---
title: "Insulating Materials Testing"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06de0d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06de0d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06de0d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06de0d.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK Fusion Energy Ltd"
published: "2026-08-06"
---

# Insulating Materials Testing

Buyer: UK Fusion Energy Ltd  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06de0d

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06de0d.json)

## Summary

UK Fusion Energy Ltd procured insulating-materials testing for the Materials Testing Framework supporting STEP, its fusion-energy programme. The awarded requirement covered mechanical and thermal testing of magnet materials, with the specific focus on insulating materials. This is a specialist technical testing and research service, combining laboratory test delivery with research and experimental development activity. The work is associated with UK Fusion Energy Ltd at Culham Campus, Abingdon, while the awarded supplier, NPL Management Ltd, is based in Teddington. Businesses relevant to this requirement would typically provide controlled testing of materials used in magnets, generate reliable technical results, and support engineering or research decisions arising from those results. The procurement was structured as a single lot covering the stated testing requirement.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to NPL Management Ltd on 13 February 2026. It used a selective procedure under a framework, with the award made under the framework and without a competitive call-off. The award covers one lot and has a net value of £192,091, or £230,509 including gross value, in GBP. The contract period runs from 7 August 2026 to 24 December 2026. The procurement was above the relevant threshold. The requirement was classified as services, including technical testing services and research and experimental development services. The award is active, and a future contract-signature milestone was scheduled for 6 August 2026.

This award shows demand from UK Fusion Energy Ltd for specialist laboratory services supporting fusion-energy magnet development through STEP. A credible future competitor would need practical capability in mechanical and thermal testing of insulating materials, particularly where materials are used in magnet-related applications. It would also need to turn test activity into technically defensible evidence suitable for engineering, materials and research decisions, rather than offering only general-purpose laboratory analysis. Experience spanning technical testing and research or experimental development would be relevant to the requirement. The successful supplier was an SME, indicating that the work can be delivered by a focused specialist rather than only by a large corporate organisation. Suppliers should also understand how to operate within a public-sector framework arrangement.

## Notice

Testing of insulating materials under the Materials Testing Framework for STEP.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074844-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Award under framework |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 6 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 13 Feb 2026 |
| Contract period | 7 Aug 2026 - 24 Dec 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £192,091 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK Fusion Energy Ltd |
| Locality | ABINGDON |
| Postcode area | 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 | NPL Management Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 71632000 - Technical testing services
- 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

## Release History

- 6 Aug 2026 at 15:07 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074844-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074844-2026
  6th August 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsReleasePackages/ocds-h6vhtk-05699a
- 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-06de0d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06de0d.json.