UK Fusion Energy Ltd: HiCrIS Full Design & Build

Contracting authority

Contracting authority:

UK Fusion Energy Ltd.

Public Procurement Organisation Number:

PCRM-7973-DCBL

Address:

Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
UK

Contact name:

Lachlan Bramley

Email:

operationalprocurement.step@ukifs.uk

Telephone:

Not provided

Website:

Not provided

Organisation type:

BODY_PUBLIC

Devolved regulations that apply:

None

Procedure

Procedure type:

Open procedure

Preliminary market engagement conducted:

Not provided

Special regime:

None

Scope

Title:

HiCrIS Full Design & Build

Reference number:

UKFE-TD-01

Main category:

SERVICES

Description:

The following summary is not intended as a complete or definitive specification of the requirement. A purpose of this engagement is to seek information from the market to help refine our understanding and aid the development of a future specification.

The Hi-CrIS project is being developed under the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme. STEP plasma will be confined by electromagnets based on high temperature superconductors (SC). These magnetic components will form a substantial part of the STEP Prototype Powerplant (SPP) and represent ~25% of the total cost. With such a substantial element of the SPP being represented by the magnetic components, it is critical to have confidence in the lifetime predictions of the down-selected magnets. To achieve this, investigations of down-selected superconductor (SC) material samples are required under operational conditions: i.e., when SCs are simultaneously irradiated with fusion spectrum neutrons and gammas whilst at their cryogenic operating temperatures, carrying its rated current, and subject to strain and high applied fields (“fusion in-situ conditions”).
STEP has an implementation plan for characterising Rare-earth Barium Copper Oxide (REBCO) for use in its magnetic field coils. This plan involves several key activities which, together, will provide sufficient experimental data to thoroughly examine the properties of a REBCO Coated Conductor (CC) and allow its use in each of STEP’s magnetic field coils to be justified (or not). Running several CCs through this process will then identify which CCs constitute the best choices for each magnetic coil.

STEPs Hi-CrIS Test Rig will enable REBCO CCs samples to be subjected to STEP relevant neutron fluences, at cryogenic temperatures, so that the evolution of their superconducting properties can be determined and evaluated. The data will then be used in conjunction with STEP’s other characterisation activities to allow predictions about STEP’s performance in fusion in-situ conditions to be made and judged based on STEP’s requirements in terms of magnetic lifetime.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Machines-and-apparatus-for-testing-and-measuring./88EJ65WYMH

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/respond/88EJ65WYMH

Total value (estimated):

GBP 0 including VAT

Contract dates (estimated):

30/04/2027 to 30/04/2028

CPV classifications:

38540000 - Machines and apparatus for testing and measuring.

38970000 - Research, testing and scientific technical simulator.

71320000 - Engineering design services.

73120000 - Experimental development services.

73300000 - Design and execution of research and development.

Delivery regions:

UK - UNITED KINGDOM

Participation

Suitable for SMEs:

Yes

Suitable for VCSEs:

No

Engagement

Engagement deadline:

25/09/2026

Engagement status:

The engagement has not yet been carried out.

Engagement process description:

This PME Exercise aims to gather information from potential suppliers on solutions and capabilities in relation to the provision of HiCrIS Full Design & Build. This is not a request for quotation but a preliminary stage to assess the market.

Suppliers responding to this PME Exercise will have the opportunity to contribute insights that may shape the final tender requirements. All answers and correspondence will be used for market sounding purposes only and will be treated confidentially.

Any supplier that chooses to not respond to this PME Exercise will not exclude themselves from any subsequent procurement for this workstream.

Information provided by suppliers during this engagement stage may be used by UKIFS for any or all of the PME purposes (as laid out in section 16 of the Procurement Act 2023).

UKIFS does not seek to obtain confidential, sensitive or proprietary information at this stage, and it is up to suppliers to determine the information that they provide.

Should an NDA or similar be required, please contact UKFE via the messaging function on Delta.

Any estimated contract values and contract dates associated with the PME Exercise are indicative and do not represent a commitment by UKFE.

Neither the Preliminary Market Engagement Notice nor this Preliminary Market Engagement Exercise constitutes a formal commitment to procure.

This PME Exercise does not constitute a formal commitment to procure. UKFE reserves the right to cancel, amend, or delay this exercise, in whole or part, at any stage, without incurring any liability or obligation to any party.

Participation in this PME Exercise is entirely voluntary, and participating is not intended to confer any advantage in any future procurement process.

UKFE may invite interested suppliers to attend a Q&A/discussion session. Suppliers will need to confirm that they wish to participate by indicating this within the PME Questionnaire and submitting this via Delta as directed.

Submission

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