UK Fusion Energy Ltd: Palladium Silver Membranes Tensile and Fatigue Testing

Contracting authority

Contracting authority:

UK Fusion Energy Ltd

Public Procurement Organisation Number:

PCRM-7973-DCBL

Address:

Culham Campus, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, Abingdon
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
UK

Contact name:

Operational Procurement

Email:

operationalprocurement.step@ukifs.uk

Telephone:

Not provided

Website:

Not provided

Organisation type:

BODY_PUBLIC

Devolved regulations that apply:

None

Procedure

Procedure type:

Below threshold - open competition

Dynamic market:

Not provided

Tenders received:

0

Tenders assessed:

0

Tenders from SMEs:

0

Tenders from VCSEs:

0

Special regime:

None

Scope

Title:

Palladium Silver Membranes Tensile and Fatigue Testing

Reference number:

PP-UKIFS-607

Main procurement category:

SERVICES

Description:

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 °C and 500 °C 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 Delta 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

Total value (estimated):

GBP 165,000 excluding VAT

GBP 198,000 including VAT

Description

Description:

Not provided

Suitable for SMEs:

Yes

Suitable for VCSEs:

No

Contract dates (estimated):

03/09/2026 to 16/03/2027

CPV classifications:

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.

Contract can be extended:

No

Delivery regions:

UK - UNITED KINGDOM

Award criteria:

Name: Commercial / Weighting: 20

Name: Technical / Weighting: 70

Name: Social Value / Weighting: 10

Documents

Associated tender documents:

Not provided

Technical specifications:

Not provided

Submission

Enquiry deadline:

31/07/2026 Time: 12:00

Tender submission deadline:

06/08/2026 Time: 12:00

Submission address and any special instructions:

https://ukifs.delta-esourcing.com

An electronic auction will be used:

No

Other information

Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation:

Not provided

Technical ability conditions of participation:

Not provided

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP):

Not provided

Government Procurement Agreement (GPA):

Not provided

A conflicts assessment has been prepared and revised:

No

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