Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract performance notice
Published 12 May 2025, 13:16 BST

Official UK procurement notice

DSIT NMS - NEL Flow Programme

Official notice

Authority: Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (Central government)

Direct award
Sectors: Architecture & Engineering (71) Delivery: UK
Awarded value£9,231,213published award · exc. VAT
Awarded 19 May 2025no call for competition
Awarded to TUV SUV National Engineering Laboratory (NEL)

What is being bought

Published requirement description

This 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 published
Lot #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
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0510db Find 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
  1. Standstill ends
    29 May 2025, 23:59 BST
  2. Notice published15 days ago
    6 Oct 2026, 16:17 BST

Notice history

10 events · 8 releases on Find a Tender · since 12 May 2025
  1. Transparency notice published
    12 May 2025, 13:16 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    19 May 2025, 13:54 BST
    UK6
  3. Contract signature expected
    30 May 2025, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
  4. Contract award notice published
    22 Aug 2025, 12:30 BST
    UK6
  5. Contract details notice published
    24 Mar 2026, 16:14 GMT
    UK7
  6. Contract change notice published
    2 Jul 2026, 16:59 BST
    UK10
  7. Contract change notice published
    2 Jul 2026, 17:27 BST
    UK10
  8. Contract change proposed
    2 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
    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
  9. Contract change notice published
    3 Jul 2026, 13:00 BST
    UK10
  10. Contract performance notice published
    6 Oct 2026, 16:17 BST
    UK9
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
Awards 1
Awarded value £9,231,2131 award exc. VAT
Contracts signed 1latest 30 May 2025
Awarded toValueDateStatus
TUV SUV National Engineering Laboratory (NEL)2 Jun 2025 – 31 Mar 2026Amended: Contract value including VAT corrected£9,231,21319 May 2025Awarded

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

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PVWZ-3216-PVQL 22 Whitehall, London, London, SW1A 2EGContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Official documents & specifications (9)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract performance notice contractContract performance noticeUK9Contract performance notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract change notice contractContract change noticeUK10Contract change notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract change notice contractContract change noticeUK10Contract change notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract change notice contractContract change noticeUK10Contract change notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender