A prior information notice (PIN) has been issued confirming plans to tender for an engineering partner in the coming months, with the authority having already signalled its intention to procure a construction partner.
Those two teams will be joined by a fusion partner in an innovative special purpose vehicle that will be tasked with developing and delivering the UK’s first Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) project.
“It is envisaged that there will be a bilateral contract between the STEP Delivery Organisation and each individual partner; and then an overarching collaborative contract that is signed by all four parties to the integrated delivery team,” the tender explained.
A contract notice for the private sector partners is scheduled for 30 April 2023. To see the PIN, click here.
So far, an Atkins-led team has been appointed as the Tranche 1 Engineering Delivery Partner, working on the plans to design and build a commercial-scale prototype fusion energy plant through to March 2024.