Official UK procurement notice
SBRI FIP Challenge Application
Authority: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThis 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. This competition has two themes:
Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools
Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for hydrogen isotopes
This is phase 1 of a potential 2 phase competition. A decision to proceed with phase 2 will depend on the outcomes from phase 1 and assessment of a separate application into a subsequent phase 2 competition.
Only successful applicants from phase 1 will be able to apply to take part in phase 2. Applicants for phase 2 will need to apply directly to the UK Atomic Energy Authority.
CPV: Research and experimental development services · Research consultancy services
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · no lot values published · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital toolsAwarded
A Pre-commercial Procurement Activity
1.Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools
To meet Net Zero targets, there is not enough time for traditional Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) approach for fusion power plants. Increasing emphasis will be placed upon emerging innovation from in silico engineering design:
Exascale artificial Intelligence era Digital Thread platform
beyond current Product Lifecycle Management
endures for the lifetime of the product (100 years)
low-code
time efficient
scalable
enable and promote automation
enable design integration
Optimise the extraction of information and knowledge from experiment and simulation
Text update 19 May 2021: we have changed the detail below to clarify what we are looking for in applications.
data science for experiment and simulation automation and optimisation
decisions based upon all prior data rather than tacit knowledge
dramatically improve extraction of information from data
surrogate models and emulators
improve extrapolation of simulation and empirical data Additional information: apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/925/over… ↗
Lot #2Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for hydrogen isotopesAwarded
A Pre-commercial procurement activity
- Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for Hydrogen isotopes
Tritium is a radioactive isotope with a half-life of around 12 years, because of this natural reserves are scarce. Developing techniques for safely and efficiently managing hydrogen isotopes is an essential step in the path to making fusion a commercial energy source, for example:
Hydrogen Isotope Separation Technologies
improving efficiency of tritium and hydrogen systems (e.g. pumps, sealants, inner loop)
waste management and decommissioning
development of on-line Tritium production measurement (e.g. Raman spectroscopy)
tracking and location of hydrogen, e.g. Atom probe tomography, Raman spectroscopy Additional information: apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/925/over… ↗
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- 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
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 17 Sept 2021, 17:08 BST
- Last source update
- 17 Sept 2021, 17:08 BST
- Authority reference
T/VT169/21- FTS notice number
2021/S 000-023238- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-02e239Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
- Published justification
This was a pre-commercial procurement activity lead by Innovate UK. All information relating to the tender can be found here : apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/925/over… ↗. An open, transparent and fair procurement process was still adhered to despite this RTM falling outside of PCR15.
- Review procedure
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).
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools4 awards | |||
| Assystem Energy and Infrastructure | £73,571 † | — | Awarded |
| CAE Tech LimitedSME | £76,001 † | — | Awarded |
| CORPORATE RISK ASSOSCIATES LIMITEDSME | £50,935 † | — | Awarded |
| FIRST LIGHT FUSION LIMITEDSME | £249,454 † | — | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for hydrogen isotopes6 awards | |||
| Cagecapture LimitedSME | £215,976 † | — | Awarded |
| Gencoa LimitedSME | £137,436 † | — | Awarded |
| IDOM (UK) LTD | £130,327 † | — | Awarded |
| IS-Instruments LimitedSME | £171,518 † | — | Awarded |
| Amentum Clean Energy Ltd | £186,511 † | — | Awarded |
| University of Bristol | £210,872 † | — | Awarded |
5 further award records carry no date or value.
Contracts
Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools
- Signed
- 10 Sept 2021
- Value
- £117,804
- Status
- active
Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools · Assystem Energy and Infrastructure
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2021
- Value
- £73,571
- Status
- active
Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for hydrogen isotopes · Cagecapture LimitedSME
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2021
- Value
- £215,976
- Status
- active
Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for hydrogen isotopes · Gencoa LimitedSME
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2021
- Value
- £137,436
- Status
- active
Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for hydrogen isotopes · IDOM (UK) LTD
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2021
- Value
- £130,327
- Status
- active
Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for hydrogen isotopes · IS-Instruments LimitedSME
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2021
- Value
- £171,518
- Status
- active
Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for hydrogen isotopes · Amentum Clean Energy Ltd
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2021
- Value
- £186,511
- Status
- active
Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for hydrogen isotopes · University of Bristol
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2021
- Value
- £210,872
- Status
- active
Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools · CAE Tech LimitedSME
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2021
- Value
- £76,001
- Status
- active
Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools · CORPORATE RISK ASSOSCIATES LIMITEDSME
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2021
- Value
- £50,935
- Status
- active
Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools · FIRST LIGHT FUSION LIMITEDSME
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2021
- Value
- £249,454
- Status
- active
Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2021
- Value
- £111,210
- Status
- active
Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2021
- Value
- £244,196
- Status
- active
Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for hydrogen isotopes
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2021
- Value
- £237,322
- Status
- active
Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools
- Signed
- 25 Sept 2020
- Value
- £108,926
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Accelerating fusion power plant design with next-generation digital tools | 27bids | — | — | — |
| 2 · Reducing fusion power plant fuel requirements with advanced production and handling technology for hydrogen isotopes | 18bids | — | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- UK Atomic Energy AuthorityMediation bodyReview bodyReview contact point
Bidders & participating suppliers
15 commercial parties on the notice- AQSORPTION LTDAwarded supplier
- ASSYSTEM ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- CAE Tech LimitedAwarded supplier
- CORPORATE RISK ASSOSCIATES LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- Cagecapture LimitedAwarded supplier
- FIRST LIGHT FUSION LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- FULL MATRIX LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- Gencoa LimitedAwarded supplier
- HyBird LtdAwarded supplier
- IDOM (UK) LIMITEDAwarded supplier
Show 5 more suppliers
- IS-INSTRUMENTS LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- Jacobs Clean Energy LimitedAwarded supplier
- SLINGSHOT SIMULATIONSLTDAwarded supplier
- THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTERAwarded supplier
- UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOLAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.