# Astronomical and optical instruments (CPV 38630000) · UK Public Procurement Sector Dossier Source: [Tenderline](https://tenderline.uk/sectors/astronomical-and-optical-instruments-38630000). UK public procurement sector intelligence compiled from official UK procurement notices. > **Tenderline Sector Summary:** Astronomical and optical instruments (CPV 38630000) covers UK public procurement for Astronomical and optical instruments. Tracked across 195 published procedures (54 in the last 12 months) across 44 contracting authorities, with 2 live opportunities open for bidding right now. ## Key Sector Information - **Sector:** Astronomical and optical instruments - **CPV Code:** `38630000` - **Classification Level:** CPV Class (4-digit sub-sector) - **Parent Division:** [Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) (CPV 38000000)](https://tenderline.uk/sectors/laboratory-optical-and-precision-equipments-excl-glasses-38000000) - **Live Open Tenders:** 2 - **Notices in Last 12 Months:** 54 - **Total Catalogue Procedures:** 195 - **Active Contracting Authorities (12m):** 19 (44 lifetime) - **Typical Tender Window:** 32 days (median, notice publication to submission deadline) - **Tenderline Sector Dossier:** https://tenderline.uk/sectors/astronomical-and-optical-instruments-38630000 - **Sector RSS Feed:** https://tenderline.uk/sectors/astronomical-and-optical-instruments-38630000/feed.xml ## Market Competition & Pricing Benchmarks - **Typical Bids per Lot:** 2 bids (middle half 2–3) (median of 16 procedures, 36 months, contracts) - **Typical Contract Value (Net):** £163k (median net contract award; interquartile range £49k–£331k) - **Deadline to Award Decision:** 52 days (median) - **SME Win Rate:** 44% of declared awards won by small & medium enterprises - **Local Win Rate:** 36% of awards won by suppliers registered in the delivery region ## Other Classes in Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) 1. [Detection and analysis apparatus (CPV 38430000)](https://tenderline.uk/sectors/detection-and-analysis-apparatus-38430000): 181 notices/12m 2. [Machines and apparatus for testing and measuring (CPV 38540000)](https://tenderline.uk/sectors/machines-and-apparatus-for-testing-and-measuring-38540000): 54 notices/12m 3. [Photographic equipment (CPV 38650000)](https://tenderline.uk/sectors/photographic-equipment-38650000): 51 notices/12m 4. [Surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic and hydrological instruments and appliances (CPV 38290000)](https://tenderline.uk/sectors/surveying-hydrographic-oceanographic-and-hydrological-instru-38290000): 44 notices/12m 5. [Instruments for measuring quantities (CPV 38340000)](https://tenderline.uk/sectors/instruments-for-measuring-quantities-38340000): 41 notices/12m 6. [Microscopes (CPV 38510000)](https://tenderline.uk/sectors/microscopes-38510000): 35 notices/12m ## Live Open Tender Opportunities Currently open for bidding in Astronomical and optical instruments (soonest deadline first): 1. [715889472-Tender Notice](https://tenderline.uk/tenders/715889472-tender-notice-ocds-h6vhtk-06ec35): £4,166,667 · Deadline: 13 Nov 2026 · National Armament Director Group ## Leading Contracting Authorities in this Sector Top public sector buyers procuring Astronomical and optical instruments work: 1. [UK Research and Innovation](https://tenderline.uk/buyers/uk-research-and-innovation-gov-pb1221): 71 notices (24 in last 12m) 2. [Ministry of Defence](https://tenderline.uk/buyers/ministry-of-defence-gov-d17): 32 notices (1 in last 12m) 3. [Queen's University Belfast](https://tenderline.uk/buyers/queen-s-university-belfast-GB-NIC-101788): 9 notices (2 in last 12m) 4. [National Armament Director Group](https://tenderline.uk/buyers/national-armament-director-group-GB-PPON-PVRL-5831-GLMM): 5 notices (4 in last 12m) · **1 open** 5. [Defence Science and Technology Laboratory](https://tenderline.uk/buyers/defence-science-and-technology-laboratory-gov-ea42): 5 notices (5 in last 12m) 6. [University of Warwick](https://tenderline.uk/buyers/university-of-warwick-urn-133809): 5 notices (0 in last 12m) 7. [THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM](https://tenderline.uk/buyers/the-university-of-birmingham-urn-133784): 4 notices (3 in last 12m) 8. [University of Leeds](https://tenderline.uk/buyers/university-of-leeds-urn-133839): 4 notices (0 in last 12m) ## Delivery Geography (ITL-1 Regions) Distribution of published procurement notices by UK delivery region: 1. [South East England](https://tenderline.uk/regions/south-east): 42 notices (40%) 2. [West Midlands](https://tenderline.uk/regions/west-midlands): 11 notices (10%) 3. [Yorkshire and the Humber](https://tenderline.uk/regions/yorkshire-and-the-humber): 11 notices (10%) 4. [Scotland](https://tenderline.uk/regions/scotland): 11 notices (10%) 5. [Northern Ireland](https://tenderline.uk/regions/northern-ireland): 10 notices (10%) 6. [South West England](https://tenderline.uk/regions/south-west): 9 notices (9%) ## Leading Awarded Suppliers in this Sector Top suppliers by distinct contract procedures won in Astronomical and optical instruments: 1. [PHOTONIC SOLUTIONS LIMITED](https://tenderline.uk/suppliers/photonic-solutions-limited-coh-sc194276): 21 procedures (22 awards) across 9 contracting authorities 2. [TOPTICA Photonics AG](https://tenderline.uk/suppliers/toptica-photonics-ag-GB-FTS-187009): 6 procedures across 3 contracting authorities 3. [Ian Edgar (Liverpool) Limited](https://tenderline.uk/suppliers/ian-edgar-liverpool-limited-coh-00576493): 6 procedures across 1 contracting authorities 4. [Qioptiq Ltd](https://tenderline.uk/suppliers/qioptiq-ltd-coh-00876004): 5 procedures across 1 contracting authorities 5. [Amplitude](https://tenderline.uk/suppliers/amplitude-coh-02962681): 4 procedures across 3 contracting authorities 6. [Thermoteknix Systems Ltd](https://tenderline.uk/suppliers/thermoteknix-systems-ltd-coh-01624251): 4 procedures across 2 contracting authorities 7. [COHERENT EUROPE BV](https://tenderline.uk/suppliers/coherent-europe-bv-GB-FTS-93496): 3 procedures across 3 contracting authorities 8. [Coherent Europe B.V.](https://tenderline.uk/suppliers/coherent-europe-b-v-GB-FTS-109893): 3 procedures across 2 contracting authorities ## Interactive Intelligence & Provenance > **Complete Sector Analytics:** In-depth competition distributions, tender value histograms, procurement routes, and historical tender registers are available on Tenderline: > [Explore interactive Astronomical and optical instruments intelligence on Tenderline](https://tenderline.uk/sectors/astronomical-and-optical-instruments-38630000) ## Provenance and Open Data - **Data Source:** Compiled from official UK public notices published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. - **Canonical Sector URL:** https://tenderline.uk/sectors/astronomical-and-optical-instruments-38630000 - **Full Catalogue Machine Access:** https://tenderline.uk/llms.txt