Official UK procurement notice
Materials Testing Framework for STEP
Authority: UK Fusion Energy Ltd (Public body)
What is being bought6 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionUKIFS STEP programme seeks to establish a materials testing framework to enable timely and efficient testing of magnet and Vacuum vessel and in-vessel systems (ViVS) materials over the next eight years. The purpose of this procurement is to pre-qualify a number of market-leading specialist test providers who will be called upon to fulfil the requirements for testing as and when these requirements (“call-off contracts”) arise. UKIFS will enter into Framework Agreement contract with these suppliers, which will be used as an overarching contract putting in place a compliant mechanism to order specific tests.
CPV: Engineering-related scientific and technical services · Research and experimental development services · Research, testing and scientific technical simulator · Technical testing services · Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Bids received
- 7 bids on the busiest of 6 lots · 7 suppliers appointed
- Framework period
- 2 yrs · up to 3 yrs from 31 Oct 2025
- Scheme runs until
- 30 Nov 2028
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- not applicable
Published description of the framework
Please refer to procurement documents for the selection process for the award of contracts.
- High Field Testing · UK Fusion Energy Ltd · 6 Aug 2026
- Mechanical Testing of Titanium Stabilised Austenitic Stainless Steel Grades · UK Fusion Energy Ltd · 6 Aug 2026
- Thermophysical Testing of Titanium Stabilised Austenitic Stainless-Steel Grades · UK Fusion Energy Ltd · 6 Aug 2026
- W2B5 4-point bend: A · UK Fusion Energy Ltd · 6 Aug 2026
- Critical Current Density Measurements · UK Fusion Energy Ltd · 6 Aug 2026
Notices that name this framework as their framework in the official record, latest 5 of 6. Many call-offs are never published, so this is a floor, not utilisation.
Lots and requirements (6)Procurement structure
6 lots · all with a published value · evaluation weights differ by lotEvery one of these 6 lots carries the same published figure, £700,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.
Lot #1Magnets Materials Mechanical and Thermal testsAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #2Magnets Materials Electrical TestsAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #3Magnets Materials HTS TestsAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #4VIVS Mechanical TestsAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #5VIVS Thermophysical TestsAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #6VIVS Miscellaneous TestsAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.
| Lot | Quality | Price | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Magnets Materials Mechanical and Thermal tests | 90% | 10% | |
| 2 · Magnets Materials Electrical Tests | 100% | — | |
| 3 · Magnets Materials HTS Tests | 100% | — | |
| 4 · VIVS Mechanical Tests | 80% | 20% | |
| 5 · VIVS Thermophysical Tests | 80% | 20% | |
| 6 · VIVS Miscellaneous Tests | 100% | — |
- Price carries 10–20 points depending on the lot; most lots put it at 20 points.
- “Materials Testing Framework for STEP” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Open framework scheme
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA, CPTPP)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 30 Jul 2025, 19:05 BST
- Last source update
- 6 Aug 2026, 14:56 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 7 Oct 2025
- Authority reference
PP-UKIFS-247- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-044513- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05699aFind a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 22 Sept 2025, 14:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 12 Sept 2025, 17:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- call-off levy · not applicable
Compliant tenders must be submitted before the deadline through the tendering platform www.delta-esourcing.com ↗
Timeline
30 Jul 2025 → 6 Aug 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published30 Jul 2025, 19:05 BST
- Clarification questions by12 Sept 2025, 17:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends394 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown22 Sept 2025, 14:00 BST
- Award decision expected by378 days ago7 Oct 2025, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts355 days ago31 Oct 2025
- Assessment summaries sent348 days ago7 Nov 2025
- Standstill ends336 days ago18 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Latest notice published76 days ago6 Aug 2026, 14:56 BST
Notice history
9 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 30 Jul 2025- Tender notice published30 Jul 2025, 19:05 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published12 Aug 2025, 14:05 BSTUK4
- Deadline moved to 10 Sept 2025, 11:00 BST12 Aug 2025, 14:05 BST+13 days · was 28 Aug 2025, 14:00 BST
- Tender notice published28 Aug 2025, 19:05 BSTUK4
- Deadline moved to 22 Sept 2025, 14:00 BST28 Aug 2025, 19:05 BST+12 days · was 10 Sept 2025, 11:00 BST
- Contract award notice published7 Nov 2025, 19:05 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete7 Nov 2025, 19:05 GMT
- Contract signature expected20 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published6 Aug 2026, 14:56 BSTUK7
Routine re-releases (5)
- 2025-08: 1 release · 12 Aug 2025
- 2025-07: 1 release · 30 Jul 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast£700,000 inc. VAT is the framework's published maximum, restated by the publisher on 6 award rows. It is one ceiling, not 6 separate sums, and no share per lot is published; those rows read “ceiling above”.
| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Magnets Materials Mechanical and Thermal tests1 award | |||
| Amentum Clean Energy LtdVCSE, NPL Management Limited, University of Strathclyde1 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2027 · up to 30 Nov 2028Extensions: The first framework term can be extended by one year. | ceiling above | 7 Nov 2025 | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Magnets Materials Electrical Tests1 award | |||
| Fujikura Europe Ltd. , Kinectrics UK LimitedSME, University of Strathclyde1 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2027 · up to 30 Nov 2028Extensions: The first framework term can be extended by one year. | ceiling above | 7 Nov 2025 | Awarded |
| Lot 3 · Magnets Materials HTS Tests1 award | |||
| Oxford SigmaSME, Tohoku University, University of Strathclyde1 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2027 · up to 30 Nov 2028Extensions: The first framework term can be extended by one year. | ceiling above | 7 Nov 2025 | Awarded |
| Lot 4 · VIVS Mechanical Tests1 award | |||
| Amentum Clean Energy LtdVCSE1 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2027 · up to 30 Nov 2028Extensions: The first framework term can be extended by one year. | ceiling above | 7 Nov 2025 | Awarded |
| Lot 5 · VIVS Thermophysical Tests1 award | |||
| Amentum Clean Energy LtdVCSE, NPL Management Limited1 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2027 · up to 30 Nov 2028Extensions: The first framework term can be extended by one year. | ceiling above | 7 Nov 2025 | Awarded |
| Lot 6 · VIVS Miscellaneous Tests1 award | |||
| Amentum Clean Energy LtdVCSE, Kinectrics UK LimitedSME1 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2027 · up to 30 Nov 2028Extensions: The first framework term can be extended by one year. | ceiling above | 7 Nov 2025 | Awarded |
Contracts
All 6 of these contracts carry the same published figure, £583,333, the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each contract's own value. They are not eleven separate sums.
Contract 1 · Amentum Clean Energy LtdVCSE, NPL Management Limited, University of Strathclyde
- Signed
- 20 Nov 2025
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 1 Dec 2025 – 30 Oct 2027 · up to 30 Nov 2028 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The first framework term can be extended by one year.
Contract 2 · Fujikura Europe Ltd. , Kinectrics UK LimitedSME, University of Strathclyde
- Signed
- 20 Nov 2025
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 1 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2027 · up to 30 Nov 2028 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The first framework term can be extended by one year.
Contract 3 · Oxford SigmaSME, Tohoku University, University of Strathclyde
- Signed
- 20 Nov 2025
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 1 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2027 · up to 30 Nov 2028 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The first framework term can be extended by one year.
Contract 4 · Amentum Clean Energy LtdVCSE
- Signed
- 20 Nov 2025
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 1 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2027 · up to 30 Nov 2028 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The first framework term can be extended by one year.
Contract 5 · Amentum Clean Energy LtdVCSE, NPL Management Limited
- Signed
- 20 Nov 2025
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 1 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2027 · up to 30 Nov 2028 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The first framework term can be extended by one year.
Contract 6 · Amentum Clean Energy LtdVCSE, Kinectrics UK LimitedSME
- Signed
- 20 Nov 2025
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 1 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2027 · up to 30 Nov 2028 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The first framework term can be extended by one year.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Magnets Materials Mechanical and Thermal tests | 6final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Magnets Materials Electrical Tests | 3final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
| 3 · Magnets Materials HTS Tests | 6final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
| 4 · VIVS Mechanical Tests | 7final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
| 5 · VIVS Thermophysical Tests | 4final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
| 6 · VIVS Miscellaneous Tests | 5final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
8 commercial parties on the notice- Altrad Babcock LimitedFramework contractor
- Amentum Clean Energy LimitedFramework contractor
- Fujikura Europe LtdFramework contractor
- Kinectrics UK LimitedFramework contractor
- NPL Management LimitedFramework contractor
- Oxford Sigma LimitedFramework contractor
- Tohoku UniversityFramework contractor
- University of StrathclydeFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (15)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
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