Award

Custom Fit Motorcycle Examiner Earplugs 2026

DRIVER AND VEHICLE STANDARDS AGENCY

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

21 Apr 2026 at 15:31

Tender

29 Jan 2026 at 11:02

Planning

08 Dec 2025 at 10:42

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for the "Custom Fit Motorcycle Examiner Earplugs 2026" contract, initiated by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), is complete as of 21st April 2026. The agency, a central government public authority based in Bristol, UK, sought supplies of custom-fitted earplugs for motorcycle examiners as part of its audiological safety measures. With the procurement conducted via an open procedure, the contract entails providing two pairs of earplugs per examiner, including on-site fitting and subsequent replacements every two years at DVSA locations. The award, pending as of the latest date, is valued at £126,000 gross and covers goods for the protective gear category. The standstill period for this award ends on 30th April 2026, with the contract commencing on 14th May 2026 and extending potentially up to 13th May 2030, subject to renewals.

This tender provides substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in audiological and protective gear services, notably those focusing on custom earplug solutions. With annual ear impressions estimated at around 100, equating to 200 pairs of earplugs, the project offers recurring service engagements and deliveries across DVSA locations. As the procurement favours an open procedure, SMEs are well-positioned to compete, leveraging their agility for custom fitting services and localised delivery operations. The long-term contract, with options for renewals, encourages sustained business growth and positions the awarded supplier at the forefront of DVSA's commitment to enhancing safety for motorcycle examiners.

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How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Custom Fit Motorcycle Examiner Earplugs 2026

Notice Description

DVSA motorcycle examiners conduct riding tests for candidates seeking entitlement to ride motorcycles on public roads. To carry out these tests, examiners spend up to eight hours a day on a motorcycle and may reach speeds of up to 70 mph. Research indicates that riding at speeds above 60 mph can lead to hearing loss caused by excessive wind noise. To mitigate this risk, DVSA introduced routine audiology assessments for motorcycle examiners and the use of custom-fitted earplugs. DVSA now intends to award a contract to a single supplier to provide two pairs of custom-fitted earplugs for each examiner, with replacements supplied every two years. The service will include on-site fitting, where the supplier visits DVSA locations to take ear canal impressions before delivering the custom earplugs. It is estimated that approximately 100 ear impressions will be taken annually, resulting in the supply of around 200 pairs of custom-fitted earplugs each year.

Planning Information

DVSA is issuing this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (UK2) as a Request for Information (RFI) to engage with the market. The purpose is to gather insights into the market’s capacity and appetite for the upcoming Custom Fit Motorcycle Examiner Earplugs 2026 requirement. The RFI will be open from 08th December 2025 to 22nd December 2025. If you are interested in participating and would like access to the RFI documents, please contact the team at: G&Scategoryteam@dvsa.gov.uk

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f075
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036292-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

18 - Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories


CPV Codes

18143000 - Protective gear

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£135,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£135,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£105,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Apr 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
2 Mar 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
22 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
20 Apr 20261 months ago
Contract Period
13 May 2026 - 13 May 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
2028-01-24

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DRIVER AND VEHICLE STANDARDS AGENCY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS5 0DA
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK51 Bristol, City of
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Lawrence Hill
Westminster Constituency
Bristol East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

HEARING RESOLUTIONS

Further Information

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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