UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd: Power Cycle and Cooling Development

UK-Abingdon: Engineering services.

Scope

Scope: Power Cycle and Cooling Development

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.

UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) Group and has been established to lead a public-private partnership that will design, build and operate the STEP prototype plant at the West Burton site in Nottinghamshire, England. The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) is an ambitious programme to accelerate the delivery of sustainable fusion energy tasked with paving the way for the commercialisation of fusion. UKIFS’s mission is to deliver sustainable fusion energy and maximise scientific and economic impact.

STEP is seeking support over the remainder of “Tranche 2A” (01/04/2025 until 31/3/2029) to support both the design and technology development of the following level 2 systems:

Thermal power transfer system (TPTS): this system integrates the coolant and heat from the Tokamak In-Vessel Components and transfers the heat to the working fluid and power generation system.

Working fluid and power generation system (WFPGS): this system uses the integrated heat from the TPTS within a thermodynamic power cycle to generate power. For clarity this system is the thermodynamic power cycle and associated equipment.

Site water and waste heat system (SWWHS): this system rejects the low-grade waste heat from the power cycle and parasitic loads to the environment using cooling systems.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://ukifs.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Engineering-services./PMH3W3VTJ2

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://ukifs.delta-esourcing.com/respond/PMH3W3VTJ2

Total value (estimated):

GBP 9,500,000 excluding VAT GBP 11,400,000 including VAT

Contract dates (estimated)

01/06/2026 to 31/03/2029

CPV Classifications:

71300000 - Engineering services.
72244000 - Prototyping services.

Delivery regions:

UK UNITED KINGDOM
   

Engagement

Engagement deadline
09/01/2026
The engagement has not yet been carried out.Engagement process description:
Scope of Preliminary Market Engagement Purposes & Activities:

This Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise is intended to gather information from potential suppliers regarding the design and development of Step Power Cycle and Cooling Development. The engagement is currently expected to take place in two stages: The first stage involves a written submission via the questionnaire, which should be returned by 10:00 hrs (UK Time) on 9th January 2026 . The second stage will be an online presentation (delivered by UKIFS) and Q&A session that multiple suppliers may attend. This is expected to take place on 14th January 2026, at 14:00 until 16:00, UK Time (indicative only, subject to change).

For the avoidance of doubt: Suppliers who wish to attend the presentation and Q&A session will need to confirm that they wish to participate by indicating this within the questionnaire and submitting this via Delta as directed.

Supplier's who do not to respond to this notice are NOT thereby excluded from any subsequent tender process for this workstream.

As part of this PME, UKIFS may carry out a range of activities. These may include, but are not limited to: Issuing follow-up questions to suppliers and reviewing their responses; engaging in discussions with suppliers either collectively or individually, such as through webinars or workshops; seeking feedback on proposed requirements; exploring procurement approaches; identifying potentially suitable suppliers; assessing market capacity; and discussing possible contractual terms. PME may also be used to support the development of award criteria and the refinement of tender documentation.

Any information provided in this notice, such as CPV codes, estimated contract values, anticipated contract dates and durations, and proposed engagement timelines - are indicative only and based on UKIFS’s current understanding. These details may be subject to change.

The purpose of PME is to improve our understanding of the market, refine our requirements, and shape our procurement strategy. The list of purposes and activities included herein is illustrative rather than exhaustive, and the nature, extent and timetable of engagement may evolve in line with UKIFS’s needs.

Contracting authority

       UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd, PCRM-7973-DCBL
       Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, OX14 3DB, United Kingdom
       Email: operationalprocurement.step@ukifs.uk
       Contact: Operational Procurement
       Address of the buyer profile: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-industrial-fusion-solutions

Organisation type: BODY_PUBLIC
Devolved regulations that apply: None