Award

Profiling Floats for Ocean Data Collection

MET OFFICE

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

20 Jan 2026 at 16:48

Award

18 Dec 2025 at 16:49

Tender

22 Sep 2025 at 15:08

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for the "Profiling Floats for Ocean Data Collection" project is led by the Met Office, a central government public authority based in Exeter, United Kingdom. The procurement, completed on 20 January 2026, involved an open procedure and resulted in the award of a framework agreement for two lots: standard floats with Iridium communications and Iridium floats with bio-geochemical sensors. Both lots were contracted to nke Instrumentation from France, and Swale Technologies Limited from the United Kingdom. The contract, valued at approximately £2.58 million gross, runs from 27 January 2026 to 26 January 2029, with a possible extension for an additional year. The industry category for this procurement falls under meteorological instruments, with goods delivery slated for the UKK4 region in the United Kingdom.

This tender offers significant opportunities for SMEs, particularly those specialising in meteorological instruments and technology related to ocean data collection. The framework agreement is designed to accommodate new technological advancements over its duration, allowing for product range expansion. Businesses adept in producing advanced sensor technologies and communication systems for oceanographic applications would find this tender appealing. Moreover, the open procurement method underscores the competitive nature of the tender, encouraging a diverse range of businesses to engage in delivering innovative solutions for environmental data collection, ultimately aiding in scaling business operations and enhancing market presence.

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Notice Title

Profiling Floats for Ocean Data Collection

Notice Description

The Met Office awarded a framework agreement for the following Lots: Lot 1 - Standard floats with Iridium communications Lot 2 - Iridium floats with bio-geochemical sensors

Lot Information

Standard floats with Iridium communications

Standard floats with Iridium communications (temperature, salinity and depth only).

Renewal: Available option to extend for a further 12 month period up to a total framework duration of four (4) years.

Iridium floats with bio-geochemical sensors

Bio-geochemical-Argo is the extension of the Argo array of profiling floats to include floats that are equipped with additional sensors for pH, oxygen, nitrate, chlorophyll fluorescence, suspended particles and down-welling irradiance. With respect to Lot 2, it is likely that purchases of such floats may range from those with a single additional sensor (most likely dissolved oxygen) through to the full sensor suite.

Renewal: Available option to extend for a further 12 month period up to a total framework duration of four (4) years.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-059f75
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005026-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)


CPV Codes

38120000 - Meteorological instruments

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,900,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,900,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£2,331,838 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£2,331,838 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
22 Oct 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
18 Dec 20252 months ago
Contract Period
27 Jan 2026 - 26 Jan 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MET OFFICE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement.enquiries@metoffice.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

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
TLK4 Devon

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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

NKE INSTRUMENTATION

SWALE TECHNOLOGIES

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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