Official UK procurement notice
Under Vehicle Inspection Equipment 2026
Authority: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThis notice informs the market that DVSA intends to award a contract to a single supplier to manufacture Under Vehicle Inspection Equipment. This equipment will enable DVSA staff to inspect vehicles for defects in situations where access beneath the vehicle or where an inspection pit is not available. This notice is issued to engage the market at a supplier day in advance of a forthcoming procurement for the supply and maintenance of eight units.
Elements we are looking for in terms of this requirement, some of the ‘Could Have’ elements listed below can be added as part of a continuous improvement initiative over the life of the contract:
Category Requirement
Imaging & Evidence - AES-256 encrypted local storage, USB/USB-C transfer to Windows laptops and mobile phones (Must Have)
Imaging & Evidence - High-resolution imaging: Still images ≥12MP, 4K video, low-light & thermal imaging (Must Have)
Imaging & Evidence - Time & date stamping in ISO 8601 format (Must Have)
Imaging & Evidence - Moveable camera to see around components (Should Have)
Imaging & Evidence = Side-view camera with option to view with thermal imaging (Should Have)
Imaging & Evidence - The capability to zoom in and focus on the camera's live view [not just once image has been taken] (Must Have)
Imaging & Evidence - Optional secure wireless transfer (Could Have)
Control System - IP66 ruggedized casing, usable with gloves (Must Have)
Control System - Range ≥30m, battery life ≥4 hours, screen resolution ≥1080p (Must Have)
Control System - Ability to annotate images [to highlight defects] while retaining the original raw image (Should Have)
Control System - Large display screen viewable in all weather (Must Have)
Physical / Build - Drop-proof from 1.5m, corrosion-resistant (Must Have)
Physical / Build - Operate on uneven surfaces, height ≤80mm for PSV access (Must Have)
Power & Battery - Removable battery pack with spare, fast charging ≤2 hours (Must Have)
Power & Battery - Battery health monitoring system (Should Have)
Safety & Compliance - ATEX Zone 2 compliance, no sparking components (Must Have)
Transport & Storage - Secure case, total weight ≤16kg (Must Have)
Transport & Storage - Shock-absorbing storage case with lockable latches (Should Have)
Transport & Storage - Lanyard for control device to prevent dropping (Must Have)
Transport & Storage - Van- or wall-mounted charging cradle option (Could Have)
Documentation / Training & Support - Comprehensive user guide with troubleshooting (including quick-start guide) (Must Have)
Documentation / Training & Support - Cleaning kit with instructions (Could Have)
Documentation / Training & Support - Agreed process to support end users through phone or online chat throughout contract period (Must Have)
Documentation / Training & Support - Structured maintenance and repair policy that ensures minimal downtime (Must Have)
Documentation / Training & Support - Structured policy for replacing faulty devices that ensures minimal downtime (Could Have)
Documentation / Training & Support - Process for software update versions e.g. Windows etc. (Must Have)
Documentation / Training & Support - Support ticket service level agreement (SLA) with guaranteed responses within 72 hours (Must Have)
Documentation / Training & Support - Training options: live (in person or online) or recorded sessions (Should Have)
Optional Enhancements - AI-assisted vehicle mapping for defect detection (Should Have)
Optional Enhancements - GPS tagging for inspection location (Could Have)
Optional Enhancements - Integration with DVSA enforcement applications (Could Have)
Optional Enhancements - Automated navigation/collision avoidance functionality (Could Have)
Optional Enhancements - Remote cloud sync for inspection logs (Won’t Have)
Cyber Security - Development process has followed Secure By Design Principles (Could Have)
Cyber Security - ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus where applicable (Must Have)
Cyber Security - Suppliers cascade security standards (e.g. ISO27001) to third parties and maintain transparent processes for supply chain risk managemet (Must Have)
The authority does not want a solution that will require vehicles to drive over the inspection equipment.
CPV: Industrial robots · Miscellaneous special-purpose machinery · Special-purpose electrical goods
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1Published value£205,000
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 sub-criteria (2)
- Technical envelope including Social Value: 60%
- Commercial Envelope: 40%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical envelope including Social Value
- Commercial Envelope
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 22 Jun 2026, 09:50 BST
- Last source update
- 1 Sept 2026, 08:28 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 25 Oct 2026
- Authority reference
T280022900- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-082429- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b9b6Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
The equipment will be paid for after the delivery has been made. All repair, maintenance and innovation works which takes place can be invoiced after the work has been completed.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 6 Oct 2026, 16:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 18 Sept 2026, 16:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
22 Jun 2026 → 31 Oct 2026 · 8 dates- Planning notice published125 days ago22 Jun 2026, 09:50 BST
- Market engagement113 days ago3 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
A supplier engagement event is provisionally scheduled for 7th July, 09:30 - 15:00, at a DVSA site at Garretts Green MPTC, Granby Avenue, Garretts Green, Birmingham, B33 0SD. Suppliers are encouraged to attend in person and, where possible, bring examples of similar equipment previously developed to demonstrate their capabilities.
Attendance will only be facilitated online via MS Teams in exceptional circumstances, where a valid reason for not attending in person is provided; this may then be arranged on an alternative date.
Suppliers who are unable to attend but wish to provide written feedback are invited to register their interest to receive the schedule of requirements upon release.
If you wish to participate in this consultation, and have not previously engaged with the Authority, you are required to create an account on Jaggaer if you do not already have one.
The portal can be accessed using the following link:
Any correspondence must be submitted via Jaggaer and not directly to different areas of DVSA.
- Next notice expected68 days ago17 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published54 days ago1 Sept 2026, 08:28 BST
- Clarification questions by37 days ago18 Sept 2026, 16:00 BST
- Submission deadline19 days ago6 Oct 2026, 16:00 BST
- Today25 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 1 day25 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 6 days31 Oct 2026
Notice history
6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 22 Jun 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published22 Jun 2026, 09:50 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published25 Jun 2026, 10:22 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published1 Sept 2026, 08:28 BSTUK4
- Status changed to active1 Sept 2026, 08:28 BST
- Procurement method changed1 Sept 2026, 08:28 BST
- Deadline published: 6 Oct 2026, 16:00 BST1 Sept 2026, 08:28 BST
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender