UK

Contract award notice

Information

Published

External Reference: 2025-552765

FTS Reference: 2025-000115

Contract award notice

Contract award notice

Results of the procurement procedure

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1)

Name and addresses

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
N/A
Culham Campus
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
UK
Contact person: Charlotte Byrne
E-mail: charlotte.byrne@ukaea.uk
NUTS code:  UKJ14 -  Oxfordshire
Internet address(es):
Main address: http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
Address of the buyer profile: https://uk.eu-supply.com/ctm/Company/CompanyInformation/Index/72814

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

Diffusion Bonding Furnace
Reference number:  T/CB008/23
II.1.2)

Main CPV code

42300000  -  Industrial or laboratory furnaces, incinerators and ovens
II.1.3)

Type of contract

Supplies
II.1.4)

Short description

UKAEA researches fusion energy and related technologies, with the aim of positioning the UK as a leader in sustainable nuclear energy.
As part of a renovation and upgrade plan of the Special Techniques Group (STG) capabilities, new diffusion bonding equipment has been identified to be added as a key capability.
This project's scope shall include the design, manufacture, installation, and commissioning of a diffusion bonding furnace for UKAEA’s facilities at Oxfordshire.
​The requirement is to procure a capability to create diffusion bonded joints and components for specified materials. Currently, in fusion, there is an increased interest in tungsten and its alloys & CuCrZr components. Diffusion bonding is envisaged as one of the most promising techniques to joint this material.
This procurement will be via a Competitive Dialogue process.
II.1.6)

Information about lots

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

Total value of the procurement

Value excluding VAT:  530000.00  GBP
II.2)

Description

II.2.2)

Additional CPV code(s)

42300000  -  Industrial or laboratory furnaces, incinerators and ovens
II.2.3)

Place of performance

NUTS code:  UKJ14 -  Oxfordshire
NUTS code:  UK -  UNITED KINGDOM
Main site or place of performance:  
Culham
II.2.4)

Description of the procurement

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) was formed in 1954 when the British Government set up a new body to oversee the nation’s nuclear research programme. UKAEA is a non-departmental public body (NDPB), under the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
UKAEA researches fusion energy and related technologies, with the aim of positioning the UK as a leader in sustainable nuclear energy.
As part of a renovation and upgrade plan of the Special Techniques Group (STG) capabilities, new diffusion bonding equipment has been identified to be added as a key capability.
This project's scope shall include the design, manufacture, installation, and commissioning of a diffusion bonding furnace for UKAEA’s facilities at Oxfordshire.
​The requirement is to procure a capability to create diffusion bonded joints and components for specified materials. Currently, in fusion, there is an increased interest in tungsten and its alloys & CuCrZr components. Diffusion bonding is envisaged as one of the most promising techniques to joint this material.
This procurement will be via a Competitive Dialogue process.
II.2.5)

Award criteria

Criteria below
Quality criterion  -  Name:  Working volume  /  Weighting:  10%
Quality criterion  -  Name:  Maximum force  /  Weighting:  10%
Quality criterion  -  Name:  Minimum force  /  Weighting:  10%
Quality criterion  -  Name:  Vacuum pumping  /  Weighting:  10%
Quality criterion  -  Name:  Inert atmosphere  /  Weighting:  10%
Quality criterion  -  Name:  Reducing atmosphere  /  Weighting:  10%
Quality criterion  -  Name:  Delivery schedule  /  Weighting:  10%
Quality criterion  -  Name:  Social value  /  Weighting:  10%
Price  -  Weighting:  20%
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

Competitive dialogue
IV.1.8)

Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

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

Administrative information

IV.2.1)

Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number in the FTS: 2024/S 000-010084

Section V: Award of contract

Contract No: 1

Title: Diffusion Bonding Furnace

A contract/lot is awarded: yes
V.2)

Award of contract

V.2.1)

Date of conclusion of the contract

03/01/2025
V.2.2)

Information about tenders

Number of tenders received:  3
Number of tenders received from SMEs:  3
Number of tenders received by electronic means:  3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators :  no
V.2.3)

Name and address of the contractor

HHV Ltd
GB943581016
Unit 14a
Crawley
RH10 9QX
UK
E-mail: vivpandey@hhvltd.com
NUTS code:  UKJ14 -  Oxfordshire

The contractor is an SME : yes
V.2.4)

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

Lowest offer:  530000.00  GBP / Highest offer:  530000.00  GBP   taken into consideration

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