UK Fusion Energy Ltd: Fusion Plant Controls Partner (FPCP)

Contracting authority

Contracting authority:

UK Fusion Energy Ltd

Public Procurement Organisation Number:

PCRM-7973-DCBL

Address:

Culham Campus
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:

Fusion Plant Controls Partner (FPCP)

Reference number:

PP-UKFE-32

Main category:

SERVICES

Description:

This MEN aims to gather information from potential suppliers on solutions and capabilities in relation to the provision of a Fusion Plant Controls Partner. This is not a request for quotation but a preliminary stage to assess the market which will assist with assessing market capabilities and shaping specification. Suppliers responding to this MEN 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. UK Fusion Energy Ltd (UKFE) are considering the approach to establishing a Whole Plant Control System for the STEP Power Plant (SPP). In doing so it recognises that this system will be a first of a kind (FOAK) in requiring plant control systems able to manage the unique requirements of fusion, whilst also utilising more conventional plant control systems.

To address this UKFE anticipates the need to procure services to develop a definition of fusion plant control, the systems and technology required to achieve this, and integration with conventional plant control infrastructure. UKFE wishes to engage with the market to test its assumptions regarding novelty of the fusion challenge, to understand the current market landscape for the development of this technology, and to test proposals on direction of travel and contracting methodology for achieving an integrated whole plant control system for the SPP.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Engineering-services./D374DT37N4

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://ukfe.delta-esourcing.com/respond/D374DT37N4

Total value (estimated):

GBP 0 excluding VAT

GBP 0 including VAT

Contract dates (estimated):

04/06/2026 to 01/07/2026

CPV classifications:

71300000 - Engineering services.

71356300 - Technical support services.

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support.

Delivery regions:

UK - UNITED KINGDOM

Participation

Suitable for SMEs:

Yes

Suitable for VCSEs:

No

Engagement

Engagement deadline:

01/07/2026

Engagement status:

The engagement has not yet been carried out.

Engagement process description:

For the purposes of this early market engagement, UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) are considering the approach to establishing a Whole Plant Control System for the STEP Power Plant (SPP). In doing so it recognises that this system will be a first of a kind (FOAK) in requiring plant control systems able to manage the unique requirements of fusion, whilst also utilising more conventional plant control systems.

To address this UKFE anticipates the need to procure services to develop a definition of fusion plant control, the systems and technology required to achieve this, and integration with conventional plant control infrastructure. UKFE wishes to engage with the market to test its assumptions regarding novelty of the fusion challenge, to understand the current market landscape for the development of this technology, and to test proposals on direction of travel and contracting methodology for achieving an integrated whole plant control system for the SPP.

The objective of this Market Engagement is to:

Identify viable whole plant control architecture approaches for a FOAK fusion environment.

Assess market capability to provide specialist OEM systems and/or integration support for safety-critical plant control systems.

Understand approaches to integrating fast physics-based control with conventional industrial control systems.

Explore methods for implementing defence-in-depth control and machine protection architectures within integrated plant systems.

Assess capability to support simulation-led design, virtual commissioning, and progressive system validation.

Understand viable delivery and contracting models, including OEM partnerships, integrator roles, and long-term lifecycle support arrangements; and

Inform procurement strategy, including packaging of scope, allocation of responsibilities, and integration governance model.

To respond to this MEN, please complete and submit Appendix 1: Questionnaire via the facility in the Delta portal by 5pm the 1st July 2026.

Early responses would be appreciated to help inform planning decisions.

If you experience any difficulties with the portal, please contact the portal helpdesk helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com cc operationalprocurement.step@ukifs.uk

Submission

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