Planning

Weather Station Data Services

MET OFFICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

29 May 2024 at 12:43

Summary of the contracting process

The Met Office is planning a procurement process titled "Weather Station Data Services" for services in the data services industry category. The procurement stage is currently planned, and it involves exploring options to replace the Weather Observations Website (WOW) with a new data-focused service. The process aims to replace the WOW dataset with an alternative automatic weather station dataset, procure data services from a third-party provider, and develop a webform for manual weather readings. The business is looking for suppliers to support them by providing solutions in line with their requirements. The deadline for submitting responses is 28th June 2024.

This tender for Weather Station Data Services by the Met Office can offer opportunities for businesses providing automatic weather station datasets, data services, and web development services. Organisations capable of supplying AWS data, third-party data services, and web forms are well-suited to compete in this procurement process. The tender provides a chance for businesses to showcase their capabilities in meeting the Met Office's cost, quality, and sustainability requirements, potentially leading to future collaborations and growth opportunities in the weather data services sector.

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Notice Title

Weather Station Data Services

Notice Description

The Met Office has been operating the Weather Observations Website (WOW; https://www.wow.metoffice.gov.uk/) since 2012, enabling members of the public to submit their weather station observations and exploiting them as an increasingly important source of third party data for use in forecast applications. WOW is reaching end of life and is no longer cost efficient, so the WOW Next project is exploring options to replace this capability with a new data-focused service. We are not looking to replace the service in a like-for-like way as the business need has changed, so we welcome alternative suggestions for provision of our requirements. Our requirements are threefold: 1. We are initially looking to replace the WOW dataset with an alternative but equivalent automatic weather station (AWS) dataset. This needs to have similar characteristics to the WOW data (including measured variables, quality, spatial and temporal resolution, reporting frequency and timeliness). WOW currently provides us with approximately 1700 sites across the UK and Ireland, and we are looking to source data from a similar, or greater, number of low cost AWSs, such as those operated by members of the public, or organisations with an interest in the weather, with a good distribution across the UK. 2. To explore the potential of procuring 'data as a service' from a third-party provider, who possesses the capability to ingest and expose various Automatic Weather Station (AWS) data sources. These sources of data could be quite varied and will include public and/or private sector weather networks. Initially, we plan to use data sourced in requirement 1, but we envisage that it will, over time, expand to encompass other sources. 3. To develop a webform or interface webpage that could be used to allow our Voluntary Climate Network (VCN) of observers to report manual weather readings on a daily basis, as is currently the practice via WOW.

Lot Information

Lot 1

This is an early market engagement activity. This notice is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition, and therefore publication or response does not commit the Met Office or any respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. The Met Office will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise. The Met Office has been operating the Weather Observations Website (WOW; https://www.wow.metoffice.gov.uk/) since 2012, enabling members of the public to submit their weather station observations and exploiting them as an increasingly important source of third party data for use in forecast applications. WOW is reaching end of life and is no longer cost efficient, so the WOW Next project is exploring options to replace this capability with a new data-focused service. We are not looking to replace the service in a like-for-like way as the business need has changed, so we welcome alternative suggestions for provision of our requirements. Our requirements are threefold: 1. We are initially looking to replace the WOW dataset with an alternative but equivalent automatic weather station (AWS) dataset. This needs to have similar characteristics to the WOW data (including measured variables, quality, spatial and temporal resolution, reporting frequency and timeliness). WOW currently provides us with approximately 1700 sites across the UK and Ireland, and we are looking to source data from a similar, or greater, number of low cost AWSs, such as those operated by members of the public, or organisations with an interest in the weather, with a good distribution across the UK. 2. To explore the potential of procuring 'data as a service' from a third-party provider, who possesses the capability to ingest and expose various Automatic Weather Station (AWS) data sources. These sources of data could be quite varied and will include public and/or private sector weather networks. Initially, we plan to use data sourced in requirement 1, but we envisage that it will, over time, expand to encompass other sources. 3. To develop a webform or interface webpage that could be used to allow our Voluntary Climate Network (VCN) of observers to report manual weather readings on a daily basis, as is currently the practice via WOW. We are looking for information from organisations that may be able to support us by supplying some or all aspects of the three requirements listed above. We are specifically looking for organisations to detail their capabilities in this market, to help us to understand what options may be available to us in determining the optimal solution(s) in terms of cost, quality, and sustainability. We will review what we have received from vendors to establish whether there is common ground, themes, trends. We will look at the IT security and data protection & licensing information which will guide how we set our requirements. Specifically, we are trying to unearth any areas that could be a problem or limiting factors on being able to achieve what we want to, so we can put measures in place to address those before issuing a tender, rather than being surprised at the tender return stage and wasting supplier's time. If you'd like to submit a response to us on any of the elements described, please do so by the 28th June 2024. Our full requirements are available to view via https://procontract.due-north.com/ together with a copy of the previous early market engagement for reference.

Renewal: Ongoing provision of data and support/development of web forms will be required as long as the service is running.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-046c0a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016749-2024
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support


CPV Codes

72300000 - Data services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 May 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
29 May 2024Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MET OFFICE
Contact Name
Mr Aled Evans
Contact Email
aled.evans@metoffice.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+44 3301351550

Buyer Location

Locality
EXETER
Postcode
EX1 3PB
Post Town
Exeter
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Exeter
Electoral Ward
Pinhoe
Westminster Constituency
Exmouth and Exeter East

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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