JT-60SA Pellet Sources

The grant opportunity is a call for tenders issued by Fusion for Energy (F4E) as part of a framework contract aimed at procuring pellet sources for the JT-60SA fusion research project. This project, a collaboration between Europe and Japan, involves the world's largest operational tokamak reactor currently upgrading to resume operations in mid-2026.

The procurement is structured into two distinct lots: LOT-0001 focuses on development, manufacturing, and testing of fuelling sources, while LOT-0002 covers pacing sources. Eligible applicants are primarily established companies and industrial suppliers with expertise in specialized fusion technology components, although specific eligibility criteria are not detailed. This procurement operates through a negotiated competitive procedure, indicating that F4E will invite selected suppliers rather than issuing a fully open call.

Geographically, the call targets entities based in the European Union, particularly those from countries actively engaged in fusion technology, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The procurement supports the demonstration and validation stages of the JT-60SA project, which achieved first plasma in late 2023 and requires reliable component functionality under operating conditions.

The exact funding amount and award method details are not disclosed, but the overall JT-60SA project has an estimated cost of €560 million, indicating that individual contracts may vary significantly depending on the technical complexity involved. The duration for tender submissions runs from January 23, 2026, to February 26, 2026. The CPV code associated with this tender highlights its focus on research and development services in science and technology.

Interested applicants are expected to follow a multi-stage submission process involving pre-qualification, technical proposal submission, and subsequent evaluations. The nature of support will be transactional, with monetary compensation provided for the successful delivery of services as specified in the contract.

Overall, this opportunity underscores the strategic collaboration between Europe and Japan in advancing fusion energy technology, providing significant experience for suppliers involved in the development of future energy solutions.

The European Union is offering a call for tenders, identified by procedure identifier F4E-OFC-1725, for the supply of Pellet Sources for JT-60SA and for general fusion applications. This is a framework contract divided into two lots. Lot 0001 focuses on the development, manufacturing, and testing of fuelling sources, while Lot 0002 focuses on the development, manufacturing, and testing of pacing sources.

This is a competitive procedure with negotiation, and the contract type is for services. The TED publication date is January 23, 2026, and the deadline for submitting tenders is February 26, 2026, at 16:00. The estimated total value is not available. The main CPV code is 73300000, which refers to the design and execution of research and development. The award method is not available. Tenders must be submitted non-electronically. The address of the buyer profile is not available. The maximum number of lots is not available. Information about a public contract, a framework agreement, or a dynamic purchasing system (DPS) is not available.

Both Lot 0001 and Lot 0002 have an estimated value that is not available, and the award method is also not available.

In summary, this call for tenders seeks companies to develop, manufacture, and test pellet sources for the JT-60SA fusion project and general fusion research. The project is divided into two distinct areas: fuelling sources (Lot 0001) and pacing sources (Lot 0002). Interested parties must submit their tenders non-electronically by the specified deadline. The specifics of the award method and the overall budget are not provided in this announcement.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. Given the nature of the procurement, it is likely that eligible applicants would include companies, research institutions, or consortia with expertise in the relevant technical fields.

Funding Type: The funding type is a procurement, specifically a framework service contract.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the mention of "framework contract" and the technical nature of the project suggest that both single applicants and consortia could potentially be eligible, depending on their capabilities.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly mentioned. Given that this is an EU funding opportunity related to fusion research, it is likely open to entities within the EU and possibly associated countries.

Target Sector: The target sector is energy, specifically fusion energy research and development. The call focuses on the supply of pellet sources for the JT-60SA project and general fusion applications.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned.

Project Stage: The project stage appears to be development, manufacturing, and testing, as the call focuses on the supply of pellet sources, implying that the underlying research is already at a relatively advanced stage.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value is listed as N/A. Therefore, the funding range is variable.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, specifically a competitive procedure with negotiation. The submission method is non-electronic.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services.

Application Stages: The procedure type is a competitive procedure with negotiation, which implies multiple stages. The exact number of stages is not specified, but it would likely involve an initial submission, evaluation, and then a negotiation phase with selected tenderers.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders (F4E-OFC-1725) for a framework service contract related to the supply of pellet sources for the JT-60SA fusion energy project and general fusion applications. The call is structured into two lots: one focusing on the development, manufacturing, and testing of fuelling sources (LOT-0001), and the other on the development, manufacturing, and testing of pacing sources (LOT-0002). The procedure is a competitive one with negotiation, and the submission method is non-electronic. The deadline for submitting tenders is 26 February 2026 at 16:00. The TED publication date was 23 January 2026. The estimated total value is not available. The main CPV code is 73300000, which refers to the design and execution of research and development. The opportunity targets entities with expertise in fusion energy technology and the manufacturing of specialized equipment.