Contract award notice

Information

Published

External Reference: 2026-542224

FTS Reference: 2026-036554

Contract award notice

Contract award notice

Results of the procurement procedure

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1)

Name and addresses

United Kingdom Fusion Energy
N/A
Culham Campus
Abingdon
OX14 3DB
UK
NUTS code:  UK -  UNITED KINGDOM
Internet address(es):
I.4)

Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law
I.5)

Main activity

General public services

Section II: Object

II.1)

Scope of the procurement

II.1.1)

Title

STEP Construction Partner (CP)
Reference number:  T-SP050-22
II.1.2)

Main CPV code

45220000  -  Engineering works and construction works
II.1.3)

Type of contract

Works
II.1.4)

Short description

UKIFS (now UKFE) has conducted this Procurement for a Construction Partner, who, together with a Fusion Partner (determined to be United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)), will bring together and develop extensive industrial capabilities to design and build a UK prototype fusion energy plant capable of delivering net-energy to the grid, and build a world-leading fusion delivery industry.
The Procurement was originally divided into two lots:
• Lot 1: Engineering Partner (EP)
• Lot 2: Construction Partner (CP)
However, Lot 1 – EP has since been cancelled. Lot 2 – CP is now the only Lot included in this Procurement exercise.
The contract term for Lot 2 will expire 31 March 2029, followed by three (3) optional extension periods of four (4), six (6) and seven (7) years.
UKFE will have the right to exercise an extension option at six (6) months’ notice. The maximum contract duration will be twenty (20) years with an estimated value of £10,000,000,000 across this period.
II.1.6)

Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: yes
II.1.7)

Total value of the procurement

Value excluding VAT:  10000000000.00  GBP
II.2)

Description

II.2.1)

Title

Construction Partner
Lot No:  2
II.2.2)

Additional CPV code(s)

45200000  -  Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
45213250  -  Construction work for industrial buildings
45214610  -  Laboratory building construction work
45222000  -  Construction work for engineering works except bridges, tunnels, shafts and subways
45223000  -  Structures construction work
45251000  -  Construction works for power plants and heating plants
45251100  -  Construction work for power plant
45251110  -  Nuclear-power station construction work
45251111  -  Construction work for nuclear reactors
45254200  -  Construction work for manufacturing plant
71500000  -  Construction-related services
71520000  -  Construction supervision services
71521000  -  Construction-site supervision services
71530000  -  Construction consultancy services
71540000  -  Construction management services
71541000  -  Construction project management services
79418000  -  Procurement consultancy services
II.2.3)

Place of performance

NUTS code:  UK -  UNITED KINGDOM
II.2.4)

Description of the procurement

The Construction Partner’s (CP) primary responsibility will be to collaboratively provide the capability to drive the integrated design of the overall layout, buildings, infrastructure, onsite and offsite facilities of the STEP Prototype Plant (SPP) to fulfil the support, enclosure and environmental requirements of the operational plant. The CP will then purchase, fabricate, deliver and install all elements of the designed facilities utilising existing and new supply chains, directly sourced or contracted resources. The CP’s responsibilities will include (but not be limited to) managing the overall health, safety, environment and security systems applicable to all parties engaged at the site.
II.2.5)

Award criteria

Criteria below
Quality criterion  -  Name:  Corporate: Economic Value  /  Weighting:  15%
Quality criterion  -  Name:  Corporate: Social Value  /  Weighting:  10%
Quality criterion  -  Name:  Programme  /  Weighting:  17%
Quality criterion  -  Name:  Technical  /  Weighting:  18%
Quality criterion  -  Name:  Cultural: Behavioural and Collaborative Assessment  /  Weighting:  15%
Quality criterion  -  Name:  Contractual Compliance  /  Weighting:  Pass / Fail
Price  -  Weighting:  25%
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
II.2.14)

Additional information

Lot 1 for the Engineering Partner (EP) was cancelled and will not be awarded. Only Lot 2 for the Construction Partner (CP) forms part of this notice.

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 000-016180

Section V: Award of contract

Contract No: 1

Title: STEP Engineering Partner and Construction Partner

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

Award of contract

V.2.1)

Date of conclusion of the contract

02/04/2026
V.2.2)

Information about tenders

Number of tenders received:  3
Number of tenders received from SMEs:  0
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

ILIOS
1157281
2nd Floor, Optimum House, Clippers Quay
Salford
M50 3XP
UK
NUTS code:  UK -  UNITED KINGDOM

The contractor is an SME : no
V.2.4)

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

Total value of the contract/lot:  10000000000.00  GBP

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.3)

Additional information

UKAEA is launching this procurement on behalf of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Limited (UKIFS). UKIFS will take over responsibility for running the procurement when it is established part way through the procurement process and will be the client entity that will enter into the contracts at the conclusion of the procurement.
VI.4)

Procedures for review

VI.4.1)

Review body

The High Court
The Royal Courts of Justice
London
UK

VI.4.2)

Body responsible for mediation procedures

The High Court
The Royal Courts of Justice
London
UK

VI.4.3)

Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures: 
In accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015, the authority will observe a minimum ten (10) calendar day standstill period at the point that information regarding the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers.
If an appeal regarding the award of a contract has not been successfully resolved by the authority, the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the Regulations to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
VI.4.4)

Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained

The High Court
The Royal Courts of Justice
London
UK