Planning

DSIT - NMS - LGC Chemical and Biological Metrology

DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

20 Aug 2025 at 14:13

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

22 May 2025 at 20:48

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) is overseeing the procurement process for the Chemical and Biological Metrology (CBM) programme, crucial to the National Measurement Laboratory's role at LGC. This programme aims to support the UK's chemical and bio-measurement infrastructure, addressing emerging measurement needs. The process, currently in the planning stage, is classified under the laboratory services industry category. It focuses on encouraging innovation through accurate measurements. The procurement process is rooted in legal standards specified by UKPGA 2023/54. The opportunity is being developed with significant deadlines ahead, such as a planned procurement date by March 2, 2026, with the contract period starting from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2030. Interested parties are encouraged to submit responses by September 3, 2025. DSIT is located at 22 Whitehall, London, UK, and is the central buying organisation in this tender.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) involved in laboratory services and innovation-driven sectors. Businesses experienced in measurement, calibration, and testing services, particularly within the sectors of chemical and biological metrology, would find this tender well-suited to their capabilities. The programmes aim to engage businesses by supporting the development and tackling the challenges of innovative technologies with high accuracy and precision. Leveraging consultative and collaborative opportunities with DSIT could facilitate business growth, particularly for those looking to expand or enhance technology offerings in the realms of advanced manufacturing, quantum technologies, and life sciences. This is an opportunity for businesses to contribute to and benefit from the national and international science landscape, maintaining the UK's position in global standards.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

DSIT - NMS - LGC Chemical and Biological Metrology

Notice Description

The Chemical and Biological Metrology (CBM) programme forms the backbone of LGCs role as the National Measurement Laboratory (NML) (and Designated Institute for chemical & biometrology). The Chemical and Biological Metrology programme, funded by the DSIT supports the UK's current chemical and bio-measurement infrastructure and addresses emerging measurement needs to support innovation.

