Machines and apparatus for testing and measuring: UK Tenders, Buyers & Competition
CPV 38540000·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
38540000 Machines and apparatus for testing and measuring93 notices · 45%38544000 Drug detection apparatus42 notices · 20%38543000 Gas-detection equipment30 notices · 14%38546100 Bomb detectors19 notices · 9%38546000 Explosives detection system14 notices · 7%38547000 Dosimetry system14 notices · 7%38545000 Gas-testing kits11 notices · 5%38542000 Servo-hydraulic test apparatus8 notices · 4%- Detection and analysis apparatus 134 · 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
- Surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic and hydrological instruments and appliances 24 · 12m
- All of Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) →
Open tenders in machines and apparatus for testing and…
2 live at the nightly build · soonest deadline first
| Notice | Authority | Deadline | Days left | Published value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T162 - Supply, Maintenance and Support Services of Blackline Safety Gas Detection Monitors and Draeger Breathing Apparatus | Northern Ireland Water Limited | 22 Sept 2026 | 4d | £2,000,000 |
| Dynamic Purchasing System for the Provision of Mobile Preliminary Roads Drug Testing Devices (MPRDTD) | BLUELIGHT COMMERCIAL LIMITED | 30 May 2027 | 254d | £10,000,000 |
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 36% (73 notices)
- Education & universities 24% (48 notices)
- Other public bodies 10% (20 notices)
- Police, fire & emergency 7% (15 notices)
- Local authorities 3% (7 notices)
- Not classified 19% (39 notices)
| Contracting authority | Type | Notices | Last 12 months | Open now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Defence | Central government | 17 | 3 | 0 |
| Ministry of Justice | Central government | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| Home Office | Central government | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority | not classified | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Queen's University Belfast | Education & universities | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Robert Gordon University | Education & universities | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| University of Strathclyde | Education & universities | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED | Central government | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Scottish Prison Service | not classified | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| TWI Ltd | not classified | 5 | 0 | 0 |
100 distinct authorities in total · the ten most active shown.
Where the work is delivered
Delivery regions (ITL1) published on 123 of 207 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | — | — | — | |
| Northern Ireland | — | — | — | |
| South East England | — | — | — | |
| West Midlands | — | — | — | |
| Wales (Cymru) | — | — | — | |
| East Midlands | — | — | — | |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | — | — | — | |
| South West England | — | — | — | |
| Greater London | — | — | — | |
| North East England | — | — | — | |
| East of England | — | — | — | |
| North West 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 85% (176 notices)
- Framework 14% (30 notices)
- Dynamic purchasing system 0% (1 notices)
- Open 54% (112 notices)
- Route not published 24% (50 notices)
- Selective 11% (23 notices)
- Limited / restricted 9% (19 notices)
- Direct award 1% (3 notices)
- Above threshold 90% (43 notices)
- Below threshold 10% (5 notices)
Competition
Contracts published in the last 36 months (84) · 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 35% (12)
- 2–3 53% (18)
- 4–6 12% (4)
- 7 or more 0% (0)
Who wins
Single-supplier active awards with a canonical supplier on notices carrying this code · 189 awards to 122 suppliers · the five most frequent winners hold 27% of contract awards in the last 36 months
| Supplier | Awards | Last 12 months | Buyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alphabiolaboratories Analytical Limited (t/a AlphaBiolabs) | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| Abbott Toxicology Limited | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Smiths Detection Watford Ltd | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Abbott Toxicology Ltd | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| IQVIA Ltd | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Randox Laboratories Ltd | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| SYNLAB Laboratory Services | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| RAPISCAN SYSTEMS LIMITED | 4 | 0 | 3 |
Where to submit
E-sourcing portals named in the submission address · 54 of 207 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 3854. A notice with several codes counts in each sector it names. Earliest notice 2021; latest 17 Sept 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 3854. 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.