field.

## Notice

This transparency notice is issued to advise the market that the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) intends to award a framework contract to Kinectrics Inc. for the design, manufacture, factory acceptance testing, delivery, installation support and commissioning support of the glovebox assemblies forming part of the Isotope Separation System (ISS) of the H3AT Tritium Loop Facility at Culham Campus, Oxfordshire, together with the associated professional design services. H3AT is constructing a tritium fuel cycle facility providing a closed-loop simulation plant and experimental laboratory. The ISS is a critical subsystem responsible for isotope separation using cryogenic and glovebox technologies. The gloveboxes provide the contained working environment necessary for tritium handling within the separation process and are a prerequisite to introducing active materials into the facility. The framework will be established under the NEC4 suite, with call-off contracts placed under the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract for manufacture and build scope and the NEC4 Professional Services Contract for design and advisory scope, as the design matures.

### Procurement Information

The ground relied upon under section 41(1) of, and Schedule 5 to, the Procurement Act 2023 (as required to be stated by regulation 26 of the Procurement Regulations 2024) is Single Supplier -- paragraph 5 (intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights) and paragraph 6 (absence of competition for technical reasons) of Schedule 5. The decision to award directly to Kinectrics Inc. is necessary because the ISS gloveboxes must interface directly with the ISS cryogenic system and conform to the glovebox standard adopted for the remainder of the H3AT facility, and because the detailed design and manufacturing solution incorporate intellectual property held by Kinectrics Inc. Any alternative manufacturer would be required to redesign to those interfaces and to develop a fresh manufacturing solution, which would duplicate completed work, incur disproportionate cost and could not be achieved within the programme window. UKAEA has assessed the market and is satisfied that there are no reasonable alternatives to the goods, services and works required.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071823-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 29 Jul 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 29 Jul 2026 |
| Contract period | 18 Sep 2026 - 18 Sep 2031 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £8,250,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY |
| Locality | OXFORDSHIRE |
| 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 |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | KINECTRICS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 42 - Industrial machinery

### Codes

- 42900000 - Miscellaneous general and special-purpose machinery
- 42990000 - Miscellaneous special-purpose machinery

## Release History

- 29 Jul 2026 at 14:31 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071823-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071823-2026
  29th July 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
- 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-06d6c9. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06d6c9.json.