Official UK procurement notice
1D Measurement Beam - Stage 1
Authority: NPL Management Limited (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThis Procurement is divided into two distinct stages, with evaluations undertaken separately at the conclusion of each stage.
Although Stage 2 will be evaluated at a later stage, bidders must review and consider the Stage 2 requirements when developing their Stage 1 submission. This is to ensure that Stage 1 responses provide a complete design proposal that demonstrates the bidder's ability to meet the full project requirements.
Subject to the outcome of the Stage 1 evaluation, NPL reserves the right to award the design study to up to two suppliers.
NPL intends to appoint and remunerate the two successful Stage 1 suppliers to undertake the design study.
NPL are looking for the supply of a high precision motion control stage mounted to a structural beam with an operating envelope of greater than 2.3m with 2 integrated carriages. This will be used as part of a Dimensional Metrology Instrument.
The system will be supplied to NPL to use and operate internally as an operational piece of equipment to be installed into a larger assembly. The supply will be required to support physical interfacing and design analysis and advise how the measurement beam will be mounted.
The system is to come with its own control system to be supplied with the system able to support the requirements.
The final system will be installed with the expectation of a minimum 20-year life, and the supplier shall provide all information to show design suitability.
Within the main instrument there are other small motion control stages that are available from other suppliers, however an integrated solution from a control system perspective would be seen as advantageous. Refers to point 16 of Stage 2 Technical Specifications.
The final instrument is intended to be UKCA marked and a technical file for the motion stage and control system must be shared with NPL along with showing compliance to the relevant standards and legislation. Refers to point 19 of Stage 2 Technical Specifications.
The supplier will need to be able to support installation of the equipment and integration with the main instrument.
The following is a high-level set of requirements for the system:
- An integrated slide/Motion axis/Motion Stage on a structural beam with appropriate mounting arrangements.
- A very stable slide or motion axis with in-position noise levels of 1 nanometre rms.
- slide should have pitch and yaw errors of maximum 50+/- microradians.
- There should be 2 carriages on the motion stage/slide, each having an operating envelope of 2300 mm or more.
- The carriages should be controlled to an incremental motion of 1 micron or less, with an integrated linear encoder to detect position into the nanometer scale.
- The carriages are expected to carry a payload of 10 kgs.
- All cable management should be integrated into the solution with the ability to add up to 4 additional signal cables.
- The carriages will move at low speeds in the range of 1 micron to 25mm per second and accelerations of at least 1 m/s2
- The slide to include an inbuilt linear encoder with a 1 nanometre resolution.
- The controller for the system should be provided with an interface be controlled via LabVIEW software.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 14 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT.
- How the procedure runs: Tender will be assessed 80% Quality/Technical and 20% Cost. This Procurement is divided into two distinct stages, with evaluations undertaken separately at the conclusion of each stage. Although Stage 2 will be evaluated at a later stage, bidders must review and consider the Stage 2 requirements when developing their Stage 1 submission. This is to ensure that Stage 1 responses provide a complete design proposal that demonstrates the bidder's ability to meet the full project requirements. Subject to the outcome of the Stage 1 evaluation, NPL reserves the right to award the design study to up to two suppliers. NPL intends to appoint and remunerate the two successful Stage 1 suppliers to undertake the design study. Each appointed supplier will receive a fixed fee of up to GBP 40,000.00, with the total payment to any individual supplier not exceeding this amount. Stage 1: Design Proposal - Mandatory requirements - Capability - Delivery timeline - Indicative cost Stage 2: Technical - Technical Specifications - Delivery timeline - Social value - Final cost Further details are available in the evaluation methodology in the tender documentation.
CPV: Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedPublished value£300,000
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (1)
- Stage 1: Mandatory, Technical and Commercial: 100%
Published award criteria (1)
- Stage 1: Mandatory, Technical and Commercial: Mandatory: weighting Pass/Fail Technical: weighting 25% Capability: weighting 30% Delivery: weighting 15% Delivery Risks: weighting 10% Commercial: weighting 20%
- Price carries 100 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 10 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Awarded
- 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
- Yes · next expected 14 Dec 2026
- First published
- 30 Apr 2026, 10:23 BST
- Last source update
- 19 Oct 2026, 18:30 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 5 Oct 2026
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-080350- Accelerated
- Qualifying planned procurement notice
- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-068ee2Find a Tender
- How it runs
Tender will be assessed 80% Quality/Technical and 20% Cost.
This Procurement is divided into two distinct stages, with evaluations undertaken separately at the conclusion of each stage.
Although Stage 2 will be evaluated at a later stage, bidders must review and consider the Stage 2 requirements when developing their Stage 1 submission. This is to ensure that Stage 1 responses provide a complete design proposal that demonstrates the bidder's ability to meet the full project requirements.
Subject to the outcome of the Stage 1 evaluation, NPL reserves the right to award the design study to up to two suppliers.
NPL intends to appoint and remunerate the two successful Stage 1 suppliers to undertake the design study. Each appointed supplier will receive a fixed fee of up to GBP 40,000.00, with the total payment to any individual supplier not exceeding this amount.
Stage 1: Design Proposal
- Mandatory requirements
- Capability
- Delivery timeline
- Indicative cost
Stage 2: Technical
- Technical Specifications
- Delivery timeline
- Social value
- Final cost
Further details are available in the evaluation methodology in the tender documentation.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 7 Aug 2026, 17:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 21 Sept 2026, 17:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 27 Jul 2026, 17:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
All information relevant to this opportunity can be found on the Central Digital Platform and the e-tender portal Jaggaer.
Link to opportunity on Jaggaer: lupc.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/esop/guest/go/opport… ↗
All Participants must register their company via the LUPC Jaggaer Portal. This can be done via the following link lupc.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml ↗
Any issues surrounding access and functionality of the LUPC Jaggaer System must be directed to Jaggaer Helpdesk on +44 800 069 8630 or email [email protected]
Timeline
30 Apr 2026 → 29 Oct 2026 · 12 dates- Planning notice published178 days ago30 Apr 2026, 10:23 BST
- Market engagement178 days ago30 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.
If you have any questions, or would like to provide a response to the above, please email [email protected] to request a Preliminary Market Engagement Supplier Questionnaire "FOR RESPONSES" excel spreadsheet.
Please return all responses by 17.00, Monday 27th April 2026
- Next notice expected104 days ago13 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
- Clarification questions by90 days ago27 Jul 2026, 17:00 BST
- Expressions of interest by79 days ago7 Aug 2026, 17:00 BST
- Tender notice published62 days ago24 Aug 2026, 13:22 BST
- Submission deadline34 days ago21 Sept 2026, 17:00 BST
- Award decision expected by20 days ago5 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts11 days ago15 Oct 2026, 00:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent7 days ago19 Oct 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published6 days ago19 Oct 2026, 18:30 BST
- Today25 Oct 2026
- Standstill endsin 4 days29 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMT
Notice history
12 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 30 Apr 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published30 Apr 2026, 10:23 BSTUK2
- Planned procurement notice published2 Jun 2026, 15:01 BSTUK3
- Status changed to planned2 Jun 2026, 15:01 BST
- Procurement method changed2 Jun 2026, 15:01 BST
- Tender notice published24 Aug 2026, 13:22 BSTUK4
- Published value published: £300,00024 Aug 2026, 13:22 BST
- Status changed to active24 Aug 2026, 13:22 BST
- Procurement method changed24 Aug 2026, 13:22 BST
- Deadline published: 21 Sept 2026, 17:00 BST24 Aug 2026, 13:22 BST
- Contract award notice published19 Oct 2026, 18:30 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete19 Oct 2026, 18:30 BST
- Contract signature expected2 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2026-04: 1 release · 30 Apr 2026
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBS PRECISION ENGINEERING BV1D Measurement Beam - Stage 1 Design2 Nov 2026 – 14 Dec 2026 | £39,945 | 19 Oct 2026standstill to 29 Oct 2026 | Standstill |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1final-stage tenders · 2 at stage one | 1 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- IBS PRECISION ENGINEERING BVAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications All information relevant to this opportunity can be found on the Central Digital Platform and the e-tender portal Jaggaer. Link to opportunity on Jaggaer: https://lupc.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=61429 All Participants must register their c…
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender