Official UK procurement notice
Small Scale Experiments for Tritium Breeding (SSETB)
Authority: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
What is being bought4 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionA programme of four scientific experiments in the field of Tritium Breeding.
CPV: Research and development consultancy services · Research and development services and related consultancy services · Research consultancy services · Research services
Lots and requirements (4)Procurement structure
4 lots · all with a published value (£3,200,000 together) · a supplier may bid for at most 1 of them · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Solid lithium ceramicsAwarded South EastPublished value£800,000
A research programme to address a critical aspect of the tritium breeding technology based on solid lithium ceramics. Delivery of a small-scale experiment or other project, preferably based on an existing experimental or other capability. Additional information: Refer to the ITT.
Lot #2Lithium in liquid phaseAwarded South East, South WestPublished value£800,000
Aa research programme to address a critical aspect of the tritium breeding technology based on the use of lithium in liquid phase (either as a pure metal or as part of mixture/eutectic) as the breeding material (and potential the tritium carrier medium). Delivery of a small-scale experiment or other project, preferably based on an existing experimental or other capability within your organisation, that could support the fusion community to develop in future larger breeder experiments. Additional information: Refer to the ITT.
Lot #3Molten salt of lithiumCancelled South EastPublished value£800,000
A research programme to address a critical aspect of the tritium breeding technology based on the use of a molten salt of lithium for the breeding and neutron-moderating material. Delivery of a small-scale experiment or other project, preferably based on an existing experimental or other capability within your organisation. Additional information: Refer to the ITT.
Lot #4Digital Simulation and modellingAwarded South EastPublished value£800,000
A research programme to address a critical aspect of the tritium breeding technology based on the use of Digital Simulation and Modelling of a Neutron Source, the breeding in a range of materials, neutron-moderating materials and geometries pertinent to the three technology families in the above lots. Delivery of a small-scale in-silico experimental project, preferably based on an existing computational science or other capability within your organisation, that could support the fusion community. Additional information: Refer to the ITT.
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).
Published sub-criteria (1)
- Quality Questionnaire: 100%
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality Questionnaire: 100
- Price: 0
- Suitability
Refer to Procurement Documents for information.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 31 Oct 2024, 16:19 GMT
- Last source update
- 7 Feb 2025, 11:31 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- 3 Dec 2024 – …
- Authority reference
T/LB161/24- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-004133- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04b30fFind a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
- Performance terms
Refer to Procurement Documents for information.
- Review procedure
VI.4.2)Body responsible for mediation procedures
VI.4.3)Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
The authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers.
This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to seek further debriefing from the authority before a contract is entered into applicants have 2 working days from the notification of the award decision to request. Additional debriefing and that information have to be provided within a minimum of 3 working days before the expiry of the standstill period. Such additional information should be sought from the contact named in this notice.
If an appeal regarding the award of a contract has not been successfully resolved, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No. 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
Any such action must be brought promptly.
(generally within 3 months).
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 3 Dec 2024, 17:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission","written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 60 days from the deadline
- Bids opened
- 3 Dec 2024, 17:00 GMT
Timeline
3 Dec 2024 → 7 Feb 2025 · 4 dates- Submission deadline3 Dec 2024, 17:00 GMT
- Bids opened3 Dec 2024, 17:00 GMT
- Contract starts9 Jan 2025
- Notice published7 Feb 2025, 11:31 GMT
Notice history
1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender- Status changed to complete7 Feb 2025, 11:31 GMT
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Solid lithium ceramics4 awards | |||
| Astral SystemsSME | £3,104,901 † | — | Awarded |
| Lancaster University | £3,104,901 † | — | Awarded |
| Oxford SigmaSME | £3,104,901 † | — | Awarded |
| University of Birmingham | £3,104,901 † | — | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Lithium in liquid phase2 awards | |||
| Kyoto Fusioneering | £1,529,631 † | — | Awarded |
| Tokamak Energy LtdSME | £1,529,631 † | — | Awarded |
| Lot 4 · Digital Simulation and modelling3 awards | |||
| IDOM UK LimitedSME | £2,763,295 † | — | Awarded |
| Materials, University of Manchester | £2,763,295 † | — | Awarded |
| Amentum Clean Energy Ltd | £2,763,295 † | — | Awarded |
| Not linked to a lot1 award | |||
| The University of EdinburghLot 3 Molten salt of lithium | £800,000 † | — | Awarded |
1 further award records carry no date or value.
Contracts
Lot 1 Solid lithium ceramics · Astral SystemsSME
- Signed
- 17 Jan 2025
- Value
- £3,104,901
- Period
- … – 31 Mar 2026
- Status
- active
Lot 4 Digital Simulation and modelling · IDOM UK LimitedSME
- Signed
- 17 Jan 2025
- Value
- £2,763,295
- Period
- … – 31 Mar 2026
- Status
- active
Lot 4 Digital Simulation and modelling · Materials, University of Manchester
- Signed
- 17 Jan 2025
- Value
- £2,763,295
- Period
- … – 31 Mar 2026
- Status
- active
Lot 1 Solid lithium ceramics · Lancaster University
- Signed
- 17 Jan 2025
- Value
- £3,104,901
- Period
- … – 31 Mar 2026
- Status
- active
Lot 1 Solid lithium ceramics · Oxford SigmaSME
- Signed
- 17 Jan 2025
- Value
- £3,104,901
- Period
- … – 31 Mar 2026
- Status
- active
Lot 1 Solid lithium ceramics · University of Birmingham
- Signed
- 17 Jan 2025
- Value
- £3,104,901
- Period
- … – 31 Mar 2026
- Status
- active
Lot 2 Lithium in liquid phase · Kyoto Fusioneering
- Signed
- 17 Jan 2025
- Value
- £1,529,631
- Period
- … – 31 Mar 2026
- Status
- active
Lot 2 Lithium in liquid phase · Tokamak Energy LtdSME
- Signed
- 17 Jan 2025
- Value
- £1,529,631
- Period
- … – 31 Mar 2026
- Status
- active
Lot 3 Molten salt of lithium · The University of Edinburgh
- Signed
- 17 Jan 2025
- Value
- £800,000
- Status
- active
Lot 4 Digital Simulation and modelling · Amentum Clean Energy Ltd
- Signed
- 17 Jan 2025
- Value
- £2,763,295
- Period
- … – 31 Mar 2026
- Status
- active
Lot 4 Digital Simulation and modelling
- Signed
- 17 Jan 2025
- Value
- £2,763,295
- Period
- … – 31 Mar 2026
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Solid lithium ceramics | 4bids · 4 electronic | — | — | — |
| 2 · Lithium in liquid phase | 2bids · 2 electronic | — | — | — |
| 4 · Digital Simulation and modelling | 5bids · 4 electronic | — | — | — |
| Whole notice | 1bids · 1 electronic | — | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- UK Atomic Energy AuthorityMediation bodyReview bodyReview contact point
Bidders & participating suppliers
11 commercial parties on the notice- Amentum Clean Energy Limited (formerly Jacobs Clean Energy Limited)Awarded supplier
- Astral SystemsAwarded supplier
- Bangor University - Nuclear Futures InstituteAwarded supplier
- IDOM UK LimitedAwarded supplier
- Kyoto FusioneeringAwarded supplier
- Lancaster UniversityAwarded supplier
- Materials, University of ManchesterAwarded supplier
- Oxford SigmaAwarded supplier
- Tokamak EnergyAwarded supplier
- University of BirminghamAwarded supplier
- University of EdinburghAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria