Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract details notice
Published 19 Sept 2025, 10:33 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Winter Bureau and Weather Station Maintenance Services

Official notice

Authority: Kent County Council (Local council)

Direct award
Awarded value£300,000published award · exc. VAT
Awarded 1 Oct 2025no call for competition
Awarded to VAISALA LTD

What is being bought

Published requirement description

This requirement is for Road Weather Information System maintenance and operation required within the Growth, Environment and Transport Directorate. This contract covers the maintenance and operation of the existing network of Weather Stations throughout the County of Kent.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

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
19 Sept 2025, 10:33 BST
Last source update
12 Nov 2025, 12:10 GMT
Authority reference
CN250206
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-073139
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Delivery area
South East (UKJ)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-059de8 Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification

Software Compatibility - The existing weather station software operates the weather stations using a specific operating system. Alternative providers do not offer compatible software, leading to integration issues and potentially costly reconfiguration.

Proprietary Parts - Spare and consumable parts are unique to the current manufacture,Vaisala. These components are not universally interchangeable. Alternative suppliers would be required to source these from the original manufacturer, Vaisala, resulting in additional costs and delays.

Continuity of Service - Retaining the same manufacturer for weather stations and components ensures uninterrupted delivery of weather forecasting services, maintaining consistency and reliability across the system.

Seamless Integration - New and additional weather instruments can be added to our existing weather stations infrastructure without the need to seek additional software or operating systems, ensuring operational efficiency.

Established In-House Capability - KCC staff are already trained with this type of equipment. In-house experts are capable of performing frontline repairs, testing, troubleshooting and basic maintenance, reducing reliance on external support and delivers long term cost savings.

Alternative Solutions Impact- Any alternative solution would likely require significant reconfiguration due to incompatibility with the existing operating system and infrastructure. This would introduce additional costs for integration, training, and support, while also increasing the risk of operational disruption and reduced service efficiency.

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

7 Nov 2025 → 12 Nov 2025 · 2 dates
  1. Standstill ends350 days ago
    7 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
  2. Notice published345 days ago
    12 Nov 2025, 12:10 GMT

Notice history

4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 19 Sept 2025
  1. Transparency notice published
    19 Sept 2025, 10:33 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    29 Oct 2025, 09:46 GMT
    UK6
  3. Contract signature expected
    8 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled
  4. Contract details notice published
    12 Nov 2025, 12:10 GMT
    UK7

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £300,0001 award exc. VAT
Contracts signed 1latest 8 Nov 2025
Awarded toValueDateStatus
VAISALA LTD8 Nov 2025 – 30 Sept 2028 · up to 30 Sept 2030Extensions: The contract may be extended by up to 2 years (24 months), either through two separate 1 year (12 months) extensions or a single 2 year (24 months) extension. Please note that these are optional extensions, subject to the Council's discretion.£300,0001 Oct 2025Awarded

Contracts

  • Contract 1 · VAISALA LTD

    Signed
    8 Nov 2025
    Value
    £300,000
    Period
    8 Nov 2025 – 30 Sept 2028 · up to 30 Sept 2030 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    The contract may be extended by up to 2 years (24 months), either through two separate 1 year (12 months) extensions or a single 2 year (24 months) extension. Please note that these are optional extensions, subject to the Council's discretion.
    1 agreed KPI: Data Quality
    • Data Quality

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Kent County Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PLDL-8938-YGYW County Hall, Maidstone, South East, ME14 1XQContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • VAISALA LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: 01487125GB-PPON: PPCV-2355-BDRZ 6230 Bishops Court Solihull Parkway, Birmingham, West Midlands, B37 7YBContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details 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