Planning Information

Preliminary Market Engagement for National Measurement System Programmes 2026-2030 Background Information: The National Measurement System (NMS) is the UK’s infrastructure of laboratories and capabilities that deliver world-class measurement science and provide accurate, precise, and traceable measurements that underpin research, innovation, and trade. The NMS enables the UK to compete in global trade and manufacturing by ensuring consistency and recognition of measurement units and standards throughout the world. Internationally-leading knowledge and expertise is passed on to UK stakeholders by a coordinated programme of knowledge transfer. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) supports the NMS because of the substantial impact it has on every aspect of UK life and its economic success. DSIT does so by funding science programmes delivered by the UK’s National Metrology Institute, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), and other nationally designated metrology institutes. The science programmes are focused across a range of sectors and technology areas, including: • Advanced manufacturing, including power electronics, metamaterials, semiconductors, and mass, dimensional, and temperature measurements. Current projects include: o Providing and maintaining the UK’s national primary standards for temperature, humidity, mass, force, and length. o Establishing metrology capabilities to test and evaluate new semiconductor materials. • Digital, including communications and time and electromagnetic measurements. Current projects include: o Research to maintain the UK’s world-class optical frequency metrology and influence the international redefinition of the SI second. o Maintaining and delivering SI-traceable realisations of electrical, magnetic, and optical units. o Developing data science capabilities and tools to improve end-users’ confidence in their use of metrology data and AI systems. • Life sciences and health, including radiation dosimetry, bioimaging, and engineering biology. Current projects include: o Maintaining and developing the UK’s primary standards for ionising radiation, and providing validation and measurement confidence for radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, and associated imaging provided by the NHS and other healthcare providers. o Research and development to establish measurement capabilities, SI-traceable phantom materials, uncertainty assessments, and guidance for quantitative imaging in PET, SPECT, MRI and ultrasound. • Energy and environment, including gas composition and fluxes, and metrology for clean technology. Current projects include: o Maintaining and developing the UK’s primary standards for gas composition and aerosol measurements. o Developing measurement procedures and reference materials for the measurement of environmental DNA (eDNA). • Quantum, including quantum sensing, computing, and timing and navigation. Current projects include: o Developing test and evaluation capabilities for security assurance of commercially available quantum communications products such as Quantum Key Distribution systems and Quantum Random Number Generator devices. o Providing metrology, testing, and benchmarking for UK industry in the development of the next generation of quantum sensors for magnetometry and imaging, including their applications in health care and critical infrastructure. • Chemical and biological metrology, including purity measurements, organic analysis, and isotope ratios. Current projects include: o Maintaining and delivering accredited, SI-traceable calibration and reference materials for purity determination. o Developing and validating measurement methods to quantify particle additives in regulated consumer products and accidental food and environmental pollutants. • Flow measurement, including gas flow and metrology for alternative fuels. Current projects include: o Providing and maintaining the UK’s primary standards for the flow of oil, water, gas, CO2, and Hydrogen. o Research to investigate and develop new primary standards for high-pressure, high-flow-rate gas flows. • Gears metrology. Current projects include: o Providing and maintaining the UK’s primary standards for the measurement and characterisation of gears. These programmes are currently provided via contracted services for DSIT by: • The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the UK’s National Metrology Institute; • The National Measurement Laboratory at LGC (formerly the Laboratory of the Government Chemist), the UK’s designated institute for chemical and biological measurement; • TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory, the UK’s designated institute for flow measurement; • The National Gear Metrology Laboratory, the UK’s designated institute for gear measurement. The purpose of this questionnaire is to better understand the market for fundamental metrology capabilities in the UK ahead of the current contracts expiring on 1st April 2026, and assess whether any of the DSIT NMS programmes could be delivered, in whole or in part, by alternative providers. Service Description: The aims of these programmes are to: 1) Ensure that industry, researchers, regulators, and other users in the UK can reliably, accurately, and precisely measure, test, calibrate, and validate their products, services, and processes, as necessary to support, for example, trade, scientific research, the development of innovative technologies, environmental monitoring and protection, and public health. 2) Directly support innovation by helping businesses to overcome measurement and analytical problems, and bringing more businesses, researchers, and other stakeholders to the technological frontier through consultancy and training services. The services involved in delivering these programmes may include, across all sector and technology areas set out above: • Developing and maintaining, to the highest accuracy, precision, and traceability, the UK’s fundamental measurement standards in a given area. The accuracy and uncertainty of these standards must be evidenced through, for example, the highest standards of accreditation. This will involve applied research and the development, validation and documentation of measurement protocols, instrumentation, reference materials, and reference data, and will involve collaboration with partners as appropriate. • Collaborating with standards bodies, regulators, and other stakeholders to develop and advise on technical standards, regulatory frameworks, and testing and calibration methodologies to support technological development. • Horizon-scanning and engagement with stakeholders (including industry, researchers, and the government) to identify, and develop the capabilities required to meet, new measurement needs. • Collaborating with national metrology institutes and designated institutes in other countries on joint research and development projects. • Knowledge transfer and support for industry, researchers, and other stakeholders through collaboration with businesses, publication of research, training, and consultancy services. This work will leverage the expertise developed through the development and maintenance of the fundamental measurement standards. Questions: Your Organisation 1. What is your organisation’s name? 2. What is your name and role at the organisation? 3. Please provide a brief description of your organisation, including information on: a. The services you provide and the sectors and technologies you cover. b. The approximate size and revenue of your business (or the parts thereof that deliver measurement services or R&D). c. Where your services are carried out. Measurement Capabilities 4. What fundamental measurement capabilities and services does your organisation provide? Please describe: a. The measurement, testing, calibration, or validation activities your organisation carries out, and the sectors and technologies in which these are offered. b. The level of uncertainty your organisation achieves in those activities. c. Any accreditations your organisation holds, or is in the process of securing, in relation to the preceding. d. The traceability of your activities. e. Whether your measurements are, or could function as, a UK primary standard. Please explain and justify any claim. 5. What experience does your organisation have in providing measurement services to customers? 6. What experience does your organisation have in undertaking applied research in fundamental metrology? Collaboration 7. What experience does your organisation have in working with other organisations to develop or advise on technical standards, regulatory frameworks, and measurement protocols? 8. What other experience does your organisation have working with government, industry, academia, international partners, and other stakeholders in relation to metrology? Knowledge Transfer 9. What experience does your organisation have in disseminating the knowledge and expertise developed through the measurement capabilities and services your organisation provides? Please describe any activities you undertake (e.g., training, publications, consultancy services, and collaborative projects with business) and your audiences. Quality Assurance 10. What quality assurance plans do you have in place to ensure the reliability and accuracy of your measurements? Programme Delivery 11. What parts, if any, of the NMS programmes could your organisation deliver? In which fields, technologies, or sectors could your organisation deliver them? Justify this by reference to your previous answers. If you have any further questions, or would like to provide a response to the above, please email barney.rankin2@dsit.gov.uk to request a “DSIT National Measurement System Preliminary Market Engagement Supplier Questionnaire FOR RESPONSES” excel sheet. We then politely request that all responses are returned to barney.rankin2@dsit.gov.uk by 17:00, Wednesday 03rd September, 2025.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051f9c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050252-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71900000 - Laboratory services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Aug 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Mar 20261 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
commercialexcellence@ics.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2EG
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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