Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract award notice
Published 20 Jul 2026, 14:22 BST

Official UK procurement notice

UK5- NMS NEL Flow Programme (phase 1 interim contract)

Official notice

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

Direct award
Sectors: Architecture & Engineering (71) Delivery: UK
Awarded value£1,300,000published award · exc. VAT
Awarded 21 Jul 2026no call for competition
Awarded to TUV SUV National Engineering Laboratory (NEL)

What is being bought

Published requirement description

This 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 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
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
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ceef Find 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
  1. Transparency notice published
    20 Jul 2026, 14:22 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    21 Jul 2026, 11:38 BST
    UK6
  3. Contract signature expected
    30 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £1,300,0001 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
TUV SUV National Engineering Laboratory (NEL)NMS NEL Flow Programme (phase 1 interim contract)30 Jul 2026 – 31 Jul 2026£1,300,00021 Jul 2026Awarded

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
  • TÜV SÜD National Engineering LaboratoryAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PTRJ-6966-QXBL Napier Building, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, Reynolds Ave, East Kilbride, Glasgow, Scotland, G750QFContact email

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender