Official UK procurement notice
UK5- NMS NEL Flow Programme (phase 1 interim contract)
Authority: Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThis is an interim contract to ensure continuity of NMS service delivery while Phase 2 contracts are finalised. Please refer to the original phase 1 notices:
www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062778-2026 ↗
Please refer to the phase 2 contract notices here:
www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/022587-2026 ↗
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 TUV SUD National Engineering Laboratory (NEL) enables accurate and precise measurements of flow, such as of oil, water, and gas, through the maintenance and dissemination of the UK's primary measurement standards. This supports domestic and industrial utility metering, the roll-out of alternative fuels, and the development of carbon capture and storage, among other things.
DSIT's National Measurement System underpins all science, technology and R&D activities in the UK. 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. The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: absence of competition for technical reasons.
NMS contracts are therefore awarded directly.
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
- 20 Jul 2026, 14:22 BST
- Last source update
- 21 Jul 2026, 11:38 BST
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-068633- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ceefFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Intellectual Property Exclusive Rights; Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
- Published justification
Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights
Single supplier - technical reasons
Direct award is justified through absence of competition due to exclusivity requirements and technical market constraints.
Notice history
3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 20 Jul 2026- Transparency notice published20 Jul 2026, 14:22 BSTUK5
- Contract award notice published21 Jul 2026, 11:38 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected30 Jul 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TUV SUV National Engineering Laboratory (NEL)NMS NEL Flow Programme (phase 1 interim contract)30 Jul 2026 – 31 Jul 2026 | £1,300,000 | 21 Jul 2026 | Awarded |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- TÜV SÜD National Engineering LaboratoryAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender