Official UK procurement notice
Deployment and Translation of a set of hydrophones and test panels into an underwater acoustic facility.
Authority: NPL Management Limited (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionNPL is seeking a solution for the deployment and translation of a set of hydrophones and test panels into an underwater acoustic facility.
The facility is an underwater acoustic calibration tank consisting of a large wooden vessel (5.5m in diameter and 4.7m deep) filled with potted water. The calibration activities will be performed with either 2 or 3 hydrophones and a test panel deployed at the mid-depth point of the vessel. The hydrophones and test panel are mounted at the end of carbon fibre poles. The design of the poles is flexible and may be adjusted to the solution (this will be the responsibility of NPL).
The schematic and model of the facility are available upon request by emailing etenders@npl.co.uk depict a desired concept solution including dimensions, room features and required specifications for the carriage system and interlocks.
The facility is operated from the first floor and the water tank expands through both the ground and first floor. The size of the room cannot be altered, but modifications to the concrete floor and steel framework are feasible for attachment/fixing of the carriage system solution.
NPL has conducted initial research into possible solutions such as carriage systems. NPL is open to explore different solutions to meet the requirements below.
NPL is seeking engagement from suppliers who have capability to provide a solution to the following requirements:
- The solution must be able to deploy the hydrophones and test panels into the water tank. The solution must be able to mount either existing carbon fibre poles or, with a suitable adaptor, large acoustic test panels. NPL will be responsible for the design and manufacture of the poles and adaptors, but the solution must provide a common mounting flange (to be agreed during the design phase).
- The solution must be able to translate the mounting flange in X, Y & Z, and rotate about Z.
- The required accuracy and precision of the solution is as below (these parameters can be relaxed upon agreement):
o X, Y & Z precision: ±0.5mm
o Z-rotation precision: ±0.1°
o Maximum X, Y & Z linearity/orthogonality deviation: 0.5mm
o Repeatability of position: 0.1mm
o Minimum linear movement (scanning step): 0.5mm
o Minimum speed: 0.06m/min
o Maximum speed: 30m/min
- The solution must have a minimum payload capability of 50kg in two of the three carriages, and a minimum payload capability of 300kg in one of the three carriages.
- The solution must be able to lift the flange out of the water to the loading position at a defined height as shown in the model.
- The solution must provide the following interlocks:
o Interlock door from laboratory space to loading area
o Interlock door from loading area to open water space
- The solution control software should be compatible with LabVIEW (others considered)
- The supplier must demonstrate that the solution complies with, as a minimum but not limited to, Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC), Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU) and Electrical Safety EN 60204.
- Design aspects such as the location of the solution control hub and operator, power and structural requirements, and IP rating will be determined during the design phase.
This is not an evaluation exercise and nothing in this activity will limit the opportunity to engage in any follow-on ITT.
CPV: Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services · Industrial machinery · Installation services (except software) · Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) · Research and development services and related consultancy services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Planned
Pipeline intelligence · planning stage: how this market runs before the tender is published
How NPL Management Limited buys Laboratory, optical and precision (CPV 38), and who usually turns up
NPL Management Limited’s published record next to the market for the same work. Frameworks and DPS are left out: they draw different bid counts. Whole-market view: Laboratory, optical and precision (CPV 38) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning. Small firms win less of this buyer’s work than the market’s: 29% against 48%, n=148.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Local means the winner is registered in the region where that award was delivered.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners were registered in the region where that award was delivered. More of this buyer’s work stays local than in this market: 100% against 27%, n=20.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the bid deadline to the award date, on competitions that published both.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards have an award date within 51 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
Both shares are minimums: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Missing bid counts may hide more single-bid awards. This share is a minimum.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid25%
2–348%
4–616%
7+11%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Below estimate50%
Within ±2%25%
Above estimate25%
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1CPV 38Published estimate£200k
This lot lists more than one class in CPV 38. The comparison uses that group.
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How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative. The bar shows 259 past lots.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid25%
2–348%
4–616%
7+11%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
Candidate suppliers for this notice have not been worked out yet, so this is not a verdict that nobody fits.
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Planned procurement
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 18 Mar 2026, 10:36 GMT
- Last source update
- 18 Mar 2026, 10:36 GMT
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-024440- Latest notice
- Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-066d26Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
18 Mar 2026 → 30 Apr 2026 · 3 dates- Planning notice published225 days ago18 Mar 2026, 10:36 GMT
- Market engagement208 days ago3 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
Prior to initiating the procurement, NPL wishes to establish the level of market interest in the forthcoming procurement process.
Suitably qualified and experienced suppliers who may have an interest in this project are invited to register for this Preliminary Market Engagement.
The purpose of the market engagement is to help assess the reaction of the market, to understand risks and future possibilities to ensure a future proofed procurement strategy and resulting contract.
Any submission received in response to this exercise will not constitute any contractual agreement between the respondent and NPL. Nor does the receipt of a response automatically include the respondent in the procurement process.
A Tender Notice will be issued to the market which will provide details of how the relating procurement documentation can be accessed and timescales for submission of the said tender response.
Interested parties shall bear their own costs of participation in this Market Engagement of whatever nature. NPL shall not be liable for the costs, expenses or losses howsoever arising (including, without limitation, any loss of profit or other economic loss incurred), regardless of the outcome of the Market Engagement.
The next stage in the process will be considered once this exercise has been completed.
Questions
Your Organisation
- What is your organisation's name?
- What is your name and role at the organisation?
- Please Provide a brief description of your Organisation
- Please provide the location (s) of your organisations operational facilities (eg headquarters, manufacturing site).
Capabilities
- Does your organisation have the capability to deliver a solution in line with the requirements described in the Scope section of this document.
a. If yes, please provide an estimated lead time for delivery from the point of contract award.
b. Are there any current or upcoming commitments, capacity constraints, or resource limitations that may affect your ability to submit an offer or deliver the project.
Scope Delivery & Budget Alignment
- Would your organisation be able to deliver the full project scope independently?
If not, please specify which elements would require sub-contracting and identify any anticipated delivery partners (if known).
- Are there any risks, issues, or opportunities that you believe NPL should consider in relation to the delivery of this project?
- NPL's estimated budget for this project is £200,000 excluding VAT. Please confirm if delivery within this budget is feasible. If not please provide an indicative budget for a project of this nature.
Route to Market, Contractual Terms & Timescales
- NPL intends to conduct the Invitation to Tender (ITT) under the Flexible Procedure.
Would your organisation be interested in participating via this route to market? If not please outline any concerns or barriers
- Are there any contract terms or commercial conditions that your organisation would consider unacceptable, or any terms that if not included would deter your participation?
Other Considerations
- Are there any residual risks / recommendations / issues that you think we should consider when drafting the scope and the procurement strategy for this project?
If you have any questions, or would like to provide a response to the above, please email etenders@npl.co.uk to request a Preliminary Market Engagement Supplier Questionnaire "FOR RESPONSES" excel spreadsheet.
Please return all responses by 17.00, Friday 3rd April 2026
- Contract starts182 days ago30 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Preliminary market engagement notice published18 Mar 2026, 10:36 GMTUK2
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Pipeline notice- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender