Official UK procurement notice
Open Air Diffusion Bonding Technology
Authority: UK Fusion Energy Ltd (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe open-air diffusion bonding technology presents a unique approach to manufacture of large-scale tungsten components. Unlike both traditional and advanced methods, this technique eliminates the need for vacuum conditions or tightly controlled atmospheres, thereby offering a more scalable and cost-effective solution for industrial applications.
7-month project for continuation of technical work that will further the Intellectual Property application related to open air diffusion bonding technology for fusion application.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedProcedure 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
- 20 Aug 2025, 14:12 BST
- Last source update
- 20 Aug 2025, 14:12 BST
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-050210- Latest notice
- Transparency notice (UK5)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-058b67Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Intellectual Property Exclusive Rights
- Published justification
Imperial College London hold the initial patent (P78409GB) on the technology under consideration and have carried out technology development work on the process for fusion (STEP) application (FY 24-25) under the Manufacturing Framework (project ID: MFFW034).
To work directly with ICL is considered the best-value option due to the pre-existing foundation of technical knowledge and associated background IP owned by ICL.
Notice history
2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 20 Aug 2025- Transparency notice published20 Aug 2025, 14:12 BSTUK5
- Contract signature expected1 Sept 2025, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial College of Science, Technology and MedicineOpen Air Diffusion Bonding2 Sept 2025 – 31 Mar 2026 | £220,000 | — | Standstill |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINEAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender