Astronomical and optical instruments: UK Tenders, Buyers & Competition
CPV 38630000·Supplies · class·in Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
Codes and neighbouring classes
The 8-digit CPV codes notices in this class actually use, and the other classes of the same division
38636100 Lasers97 notices · 55%38633000 Telescopic sights35 notices · 20%38636000 Specialist optical instruments24 notices · 14%38636110 Industrial lasers22 notices · 13%38634000 Optical microscopes14 notices · 8%38630000 Astronomical and optical instruments5 notices · 3%38631000 Binoculars3 notices · 2%38632000 Nightglasses2 notices · 1%- Detection and analysis apparatus 134 · 12m
- Machines and apparatus for testing and measuring 54 · 12m
- Photographic equipment 44 · 12m
- Instruments for measuring quantities 37 · 12m
- Meters 35 · 12m
- Instruments for measuring flow, level and pressure of liquids and gases 32 · 12m
- Checking and testing apparatus 29 · 12m
- Navigational instruments 28 · 12m
- Microscopes 26 · 12m
- Surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic and hydrological instruments and appliances 24 · 12m
- All of Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) →
Who buys
All notices carrying this code · official UK_CA_TYPE where published (NHS bodies are central government authorities), else derived from the authority name
- Central government 49% (86 notices)
- Education & universities 35% (62 notices)
- Police, fire & emergency 3% (6 notices)
- Other public bodies 3% (6 notices)
- NHS & health 2% (3 notices)
- Not classified 7% (12 notices)
| Contracting authority | Type | Notices | Last 12 months | Open now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Research and Innovation | Central government | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| Ministry of Defence | Central government | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK | Education & universities | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Queen's University Belfast | Education & universities | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD | Education & universities | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority | not classified | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON | Education & universities | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| University of Exeter | Education & universities | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| University of Leeds | Education & universities | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| APUC LIMITED | not classified | 3 | 2 | 0 |
53 distinct authorities in total · the ten most active shown.
Where the work is delivered
Delivery regions (ITL1) published on 106 of 176 notices · a notice covering several regions counts in each · competition columns: contracts awarded in the last 36 months, lots delivered in the region
| Region | Notices | Bids / lot | SME wins | Local wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South East England | — | — | — | |
| West Midlands | — | — | — | |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | — | — | — | |
| Northern Ireland | — | — | — | |
| Scotland | — | — | — | |
| Wales (Cymru) | — | — | — | |
| South West England | — | — | — | |
| East Midlands | — | — | — | |
| North West England | — | — | — | |
| Greater London | — | — | — | |
| North East England | — | — | — |
Local wins = the winner’s registered region is the delivery region. Dashes: fewer than ten observations.
How it is bought
Commercial tool, procedure route and threshold as published on the notice, not a legal-regime claim
- Contract 77% (135 notices)
- Framework 23% (41 notices)
- Open 55% (96 notices)
- Selective 15% (27 notices)
- Limited / restricted 15% (27 notices)
- Route not published 15% (26 notices)
- Above threshold 81% (25 notices)
- Below threshold 19% (6 notices)
Competition
Contracts published in the last 36 months (62) · bid counts per lot from award notices · values are net contract awards, framework and DPS ceilings excluded · SME and local status as declared
- 1 bid 23% (6)
- 2–3 62% (16)
- 4–6 15% (4)
- 7 or more 0% (0)
Who wins
Single-supplier active awards with a canonical supplier on notices carrying this code · 151 awards to 94 suppliers · the five most frequent winners hold 47% of contract awards in the last 36 months
| Supplier | Awards | Last 12 months | Buyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photonic Solutions | 13 | 0 | 6 |
| KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES UK LIMITED | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| Ian Edgar (Liverpool) Ltd | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| VIKING ARMS LIMITED | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Qioptiq Ltd | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Amplitude | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Instro Precision Ltd | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| COHERENT EUROPE BV | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Where to submit
E-sourcing portals named in the submission address · 34 of 176 notices name one · each portal page explains registration
Method
What the numbers on this page are and are not
Which notices count?
Every Find a Tender notice that carries a CPV code starting 3863. A notice with several codes counts in each sector it names. Earliest notice 2021; latest 26 Aug 2026.
Competition figures
From the 36-month lot-grain contest statistics: a lot counts where its own CPV codes (or, for single-class notices, the procedure’s) start 3863. Bids per lot come from the award notice’s bid statistics; “competed” means an open or selective route with no direct-award transparency notice; contract values are net, on single-supplier awards, with framework and DPS ceilings excluded. Frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems are reported separately because their “bids” are admissions to a panel.
Why no total value or month-by-month chart?
Sums of notice estimates repeat framework ceilings and mix net with gross. Monthly volumes per sector are not shown yet: the catalogue’s CPV coverage per notice changed in May 2026 (compiled records carry every lot’s codes), so a curve would show the catalogue, not the market.