---
title: "Cryogenics Partner for the STEP Programme"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-077f56"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077f56"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077f56.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077f56.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd"
published: "2026-10-02"
---

# Cryogenics Partner for the STEP Programme

Buyer: UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-077f56

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## Summary

UK Fusion Energy Ltd is considering appointing a cryogenics partner for the STEP Prototype Powerplant in Abingdon. The proposed services cover three connected areas: a large-scale cryogenic plant, the distribution network carrying cooling around the facility, and integration with multiple plant users. The system would support major powerplant systems with refrigeration at approximately 80 K, 20 K and 4.5 K, using helium, hydrogen and nitrogen. Current concepts describe an extensive distribution network and an overall cooling requirement equivalent to about 65 kW of refrigeration at 4.5 K. The work combines cryogenic plant and equipment design with industrial process engineering and integration. The buyer is UK Fusion Energy Ltd, a public undertaking developing the STEP programme.

This is at the planning stage: UK Fusion Energy Ltd has set out an intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender. It is seeking preliminary market engagement responses to understand supplier capabilities and shape the scope, direction and design of the future procurement. The buyer expected responses to its engagement questions by 14:00 on 13 November 2026, with early responses welcomed; this is an engagement date, not a tender deadline. A subsequent notice was expected by the end of December 2026. The planned contract period runs from 1 January 2027 to 31 March 2029. The procurement is described as above threshold, but its recorded value is £0. The plan is for one lot; no evaluation basis or selection requirements are set out at this stage.

The work is likely to suit suppliers able to bring together cryogenic plant engineering, process and production design, equipment supply, distribution-system design and integration across multiple users. Relevant experience would include designing and delivering large-scale refrigeration systems across several temperature levels, particularly systems using helium, hydrogen and nitrogen, and coordinating interfaces with major industrial or research plant. The described loads point to a technically substantial system: refrigeration is required at approximately 80 K, 20 K and 4.5 K, with a broad distribution network and multiple user connections. UK Fusion Energy Ltd is using market engagement to understand current supplier capabilities and shape its future procurement, so cryogenics specialists, plant engineering businesses and integrated teams may be well placed to contribute to that preparation. The buyer has not yet stated specific accreditations or qualification thresholds.

## Notice

The proposed scope under consideration comprises three principal areas: Cryogenic Plant; Cryogenic Distribution System; and Cryogenic User Integration. The STEP cryogenic system is intended to provide the cryogenic cooling infrastructure required to support major plant systems throughout the STEP Prototype Powerplant. Current concepts indicate that the system will comprise a large-scale cryogenic plant, an extensive cryogenic distribution network and integration with multiple cryogenic users across the programme. The system is expected to provide refrigeration across a range of temperature levels, including approximately 80 K, 20 K and 4.5 K, using a combination of helium, hydrogen and nitrogen as cryogenic fluids. The cryogenic system is expected to deliver approximately 65 kWth of cooling at 4.5 K equivalent. The refrigeration load is comprised of approximately 520 kWth at 80 K, 170 kWth at 20 K, and 8 kWth at 4.5 K. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Heat-exchange-units-and-machinery-for-liquefying-air-or-other-gases./3DSBJT2RU2 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/respond/3DSBJT2RU2

### Planning Information

To respond to this PMEN, please complete and submit Appendix 1 responses via the e-portal by 14:00 on Friday 13th November 2026. Early responses would be appreciated to help inform planning decisions. If you experience any difficulties with the portal, please contact the portal helpdesk svc-delta-help@communities.gov.uk cc ema.burden@ukifs.uk and phoebe.legard@ukifs.uk
Information obtained from responses to Appendix 1 – responses will help UKFE understand current market capabilities and shape the scope, direction, and design of the future procurement activities.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093169-2026 |
| 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 | 2 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 31 Dec 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Jan 2027 - 31 Mar 2029 |
| 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 Industrial Fusion Solutions 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 |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 42511000 - Heat-exchange units and machinery for liquefying air or other gases
- 42511200 - Machinery for liquefying air or other gases
- 71320000 - Engineering design services
- 71323000 - Engineering-design services for industrial process and production
- 71323200 - Plant engineering design services
- 71340000 - Integrated engineering services
- 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

## Release History

- 2 Oct 2026 at 10:22 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093169-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093169-2026
  2nd October 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/respond/3DSBJT2RU2
- https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Heat-exchange-units-and-machinery-for-liquefying-air-or-other-gases./3DSBJT2RU2
- 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-077f56. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077f56.json.