Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
Contact
Charlotte Byrne
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
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
Chemical Vapour Infiltration and Deposition of Silicon Carbide, Carbon, and Oxides
Reference number
T/JM119/22
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 71350000 - Engineering-related scientific and technical services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The purpose of this RFI is to have a better understanding of the capabilities for chemical vapour infiltration of fibre reinforced composites which currently exist. The materials of interest to be manufactured by chemical vapour infiltration or deposition (CVI or CVD) are silicon carbide fibre reinforced composites. The CVI materials will act as the interphase coating on the fibres, and the matrix. Interphase materials of interest include pyrolytic carbon, and rare earth oxides (eg. erbia) and silicates (eg. yttrium disilicate). Matrix materials of interest are silicon carbide, and coatings of interest are silicon carbide and rare earth oxides. Alternative methods of applying sub-micron scale interphases are also of interest.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £140,298
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 71350000 - Engineering-related scientific and technical services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
UKAEA Culham
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The purpose of this RFI is to have a better understanding of the capabilities for chemical vapour infiltration of fibre reinforced composites which currently exist. The materials of interest to be manufactured by chemical vapour infiltration or deposition (CVI or CVD) are silicon carbide fibre reinforced composites. The CVI materials will act as the interphase coating on the fibres, and the matrix. Interphase materials of interest include pyrolytic carbon, and rare earth oxides (eg. erbia) and silicates (eg. yttrium disilicate). Matrix materials of interest are silicon carbide, and coatings of interest are silicon carbide and rare earth oxides. Alternative methods of applying sub-micron scale interphases are also of interest.
The main objective is to find out supplier’s capabilities to produce parts, and obtain an understanding of the possible size, and geometric complexity which can be achieved, including limitations on the supply of raw materials. These parts are intended for material testing, with potential application as structural materials in the blanket of a tokamak fusion reactor. The aims of this RFI are given in section 3.1. UKAEA wish to ask prospective suppliers to answer the requirements in section 3.2. Estimation of cost and timelines would also be appreciated to aid us in planning.
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
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:
A PIN (Prior Information Notice) was issued in August 2022 for these services, and responses were invited from eligible suppliers via an RFI (Request for Information).
Following this exercise, Archer Technicoat Ltd were found to be the primary UK supplier of these specialist services.
Recent market engagement in 2024 has confirmed that Archer Technicoat Ltd are still the primary UK supplier for these specialist services, and therefore the award is justified on the grounds that the "services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator [because] competition is absent for technical reasons".
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2022/S 000-019222
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Title
Fusion Futures: Industrialisation of interphase coatings for silicon carbide fibre composites for flow channel inserts
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
19 November 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Archer Technicoat Ltd
High Wycombe
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ13 - Buckinghamshire CC
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £140,298
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