--- title: "Control Software" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f7ea" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f7ea" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f7ea.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f7ea.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority" published: "2026-09-11" --- # Control Software Buyer: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f7ea [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f7ea) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f7ea.json) ## Summary The UK Atomic Energy Authority is planning to procure control software for six existing motion-control modules at its Culham Science Centre site in Oxfordshire. Each module contains an x-y stage, tilt goniometric stage and rotational stage, with four motors controlled through a shared system. The requirement is for software to interface with the existing controller box and hardware, or for a new controller that can operate all six modules. The system must support serial communication between the controller and stages, including RS232-to-USB and RS232 connections, and control 24 motors through six module outputs. This is a specialist industrial automation and custom software requirement, with associated electronic and process-control equipment. The main category is goods, although software development is central to the requirement. This procurement is at the planning stage: the Authority has stated its intention to buy, but has not invited tenders. It expects to use a below-threshold tender procedure for one lot, with an estimated value of £20,000 excluding VAT (£24,000 including VAT). The anticipated contract period is 31 December 2026 to 31 December 2027. The buyer plans to publish the next notice on 16 November 2026 and has scheduled preliminary market engagement for 15 October 2026. The engagement is intended to inform the developing requirement before it reaches the market. The single lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The procurement will be delivered in the United Kingdom, with the buyer based at Culham Science Centre, Oxfordshire. This will suit suppliers combining motion-control, industrial automation and bespoke software engineering expertise. Relevant capability includes developing control applications for multi-axis systems, integrating software with existing serial hardware, and designing or supplying controller electronics where an alternative to the existing controller is proposed. Suppliers should be able to understand closed-loop stepper motors, RS232 and RS232-to-USB communications, daisy-chained stage architectures, and the sequencing of control signals across multiple modules. Experience of laboratory, scientific or industrial positioning equipment would be useful, particularly where software must operate legacy or non-standard hardware rather than commercial off-the-shelf stages. The requirement is presented as suitable for SMEs, so specialist engineering firms and software-and-controls integrators should prepare to contribute during market engagement rather than bid at this stage. ## Notice For this project We have 6 modules. Each module is made up of 3 stages. These stages are (1) an x-y stage, (2) a tilt goniometric stage, and (3) rotational stage. The links to these stages and the control box can be seen in the attached supporting document. The difference between our stages and the COTS stages is that each stage has a different motor to the COTS item (integrated 485 bus-type closed-loop stepper driver, IRS42E-K02, manual available). All modules are controlled via a single controller box. The controller box has power and user instructions from control software (via RS232 to USB cable) as inputs and has six output cables, each connected to one of the modules (RS232 to RS232). Each output cable is limited to 2m length. The cable from the controller connects to the bottom most stage of the module, that is the x-stage. The x-stage is then connected to the y-stage via a RS232 cable. The y-stage is connected to the goniometric stage via a RS232 cable. Finally, the goniometric stage is connected to the rotational stage via a RS232 cable. In this way, a controller with 6 outputs controls 6x4=24 motors. This setup is shown in the diagram and a picture of a single module is also provided on the attached supporting document. The control signal is sent via the control box to the desired module. If the control signal is not for the x-stage, the control signal is passed up the chain, and so on. We need the control software to interface with our existing hardware to control the 6 modules. The solution could interface with the existing control box, or alternatively provide a new controller to interface with the 6 modules. The requirements above are for the software/control of the 6 modules. ### Planning Information https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=108965&TID=100114020&B= ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086349-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 11 Sep 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 16 Nov 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Dec 2026 - 31 Dec 2027 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £20,000 | | 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 Atomic Energy Authority | | Locality | OXFORDSHIRE | | 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 | TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting - 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) - 48 - Software package and information systems - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 31710000 - Electronic equipment - 38810000 - Industrial process control equipment - 38820000 - Remote-control equipment - 48921000 - Automation system - 72212100 - Industry specific software development services - 72230000 - Custom software development services ## Release History - 11 Sep 2026 at 12:03 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086349-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086349-2026 11th September 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=108965&TID=100114020&B= - 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-06f7ea. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f7ea.json.