Award

202526 5478 5497 - Scientific Instruments to be installed on the FAAM aircraft.

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

25 Nov 2025 at 14:05

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by the University of Leeds pertains to the direct award of a contract for the supply and installation of scientific instruments on the FAAM aircraft. The purchase includes meteorological instruments such as a Backscatter Cloud Probe and a Zero Air System. The project falls under the industry category of goods procurement and targets the sub-central government sector. The procurement stage is complete, with the contract set to begin on 10th December 2025 and conclude on 9th December 2026. This initiative is based in Leeds, within the United Kingdom’s UKE42 region, highlighting a specific need for technical precision equipment with a strong rationale due to its unique functional requirements.

For businesses focused on growth, especially those involved with manufacturing scientific or meteorological instruments, this tender offers a significant opportunity. Companies that specialise in cutting-edge, durable measurement instruments that meet high safety and precision standards would find this contract well-suited to their expertise. The procurement process favoured a direct award method, targeting suppliers capable of providing specialised, rarely available technical equipment, exemplified by the award to CuraTerrae Air Ltd, a small to medium-sized enterprise based in Sheffield. This offers insight into the available market potential for highly specialised suppliers in niche domains, promoting robust collaborations with prominent educational and research institutions like the University of Leeds.

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Notice Title

202526 5478 5497 - Scientific Instruments to be installed on the FAAM aircraft.

Notice Description

2x Backscatter Cloud Probe 1x Dynamic Dilution System 1x Zero Air System All items to be installed on the fuselage of the FAAM aircraft, or within the airborne laboratory To view this notice, please click here: https://neupc.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=996596223

Procurement Information

The Envea DMT BCPD-H, "Backscatter Cloud Probe with Depolarization (Hermetic)" is the only commercially available fuselage mounted cloud droplet measuring instrument for aircraft. It is specifically designed to measure liquid and ice cloud as well as being able to distinguish volcanic ash which fulfills a government civil contingency safety case for operating the FAAM aircraft when airspace is closed to all other planes due to a volcanic eruption. Two instruments are required to ensure that the measurement is available at all times in the event of one being returned for service/calibration or failure.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e86a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076891-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£247,665 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Nov 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
25 Nov 20252 months ago
Contract Period
10 Dec 2025 - 9 Dec 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
Contact Name
Maggie Whitworth
Contact Email
m.a.whitworth@adm.leeds.ac.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1133431810

Buyer Location

Locality
LEEDS
Postcode
LS2 9JT
Post Town
Leeds
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE42 Leeds
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Leeds
Electoral Ward
Little London & Woodhouse
Westminster Constituency
Leeds Central and Headingley

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CURATERRAE AIR

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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