Notice Information
Notice Title
Management of the UK Telecommunications Laboratory
Notice Description
The UK Telecommunications Laboratory (UKTL) serves as the national telecoms security and resilience testing and research facility of the United Kingdom. This helps maintain the security and resilience of the UK's communications networks. The contract is for provision of Deliverables and the supply of Services, for the operation of the UKTL Buildings as well as the designing and implementation of specialist activities and tasks.
Procurement Information
The UK Telecommunications Laboratory (UKTL) serves as the national telecoms security and resilience testing and research facility of the United Kingdom. The UKTL aims to be recognised globally as a centre of excellence in telecom security, providing advanced test and evaluation capabilities to protect the country's essential national telecoms infrastructure. This helps maintain the security and resilience of the UK's communications networks. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) awarded a contract to National Physical Laboratory Management Limited for setting up and initially managing UKTL for 12 months, valued at PS18.3 million (excluding VAT). This procurement follows the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011. Publishing a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer applicable. The contract was awarded without prior publication of a notice on the UK e-notification service, adhering to Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the DSPCR 2011, which allows such awarding "for technical reasons, or for reasons connected with the protection of exclusive rights", therefore the contract was awarded to a particular economic operator. The services required could only be provided by NPL Management Limited, due to the extensive interaction with various network-specific organisations as well as government bodies. These entities are integral to the development of UKTL, raising concerns about the allocation of exclusive rights during the establishment of the laboratory and necessitating a company that maintains neutrality. As a public corporation that offers neutrality, NPL Management Limited possesses the requisite expertise in laboratory setup and management. Although there are other public sector bodies that exhibit relevant qualities, their primary remits and expertise do not fulfil the unique requirements of a national-level telecommunications security laboratory. They lacked specialised knowledge in advanced telecom network protocols, cybersecurity threats specific to telecom infrastructure, and the metrology of high-frequency signals, which NPL possesses. Additionally, these entities do not operate high-security facilities for collaborative research on sensitive national security technology. NPL's expertise in measurement science, its specific and advanced capabilities in telecommunications and cyber security, its role as the UK's National Measurement Institute, and its status as a trusted public sector body with the necessary infrastructure and security clearance experience make it the only public sector organisation feasibly equipped to operate the UKTL for the period of time in question.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-0515f6
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/022277-2025
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- Award Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Limited
- Procurement Method Details
- Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
- Tender Suitability
- Not specified
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
-
- CPV Codes
73400000 - Research and Development services on security and defence materials
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- Not specified
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- £18,380,000 £10M-£100M
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 16 May 20259 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- 31 Mar 202510 months ago
- Contract Period
- Not specified - Not specified
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Not Specified
- Lots Status
- Not Specified
- Awards Status
- Active
- Contracts Status
- Active
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- DESNZ & DSIT GROUP COMMERCIAL
- Contact Name
- Attn: FNP Commercial Team
- Contact Email
- fnpcommercial@dsit.gov.uk
- Contact Phone
- Not specified
Buyer Location
- Locality
- LONDON
- Postcode
- N/A
- Post Town
- Not specified
- Country
- Not specified
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- Not specified
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- Not specified
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- Not specified
- Delivery Location
- Not specified
-
- Local Authority
- Not specified
- Electoral Ward
- Not specified
- Westminster Constituency
- Not specified
Further Information
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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