Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
Contact
Vincent Tsang
Telephone
+44 1235466444
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
National registration number
N/A
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
Buyer's address
https://uk.eu-supply.com/ctm/Company/CompanyInformation/Index/72814
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Fusion Research
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
SBRI Cycle 2 Phase 2 Further Competition
Reference number
T/CMK053/23
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73110000 - Research services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition funded by the UK Atomic Energy Authority. The aim of the competition is to develop solutions to fusion energy challenges in two key priority areas. The competition has two themes. Theme 1: Driving up fusion power plant performance with innovative heating and cooling systems Theme 2: Improving fusion power plant availability with novel fusion materials, technology, and manufacture
This is also a Phase 2 Competition from the successful delivery of Phase 1.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £11,662,910.03
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Driving up fusion power plant performance with innovative heating and cooling systems
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73110000 - Research services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
A Phase 2 Pre-Commercial Procurement under SBRI.
1. Driving up fusion power plant performance with innovative heating and cooling systems.
Projects can focus on one or more of the following under this theme:
Microwave heating challenges:
high power, long pulse microwave sources with high electrical efficiency (greater than or equal to 55%)
development of special waveguide components, for example, diamond window assemblies, power monitors, expansion units, vacuum pumping access
improvements on the high voltage power supplies (50kV) for reduced voltage ripple in a compact assembly while maintaining high electrical efficiency (greater than or equal to 98%)
development of optical mirrors for evacuation of high thermal loads (approximately 5MW/m2)
high precision optical alignment assemblies for the free space to waveguide coupling
Neutral particle beam heating challenges:
negative ion beam system with high electrical efficiency (greater than 60%)
improved beam neutralisation efficiency, for example, Plasma or Laser Neutralisers
development of residual ion energy recovery.
improved negative ion source efficiency with caesium free operation
reduction in scale; improved ion optics, source uniformity and power handling to reduce size of components
development of actively cooled high heat flux components (approximately 5-10 MW/m2) with reactor relevant materials
development of fault tolerant 1-2MV fast switching power supply systems with high electrical efficiency
development of vacuum pumping systems with pumping speeds of millions of litres per second which allow continuous operation
Reactor high heat flux components:
jet impingement cooling technology transfer
sCO2 as coolant
diamond components for heat dispersion
novel discrete limiter designs, for example, vaporisation layers, speed of maintenance or increased heat flux performance
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Themes and Proposed idea of technology / Weighting: 5
Quality criterion - Name: Technical project summary / Weighting: 20
Quality criterion - Name: Current State of the art and intellectual property / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: Project plan and methodology / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: Organisation and team expertise / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: Commercial potential / Weighting: 15
Cost criterion - Name: Cost and value for money / Weighting: 15
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
All applicants that received a total average score of 7 were invited to the second stage of the evaluation, which was an assessment centre, evaluated across four overarching topics, scored out of 5.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Improving fusion power plant availability with novel fusion materials, technology, and manufacture
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73110000 - Research services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
A Phase 2 Pre-Commercial Procurement under SBRI.
. Improving fusion power plant availability with novel fusion materials, technology, and manufacture
Projects can focus on one or more of the following under this theme:
fusion grade steels, for example, reduced activation Ferritic or Martensitic (RAFM) development, including, Castable Nanostructured Alloys (CNAs), and Oxide Dispersion Strengthened (ODS) steels
liquid Metal testing, for example Li, PbLi and Pb
scalable or large volume manufacture of tritium breeder materials
irradiation resilient joining materials and processes, for example, Tungsten based armour materials, CuCrZr or vacuum vessel ports including fused silica, Mo, MgAl2O4, ZnS, ZnSe
novel manufacture of multi-metre complex structures and components for fusion environments testing and evaluation
scalable or large volume manufacture of neutron shielding materials
manufacture of complex geometry components in refractory metals
additive manufacture for non-water coolant components
anti-corrosion coatings or novel application methods of corrosion and tritium barrier coatings for complex geometry components
development of on-line activation measurements
in situ health monitoring of fusion reactor components
novel inspection of interfaces in complex multi-material fusion components
radiation hard improvements for fusion equipment and plant
novel energy conversion technology
high temperature superconductors
composite materials such as silicon carbide fibre, reinforced silicon carbide
novel materials for radiation hard electronic components
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Themes and proposed idea of technology / Weighting: 5
Quality criterion - Name: Technical project summary / Weighting: 20
Quality criterion - Name: Current State of the art and intellectual property / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: Project plan and methodology / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: Organisation and team expertise / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: Commercial potential / Weighting: 15
Cost criterion - Name: Cost and value for money / Weighting: 15
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
All applicants that received a total average score of 7 were invited to the second stage of the evaluation, which was an assessment centre, evaluated across four overarching topics, scored out of 5.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
Pre-commercial Procurement. Not subject to Public Contract Regulation 2015.
https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/guidance-for-applicants/general-guidance/#contents-list
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
13761
Lot No
1
Title
FIP SBRI C2P2 - Coreflow
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 August 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 17
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
TWI LIMITED
Bevan Braithwaite Building Granta Park
Great Abington
CB21 6AL
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH1 - East Anglia
National registration number
03859442
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £999,428.26
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
13763
Lot No
1
Title
FIP SBRI C2P2 - Critical heat flux shifter and wall temperature reduction device
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 August 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 17
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
CAL GAVIN LIMITED
Minerva Mill Innovation Centre, Station Road, Alcester
Warwickshire
B49 5ET
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG1 - Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,040,325.62
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
13760
Lot No
2
Title
FIP SBRI C2P2 - TRONN
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 August 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 17
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Duality Quantum Photonics
Bourse, St Brandon's House, 29 Great George Street
Bristol
BS1 5QT
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,426,160.27
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
13762
Lot No
2
Title
FIP SBRI C2P2 - RAMP-UP
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 August 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 17
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Alloyed Limited
Unit 15 Oxford Pioneer Park, Mead Road, Yarnton
Oxfordshire
OX5 1QU
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,498,202.48
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
13764
Lot No
2
Title
FIP SBRI C2P2 – Development of a prototype for remote in-service in situ health monitoring of complex fusion supply pipe
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 August 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 17
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Full Matrix Ltd
27 Harcombe Road
Cambridge
CB1 9PD
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £534,939.20
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
13765
Lot No
2
Title
FIP SBRI C2P2 – Liquid Lithium Test Facility
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 August 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 17
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Jacobs
Cottons Centre, Cottons Lane
London
SE1 2QG
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,463,242.94
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
13766
Lot No
2
Title
FIP SBRI C2P2 - Lithium Testing Facility by Oxford Sigma for Fusion
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 August 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 17
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Oxford Sigma
Harwell Innovation Centre, 173 Curie Avenue
Didcot
OX11 0QG
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,499,704.82
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
13767
Lot No
2
Title
FIP SBRI C2P2 - CSAM
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 August 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 17
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
TWI Limited
Granta park, Great Abington
Cambridgeshire
CB21 6AL
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £808,542.40
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
13768
Lot No
2
Title
FIP SBRI C2P2 - FATHOM2
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 August 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 17
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
The University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG31 - Birmingham
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,496,361.96
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract is likely to be subcontracted
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
13769
Lot No
2
Title
FIP SBRI C2P2 - UHTEDS
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 August 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 17
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
3-Sci
Innovation Centre, 4 Meteor way
Lee-on-the-Solent
PO13 9FU
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKK41 - Plymouth
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £896,002.08
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
UK Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
UK Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
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).
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
UK Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority