Official UK procurement notice
NEPO217 - Winter Bureau, Weather Forecasting & Outstation Maintenance
Authority: The Association of North East Councils Limited (Local council)
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe proposed procurement will establish a NEPO‑led Unranked Open Framework for the provision of Winter Bureau services, weather forecasting services, and RWIS outstation maintenance for UK local authorities.
The framework will replace the existing NEPO217 (Winter Bureau & Outstation Maintenance) and NEPO230 (Weather Forecasting Services) arrangements and will bring these services together into one solution reflecting how they are used operationally by authorities.
The scope is expected to include:
Winter Bureau services, including decision support, data management, system availability, resilience and user access to operational winter information.
Weather forecasting services, providing locally relevant and operationally defensible forecasts to support winter service decision‑making.
RWIS outstation maintenance, covering inspection, maintenance, repair, calibration and associated support for existing roadside infrastructure.
Optional or modular services, which may include enhanced data products, radar data, route‑based forecasting or analytical tools, where supported by market capability and authority demand.
The framework will be designed to support continuity of existing systems and infrastructure, recognising recent investment by authorities and avoiding mandated wholesale replacement of assets. Authorities will be able to access services through clearly defined call‑off mechanisms, including further competition where appropriate.
The Open Framework is expected to operate for up to eight years, with periodic reopening in line with the Procurement Act 2023 to allow for market refresh and potential new entrants.
NEPO is a Centralised Procurement Authority as defined in the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23), providing central purchasing activity on behalf of Contracting Authorities. All elements in this notice are subject to change at the sole discretion of NEPO. This notice is intended to inform the market of the potential scope of the procurement, not to be taken as the final version.
The agreement will be available to NEPO Member Authorities and all current and future Associate Members.
Current Associate Members are listed in the Associate Member section of the NEPO website at:
www.nepo.org/associate-membership ↗
A list of permissible users is available at:
www.nepo.org/associate-membership… ↗
Organisations wishing to access the NEPO agreement will be required to register as a NEPO Associate Member in the first instance. Further information can be found at: www.nepo.org ↗
CPV: Maintenance of data network equipment · Meteorology services · Technical services · Weather stations · Weather-forecasting services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Framework period
- 8 yrs from 1 Apr 2027
- Scheme runs until
- 31 Mar 2035
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
1% of call-off value · NEPO operates a Contract Rebate arrangement whereby Suppliers are asked to repay NEPO a set percentage of each invoice in respect of orders placed by NEPO or any Contracting Authority accessing the Framework. The maximum rebate taken by NEPO against the value of awarded contracts will not exceed 1%.
Who may buy through it
The Framework will be open and accessible to all NEPO Member Authorities and Associate Members.
A full list of NEPO Member Authorities can be found at - www.nepo.org/about ↗
A full list of Associate Members can be found at - www.nepo.org/associate-membership… ↗
Published description of the framework
The successful Tenderer will enter into a
Framework Agreement (NEPO217 - Winter Bureau, Weather Forecasting & Outstation Maintenance) with NEPO.
This Framework will be made accessible to the Member Authorities and the Associate Members of NEPO. NEPO will establish overarching terms and conditions that define the core principles of the Framework.
Pricing will be determined through the tender process and evaluated against predefined award criteria and associated weightings. All tenderers will be assessed accordingly. Pricing submitted as part of this Framework will apply to requirements nationally.
Under the Framework Contracting Authorities may establish Call-Off contracts through either Direct Award or
Mini/Further Competition. A Direct Award may be
used where the Contracting Authority objectively
determines that there are benefits and rationale, this
rationale may include but is not limited to: necessity
for urgency relating to timescales, the complexity of
the project or continuity of works.
This is subject to the Contracting Authority's internal
procurement and legal guidelines permitting a
Direct Award.
All suppliers awarded to the Framework may be
invited to participate in Further Competitions. The
evaluation criteria for any Further Competitions will
be specified by the Contracting Authority and
included in the competition documentation.
Suppliers will be required to submit pricing based
on the specific project requirements.
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lotEvery one of these 2 lots carries the same published figure, £50,000,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.
Lot #1Winter Bureau and Outstation Maintenance UK, North East +8ceiling above
Lot 1 covers the provision of Winter Bureau Services and Road Weather Information System (RWIS) Outstation Maintenance.
This includes the operation and management of weather bureau platforms, helpdesk services, data management, communications, monitoring, calibration, maintenance, repair, upgrade, replacement and installation of RWIS equipment and associated infrastructure.
The Lot also includes related software, integrations, training, mobilisation, demobilisation, consultancy, service enhancements and associated services required to support operational winter service operations.
Lot #2Weather Forecasting Services UKceiling above
Lot 2 covers the provision of weather forecasting services to support winter service decision-making. This includes forecast production, forecast monitoring and amendment, consultancy, operational notifications, performance reporting and associated support services.
The Lot may also be used for related products and services including forecast web portals, action logging systems, route-based forecasting, additional forecast sites and domains, data integrations, training, mobilisation, demobilisation, consultancy and other service enhancements associated with weather forecasting and operational decision support.
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 award criteria (2)
- Price
- Quality
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “NEPO217 - Winter Bureau, Weather Forecasting & Outstation Maintenance” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How The Association of North East Councils Limited buys Engineering-related scientific and technical services (CPV 7135), and who usually turns up
The Association of North East Councils Limited’s own published record, next to the published market for the same work. This notice is a framework or DPS, so only frameworks and DPS are compared. Whole-market view: Engineering-related scientific and technical services (CPV 7135) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners are registered outside the delivery region.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the deadline to the first award notice, on competitions that published both dates.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards were announced within 118 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
The buyer’s share is a minimum: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Missing bid counts may hide more single-bid awards. This share is a minimum.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid16%
2–343%
4–619%
7+22%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
On a framework or DPS, prices are agreed when work is called off.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Not comparable on a framework or DPS. The notice sets up a supplier panel and a ceiling value; what the work actually costs is agreed later, on each call-off or mini-competition, and those publish as contract notices of their own. The award-vs-estimate record of this market therefore sits on the call-offs; this page shows it on the contracts, not on the panel that frames them.
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1Winter Bureau and Outstation MaintenanceCPV 71351610Published estimate£50m
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid1%
2–343%
4–629%
7+27%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
Amey OW LimitedLarge | £66m12 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 3 live · £410k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 38% below n=1 |
Met OfficeLarge | £30m8 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 1 live · £140k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=1 |
| £6.4m24 awards in 36m · last this month | 10 live · £1.9m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=5 | |
| £3.0m30 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 3 live · £492k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 14% below n=2 | |
MetDesk LtdSME | £1.9m11 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 10 live · £1.8m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 9% above n=6 |
Lot #2Weather Forecasting ServicesCPV 71351610Published estimate£50m
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid1%
2–325%
4–632%
7+42%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
Met OfficeLarge | £30m8 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 1 live · £140k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=1 |
| £6.4m24 awards in 36m · last this month | 10 live · £1.9m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=5 | |
MetDesk LtdSME | £1.9m11 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 10 live · £1.8m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 9% above n=6 |
OpenWeatherSME | £678k2 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 1 live · £140k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 44% below n=1 |
| £210k4 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 2 live · £154k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 41% below n=1 |
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Open admission
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Open framework scheme
- Who may use this agreement
- The Framework will be open and accessible to all NEPO Member Authorities and Associate Members. A full list of NEPO Member Authorities can be found at - https://www.nepo.org/about A full list of Associate Members can be found at - https://www.nepo.org/associate-membership/current-associate-members · open scheme: new suppliers can join during the term
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 1 May 2026, 12:43 BST
- Last source update
- 30 Sept 2026, 16:50 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 15 Mar 2027
- Authority reference
NEPO217- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-092576- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06903bFind a Tender
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Apply via OPEN-UK- Requests to participate (first stage)
- —
- Appointment period ends
- 4 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 23 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
call-off levy · 1% of call-off value · NEPO operates a Contract Rebate arrangement whereby Suppliers are asked to repay NEPO a set percentage of each invoice in respect of orders placed by NEPO or any Contracting Authority accessing the Framework. The maximum rebate taken by NEPO against the value of awarded contracts will not exceed 1%.
NEPO intends to publish an Invitation to Tender via
the Open eTendering system. Suppliers wishing to
be considered for this Framework must register
an expression of interest and submit a tender
through the Open eTendering system at
Tenders must be submitted via the link above.
Submissions via email or post will not be accepted.
Guidance for how to create an account, search for
opportunities and respond is included within the
Suppliers Hub.
If you require further support please
email [email protected]
Timeline
1 May 2026 → 1 Apr 2027 · 8 dates- Planning notice published174 days ago1 May 2026, 12:43 BST
- Market engagement132 days ago12 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
NEPO intends to undertake early market engagement in support of the proposed renewal and consolidation of NEPO217 - Winter Bureau, Weather Forecasting & Outstation Maintenance. This will be delivered through the publication of a Pre-Market Engagement Questionnaire (PMEQ) via the Open e-Tendering system (www.open-uk.org ↗).
The PMEQ will be used to test market appetite, gather feedback on the proposed combined solution, and inform the development of a proportionate and deliverable framework specification under the Procurement Act 2023. Supplier responses will provide insight into market capability, potential risks, and the practical implications of integrating winter bureau, outstation maintenance, and forecasting services within a single procurement.
The questionnaire is currently accessible via the Open e-Tendering system, with a deadline of 12 June 2026 for responses. Suppliers wishing to access and complete the questionnaire must be registered on the Open system. Registration is free and can be completed at www.open-uk.org ↗
Guidance on registering and submitting responses via Open is available through the Open Hub Training Guides at www.open-hub.org/training ↗
Technical support is available via [email protected]
Open is accessible 24/7, with support services available Monday to Thursday 08:30-17:00 and Friday 08:30-16:30.
In addition to the written engagement, NEPO intends to host virtual Pre-Market Engagement sessions on a one-to-one basis with interested suppliers via Microsoft Teams during the PMEQ window. These sessions will provide an opportunity for NEPO to develop a further understanding of the current market and for suppliers to ask questions regarding the proposed solution. Suppliers' PMEQ responses will form the primary basis of discussion during the meetings.
Attendance at the sessions will be optional and will not provide any advantage in any subsequent procurement process. An anonymised summary of PMEQ responses and outcomes will be published following the response deadline in order to maintain transparency.
Participation in the PMEQ and attendance at the virtual sessions do not constitute an intention to tender, nor do they preclude suppliers from participating in any future procurement related to NEPO217. NEPO reserves the right to amend the engagement timetable or process as necessary.
- Next notice expected88 days ago26 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published22 days ago30 Sept 2026, 16:50 BST
- Today22 Oct 2026
- Clarification questions byin 1 day23 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period endsin 13 days · period end, not a bid countdown4 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected byin 144 days15 Mar 2027, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 160 days1 Apr 2027, 00:00 BST
Notice history
6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 1 May 2026- Pipeline notice published1 May 2026, 12:43 BSTUK1
- Preliminary market engagement notice published8 May 2026, 14:25 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published30 Sept 2026, 16:50 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £50,000,00030 Sept 2026, 16:50 BSTwas £10,000,000
- Status changed to active30 Sept 2026, 16:50 BST
- Deadline published: 4 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT30 Sept 2026, 16:50 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Nothing awarded yet- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender