UK

Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice

Information

Published

External Reference: 2023-544481

FTS Reference: 2023-030766

Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice

Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Services

Section I: Contracting authority/entity

I.1)

Name and addresses

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
N/A
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
UK
Contact person: Maili Nugent
Telephone: +44 1235468141
E-mail: Maili.nugent@ukaea.uk
NUTS code:  UKJ14 -  Oxfordshire
Internet address(es):
Main address: http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority

I.4)

Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law
I.5)

Main activity

Other activity:  Fusion Research

Section II: Object

II.1)

Scope of the procurement

II.1.1)

Title

Project FORGE (Fusion Optimisation and Research by Geometric-integration of Electron-screening)
II.1.2)

Main CPV code

73110000  -  Research services
II.1.3)

Type of contract

Services
II.1.4)

Short description

This is for a collaborative R&D project.
II.1.6)

Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: no
II.1.7)

Total value of the procurement

Value excluding VAT:  300000.00  GBP
II.2)

Description

II.2.2)

Additional CPV code(s)

73110000  -  Research services
II.2.3)

Place of performance

NUTS code:  UKJ14 -  Oxfordshire
II.2.4)

Description of the procurement

Astral System Limited will lead a collaborative R&D project with the end goal to:
1) Explore different candidate LCF deuterium enriched materials and decide on the optimal material for a Mark-1 MSF DT reactor.
2) Test the different materials to better understand degradation, longevity, and fuel retention under operational and stress tested conditions.
II.2.11)

Information about options

Options: no
II.2.13)

Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)

Description

IV.1.1)

Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the Find a Tender service in the cases listed below
  • The contract falls outside the scope of application of the regulation
Explanation
UKAEA have been engaging the neutron source community to assess the degree of research alignment that might be possible in each source scenario. This is an extension of this work and to achieve the best possible outcome in this area, UKAEA needs to engage a specialist consultant to enhance our knowledge of the topic and unique scientific support .
IV.1.8)

Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement : yes
IV.2)

Administrative information

Section V: Award of contract/concession

V.2)

Award of contract/concession

V.2.1)

Date of conclusion of the contract/concession award decision

16/10/2023
V.2.2)

Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators :  no
V.2.3)

Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Astral Neutronics Ltd. DBA Astral Systems
Unit 12 Dorset Innovation Park, Winfrith Newburgh
Dorchester
DT2 8ZB
UK
NUTS code:  UKK25 -  Dorset

The contractor/concessionaire will be an SME : no
V.2.4)

Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot/concession:  300000.00  GBP

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.4)

Procedures for review

VI.4.1)

Review body

UK Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
UK
Internet address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority

VI.4.2)

Body responsible for mediation procedures

UK Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
UK
Internet address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority

VI.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).
VI.4.4)

Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained

UK Atomic Energy Authority
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
UK
Internet address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority