Geological and geophysical instruments: UK Tenders, Buyers & Competition
CPV 38200000·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
38200000 Geological and geophysical instruments16 notices · 100%- 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
- Astronomical and optical instruments 27 · 12m
- Microscopes 26 · 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
- Education & universities 25% (4 notices)
- Central government 19% (3 notices)
- Other public bodies 19% (3 notices)
- Local authorities 6% (1 notices)
- Not classified 31% (5 notices)
| Contracting authority | Type | Notices | Last 12 months | Open now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radioactive Waste Management Limited trading as Nuclear Waste Services | not classified | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| UK Research and Innovation | Central government | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| University of Leeds | Education & universities | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Aberystwyth University | Education & universities | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Caerphilly County Borough Council | Local authorities | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Department of Economy | not classified | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Met Office | Central government | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| ORDNANCE SURVEY LIMITED | Other public bodies | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Radioactive Waste Management Limited | not classified | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| The Coal Authority | not classified | 1 | 0 | 0 |
13 distinct authorities in total · the ten most active shown.
Where the work is delivered
Delivery regions (ITL1) published on 12 of 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | — | — | — | |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | — | — | — | |
| South East England | — | — | — | |
| Wales (Cymru) | — | — | — | |
| Greater London | — | — | — | |
| East of England | — | — | — | |
| Scotland | — | — | — | |
| South West England | — | — | — | |
| North West England | — | — | — | |
| Northern Ireland | — | — | — | |
| West Midlands | — | — | — | |
| 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 75% (12 notices)
- Framework 19% (3 notices)
- Dynamic purchasing system 6% (1 notices)
- Selective 31% (5 notices)
- Open 31% (5 notices)
- Route not published 19% (3 notices)
- Limited / restricted 19% (3 notices)
- Above threshold 100% (1 notices)
Who wins
Single-supplier active awards with a canonical supplier on notices carrying this code · 13 awards to 11 suppliers
| Supplier | Awards | Last 12 months | Buyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| NKE Instruments | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| SWALE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Allied Associates (Geophysical) Ltd | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Analytik Ltd | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Febus Optics | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES EUROPE GMBH | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Merrow Scientific Ltd | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Where to submit
E-sourcing portals named in the submission address · 5 of 16 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 3820. A notice with several codes counts in each sector it names. Earliest notice 2021; latest 6 Feb 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 3820. 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.