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UKRI-4873 Radar System Hire

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

ContractTermination

14 Oct 2026 at 15:25

UK11 - Contract Termination Notice
Award

14 Oct 2026 at 15:23

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

18 Jun 2025 at 16:05

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

05 Jun 2025 at 16:05

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) hired an unmanned aerial vehicle carrying radar equipment for scientific research. The requirement was for the hire of the radar system and associated aerial services, rather than a purchase of equipment. The work was delivered in the United Kingdom; the published location data does not identify a named town or site. UKRI, a central government research and innovation funder, was the buyer. This requirement sits at the intersection of specialist radar capability, unmanned aircraft operations and research support, so it is relevant to suppliers able to provide an integrated aerial platform and radar service for scientific use.

The procurement was awarded to Windracers by direct award, with the buyer citing the absence of competition for technical reasons. The award date was 12 June 2025. The contract was signed on 1 July 2025 and ran from 2 July to 30 November 2025, with an option for two one-month extensions; the award record gave a maximum extent to 31 January 2026. The awarded value was £160,000 excluding VAT (£192,000 including VAT). The procurement comprised one lot, and the award was for services. The contract is recorded as completed, with a termination notice published on 14 October 2026; the stated termination classification indicates completion. The award was not competitively evaluated, so no competitive scoring criteria are reported.

For suppliers considering similar future UKRI requirements, this award demonstrates demand for radar equipment supplied on a hire basis and operated from an unmanned aerial vehicle to support scientific research. A credible competitor would need to combine access to suitable radar technology with the aircraft, operational capability and technical support needed to deliver a research-ready aerial service. The direct award was justified on technical grounds by the absence of competition, indicating that a supplier would need to demonstrate distinctive technical capability and a convincing fit with the research requirement. Windracers, the selected supplier, is a large business, showing that this instance went to a supplier able to undertake the integrated requirement at substantial scale. Relevant experience in unmanned aviation, radar integration and scientific operations would help establish that capability.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UKRI-4873 Radar System Hire

Notice Description

For the hire of radar equipment (unmanned Aerial Vehicle) for use in scientific research.

Procurement Information

Competition absent for technical reasoning.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0543df
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097132-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK11 - Contract Termination Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60440000 - Aerial and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£160,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£160,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
12 Jun 20251 years ago
Contract Period
2 Jul 2025 - 30 Nov 2025 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Terminated

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON, WILTSHIRE
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Windracers

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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