Find a TenderAwarded without competitionTransparency notice
Published 23 Oct 2026, 13:00 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Unified Training Simulators · UK public procurement notice

Official notice

Authority: UK Atomic Energy Authority (Public body)

Direct awardSME suitableVCSE suitable
Sectors: IT Services & Software (72) Delivery: UK
Awarded value£2,280,000published award · exc. VAT
Award in standstill Not publishedno call for competition
Award (standstill) to UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

What is being bought

Published requirement description

As part of the RAICo programme under the Digital Infrastructure (DI) and Advanced Robotic Control (ARC) Themes, the UKAEA is running several projects to develop digital simulation & digital-twin-in-the loop, to support real-time nuclear operations and planning. To most effectively enable the sites where this capability is deployed, the technology must accurately reflect operations including creating replicas of the environment and highly accurate conditions (such as realistic physics & movement). UKAEA requires access to and development of Toia’s proprietary technology for real-time simulation and digital-twin-in-the loop capability, as an integration to UKAEA’s RHOVR system. “Simulation” in this context means simulation of robot dynamics and wider environment, including cutting, drilling, cable and chain simulation. “Real-time” in this context refers to the simulation running at sufficient frequency to mediate between human interaction and robot control to assist teleoperation, referred to as digital-twin-in-the-loop.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1AwardedSMEVCSE
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Direct award
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
23 Oct 2026, 13:00 BST
Last source update
23 Oct 2026, 13:00 BST
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-100464
Latest notice
Transparency notice (UK5)
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-078ef1 Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Intellectual Property Exclusive Rights
Published justification

Only TOIA can supply the services required, because of its intellectual property and exclusive rights The requirement is for the licensing, support and development of the existing DTIL capability, Delivery is dependent upon access to and continued development of TOIA’s proprietary technology and associated intellectual property. TOIA owns the relevant technology underpinning the existing DTIL capability. The software licences can be granted only by TOIA. The RT² source code is not available to UKAEA or any third party, and the DTIL capability is delivered as built on that engine.

Notice history

2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 23 Oct 2026
  1. Transparency notice published
    23 Oct 2026, 13:00 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract signature expected
    29 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1some still in standstill
Awarded value £2,280,0001 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER29 Oct 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 · up to 31 Mar 2030Extensions: Further similar work£2,280,000—Standstill

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

UK Atomic Energy Authority

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PLJV-1169-JTDD Culham Science Centre, Oxfordshire, South East, OX14 3DBContact name, email, phone

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • TOIA LtdAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PTWB-5852-GWDM Stratford Business And Technology Park, Warwickshire, West Midlands, CV37 7GZContact email

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender