Official UK procurement notice
STEP Construction Partner (CP)
Authority: United Kingdom Fusion Energy·Consortium: 3 public authorities
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionUKIFS (now UKFE) has conducted this Procurement for a Construction Partner, who, together with a Fusion Partner (determined to be United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)), will bring together and develop extensive industrial capabilities to design and build a UK prototype fusion energy plant capable of delivering net-energy to the grid, and build a world-leading fusion delivery industry.
The Procurement was originally divided into two lots:
- Lot 1: Engineering Partner (EP)
- Lot 2: Construction Partner (CP)
However, Lot 1 – EP has since been cancelled. Lot 2 – CP is now the only Lot included in this Procurement exercise.
The contract term for Lot 2 will expire 31 March 2029, followed by three (3) optional extension periods of four (4), six (6) and seven (7) years.
UKFE will have the right to exercise an extension option at six (6) months’ notice. The maximum contract duration will be twenty (20) years with an estimated value of £10,000,000,000 across this period.
CPV: Advisory and consultative engineering services · Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services · Architectural, engineering and planning services · Architectural, engineering and surveying services · Civil engineering consultancy services · Construction consultancy services · Construction management services · Construction project management services · Construction supervision services · Construction work for engineering works except bridges, tunnels, shafts and subways · Construction work for industrial buildings · Construction work for manufacturing plant · +27 more
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value (£20,000,000,000 together) · a supplier may bid for at most 1 of themLot #1Engineering Partner (EP)RenewalPublished value£10,000,000,000
The Engineering Partner’s (EP) primary responsibility will be to provide the capability to drive the integrated design of the STEP Prototype Plant (SPP), and to then manufacture that plant through a developing supply chain. This includes (but not be limited to) providing capabilities for management of all engineering data, responsibility for the detailed design of SPP systems, equipment, and components, and contracting through the engineering supply chain. The EP will be responsible for leading a supply chain which delivers the manufacture and assembly of the SPP components. See the procurement documents for further details.
Lot #2Construction PartnerAwardedRenewalPublished value£10,000,000,000
The Construction Partner’s (CP) primary responsibility will be to collaboratively provide the capability to drive the integrated design of the overall layout, buildings, infrastructure, onsite and offsite facilities of the STEP Prototype Plant (SPP) to fulfil the support, enclosure and environmental requirements of the operational plant. The CP will then purchase, fabricate, deliver and install all elements of the designed facilities utilising existing and new supply chains, directly sourced or contracted resources. The CP’s responsibilities will include (but not be limited to) managing the overall health, safety, environment and security systems applicable to all parties engaged at the site. Additional information: Lot 1 for the Engineering Partner (EP) was cancelled and will not be awarded. Only Lot 2 for the Construction Partner (CP) forms part of this notice.
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 (6)
- Corporate: Economic Value: 15%
- Programme: 17%
- Technical: 18%
- Cultural: Behavioural and Collaborative Assessment: 15%
- price: 25%
- Corporate: Social Value: 10%
- Suitability
Refer to Procurement Documents for information.
- Successive reduction
- Candidates will be reduced successively across stages
- Price carries 25 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Competitive dialogue
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Works
- 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
- 22 Aug 2022, 17:42 BST
- Last source update
- 22 Apr 2026, 12:28 BST
- Authority reference
T-SP050-22- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-036554- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0361bfFind a Tender
- Performance terms
Refer to Procurement Documents for information.
- Review procedure
In accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015, the authority will observe a minimum ten (10) calendar day standstill period at the point that information regarding the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers.
If an appeal regarding the award of a contract has not been successfully resolved by the authority, the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the Regulations to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
Publisher note: UKAEA is launching this procurement on behalf of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Limited (UKIFS). UKIFS will take over responsibility for running the procurement when it is established part way through the procurement process and will be the client entity that will enter into the contracts at the conclusion of the procurement.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 12 Jul 2024, 13:00 BST
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission","written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
30 Apr 2023 → 22 Apr 2026 · 3 dates- Next notice expected30 Apr 2023, 00:00 BST
- Submission deadline12 Jul 2024, 13:00 BST
- Notice published187 days ago22 Apr 2026, 12:28 BST
Notice history
7 events · 9 releases on Find a Tender · since 10 Nov 2022- Published value updated to £20,000,000,00010 Nov 2022, 17:07 GMTwas £10,000,000,000
- Status changed to active22 May 2024, 14:19 BST
- Procurement method changed22 May 2024, 14:19 BST
- Deadline published: 12 Jul 2024, 13:00 BST22 May 2024, 14:19 BST
- Buyer details updated22 May 2024, 14:19 BST
- Status changed to complete22 Apr 2026, 12:28 BST
- Buyer details updated22 Apr 2026, 12:28 BST
Published amendments (5 · 1 deadline change)
| When | What | Before | After | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | TextShort Description · II.14 | — | We will shortly be commencing pre-market engagement for this opportunity. If you would like to express an interest in participating, please refer to the details within the attached document located in EU Supply via the link in this notice. | |
| — | Text1.A | Email address updated | [email protected] | |
| — | DeadlineExpression of Interest Date · Final | 26 Sept 2022 | 30 Sept 2023 | +369 d |
Date extended to September 2023 for Pre - Market Engagement.
Revised Clarification Deadline now 2nd August 2024 at 1:00pm Revised SQ Deadline now 16th August 2024 at 1:00pm
SQ Response Deadline changed from 16/08/2024 at 1300hrs to 30/08/2024 at 1300hrs.
2 amendments published without a description.
Routine re-releases (9)
- 2024-05: 1 release · 22 May 2024
- 2023-04: 1 release · 18 Apr 2023
- 2022-11: 1 release · 10 Nov 2022
- 2022-08: 3 releases · 22 Aug 2022, 25 Aug 2022
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 2 · Construction Partner1 award | |||
| ILIOSSTEP Engineering Partner and Construction Partner | £10,000,000,000 †very large published value · not counted until verified, check the notice | — | Awarded |
Contracts
STEP Engineering Partner and Construction Partner · ILIOS
- Signed
- 2 Apr 2026
- Value
- £10,000,000,000
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 · Construction Partner | 3bids · 3 electronic | 0 | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- United Kingdom Atomic Energy AuthorityContracting authorityBody governed by public lawFusion Research
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- The High CourtMediation bodyReview bodyReview contact point
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- ILIOSAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria