Official UK procurement notice
DSIT NMS - NEL Flow Programme
Authority: Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThis notice is to inform the market of the details of a contract award that will be made in relation to the National Measurement System (NMS). The NMS is the system of laboratories and capabilities that underpin the UK’s metrology. The NMS provides the UK with an infrastructure of laboratories that deliver world-class measurement science and technology and provide traceable and increasingly accurate standards of measurement. The National Engineering Laboratory (TUV-NEL) develop and maintain measurement standards that support high-precision manufacturing processes. This ensures that UK manufacturers can produce high-quality products that meet international standards.
The NMS labs support the digital economy by developing measurement techniques for emerging technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT), helping the UK stay at the forefront of technological innovation.
Metrology labs contribute to environmental sustainability by providing accurate measurements for monitoring air and water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency. This supports the UK's efforts to transition to clean energy sources and mitigate climate diagnostics a
The NMS enhances national security by developing measurement standards for critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, and emergency response. This ensures that the UK can effectively respond to and recover from various threats. The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: absence of competition for technical reasons
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Awarded
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 12 May 2025, 13:16 BST
- Last source update
- 6 Oct 2026, 16:17 BST
- Authority reference
prj_5136- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-094418- Latest notice
- Contract performance notice (UK9)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0510dbFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
Prototypes Development; Single Suppliers Intellectual Property Exclusive Rights; Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
- Published justification
This notice is to inform the market that a number of contract awards will be made in relation to the National Measurement System (NMS). The NMS is the system of laboratories and capabilities that underpin the UK’s metrology. The NMS provides the UK with an infrastructure of laboratories that deliver world-class measurement science and technology and provide traceable and increasingly accurate standards of measurement. The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the National Engineering Laboratory (TUV-NEL) develop and maintain measurement standards that support high-precision manufacturing processes. This ensures that UK manufacturers can produce high-quality products that meet international standards.
The NMS labs support the digital economy by developing measurement techniques for emerging technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT), helping the UK stay at the forefront of technological innovation.
Metrology labs contribute to environmental sustainability by providing accurate measurements for monitoring air and water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency. This supports the UK's efforts to transition to clean energy sources and mitigate climate change.
The National Measurement Laboratory (NML) at LGC and other labs ensure the accuracy of measurements in healthcare, such as those used in medical diagnostics and pharmaceuticals. This helps improve public health outcomes and supports the development of new medical technologies.
The NMS enhances national security by developing measurement standards for critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, and emergency response. This ensures that the UK can effectively respond to and recover from various threats. The extensive scientific and technical infrastructure, expertise, and resources necessary to provide these services mean that there is an absence of competition from other providers. These contracts are therefore awarded directly. This notice is to inform the market that a number of contract awards will be made in relation to the National Measurement System (NMS). The NMS is the system of laboratories and capabilities that underpin the UK’s metrology. The NMS provides the UK with an infrastructure of laboratories that deliver world-class measurement science and technology and provide traceable and increasingly accurate standards of measurement. The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the National Engineering Laboratory (TUV-NEL) develop and maintain measurement standards that support high-precision manufacturing processes. This ensures that UK manufacturers can produce high-quality products that meet international standards.
The NMS labs support the digital economy by developing measurement techniques for emerging technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT), helping the UK stay at the forefront of technological innovation.
Metrology labs contribute to environmental sustainability by providing accurate measurements for monitoring air and water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency. This supports the UK's efforts to transition to clean energy sources and mitigate climate change.
The National Measurement Laboratory (NML) at LGC and other labs ensure the accuracy of measurements in healthcare, such as those used in medical diagnostics and pharmaceuticals. This helps improve public health outcomes and supports the development of new medical technologies.
The NMS enhances national security by developing measurement standards for critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, and emergency response. This ensures that the UK can effectively respond to and recover from various threats. The extensive scientific and technical infrastructure, expertise, and resources necessary to provide these services mean that there is an absence of competition from other providers. These contracts are therefore awarded directly. The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: absence of competition for technical reasons.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
29 May 2025 → 6 Oct 2026 · 2 dates- Standstill ends29 May 2025, 23:59 BST
- Notice published15 days ago6 Oct 2026, 16:17 BST
Notice history
10 events · 8 releases on Find a Tender · since 12 May 2025- Transparency notice published12 May 2025, 13:16 BSTUK5
- Contract award notice published19 May 2025, 13:54 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected30 May 2025, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract award notice published22 Aug 2025, 12:30 BSTUK6
- Contract details notice published24 Mar 2026, 16:14 GMTUK7
- Contract change notice published2 Jul 2026, 16:59 BSTUK10
- Contract change notice published2 Jul 2026, 17:27 BSTUK10
- Contract change proposed2 Jul 2026, 23:59 BSTShort-term extension of phase 1 contract to maintain contractual coverage of the national measurement system until the phase 2 contract is finalised. The effective date of modifcation is 01/04/2026 - 31/05/2026
- Contract change notice published3 Jul 2026, 13:00 BSTUK10
- Contract performance notice published6 Oct 2026, 16:17 BSTUK9
Routine re-releases (8)
- 2026-07: 1 release · 2 Jul 2026
- 2026-03: 1 release · 24 Mar 2026
- 2025-08: 1 release · 22 Aug 2025
- 2025-05: 2 releases · 12 May 2025, 19 May 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TUV SUV National Engineering Laboratory (NEL)2 Jun 2025 – 31 Mar 2026Amended: Contract value including VAT corrected | £9,231,213 | 19 May 2025 | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 1 · TUV SUV National Engineering Laboratory (NEL)
- Signed
- 30 May 2025
- Value
- £12,131,351
- Period
- 3 Jul 2026 – 31 Jul 2026
- Status
- active
- Change 3 Jul 2026 Short-term extension of phase 1 contract to maintain contractual coverage of the national measurement system until the phase 2 contract is finalised.
- Change proposed 2 Jul 2026 Short-term extension of phase 1 contract to maintain contractual coverage of the national measurement system until the phase 2 contract is finalised. The effective date of modifcation is 01/04/2026 - 31/05/2026, new value £1,274,889 · new end date 6 Jul 2026
- Change proposed 2 Jul 2026 Short-term extension of phase 1 contract to maintain contractual coverage of the national measurement system until the phase 2 contract is finalised. The effective date of modifcation is 01/04/2026 - 31/05/2026, new value £10,708,139 · new end date 6 Jul 2026
No agreed KPIs: Contractual relationship is being built for this ongoing service due to the previous relationship with DSIT and service delivery.
- Good - performance is meeting or exceeding the KPI Oil Flow Facility uptime · to 30 Jun 2026
- Good - performance is meeting or exceeding the KPI Water Flow Faciltiy uptime · to 30 Jun 2026
- Good - performance is meeting or exceeding the KPI Elevated Pressure and Temperature Facility uptime · to 30 Jun 2026
- Good - performance is meeting or exceeding the KPI Gas Flow Facility uptime · to 30 Jun 2026
- Good - performance is meeting or exceeding the KPI Multiphase Flow Facility uptime · to 30 Jun 2026
- Good - performance is meeting or exceeding the KPI Domestic Gas Metering Flow Facility uptime · to 30 Jun 2026
- Good - performance is meeting or exceeding the KPI Density Calibration Laboratory uptime · to 30 Jun 2026
- Good - performance is meeting or exceeding the KPI Service delivery of the Programme Management Project · to 30 Jun 2026
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- TUV SUV National Engineering Laboratory (NEL)Awarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (9)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract performance notice Contract performance notice on Find a Tender
- Contract change notice Contract change notice on Find a Tender
- Contract change notice Contract change notice on Find a Tender
- Contract change notice Contract change notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender