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Provision of Trade and Diplomatic Plates 2026

Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency

This public procurement record has 7 releases in its history.

Award

25 Aug 2026 at 08:02

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

22 May 2026 at 10:39

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

20 May 2026 at 09:57

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

24 Mar 2026 at 11:12

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
PlanningUpdate

27 Feb 2026 at 11:09

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

06 Feb 2026 at 11:26

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

06 Feb 2026 at 11:14

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) procured the manufacture, secure supply and destruction of trade plates and diplomatic plates for DVLA and the end users of these products. This is a goods requirement covering vehicle-related plates and associated products, classified under CPV 34300000. Delivery is required across the United Kingdom. The procurement is a single-supplier requirement, rather than separate contracts for different regions or customer groups. It is relevant to manufacturers and secure supply specialists able to produce both trade and diplomatic plates, manage controlled distribution and provide compliant destruction services. The buyer is a central government organisation based in Swansea, and the requirement supports the continued operation of its vehicle registration and licensing functions.

The procurement has been awarded following an open procedure. Four bids were received, all four reached the final stage and all four final-stage bidders were SMEs. UGROUP UK NUMBERPLATES LIMITED was awarded the contract on 17 August 2026 for £481,292.93 excluding VAT (£577,551.52 including VAT). The awarded contract period runs from 12 October 2026 to 11 October 2029, with two optional 12-month extensions, giving a maximum end date of 11 October 2031. The original estimated value was £1,766,666.67 excluding VAT (£2,120,000 including VAT). Evaluation weighted quality and social value at 60% and financial considerations at 40%, using the most economically advantageous tender and value-for-money assessment. The lot is complete and suitable for SMEs.

This award demonstrates established demand from DVLA for a specialist, single-supplier service combining manufacture, secure supply and destruction of trade and diplomatic plates. A credible future competitor would need dependable production capacity for both plate types, robust security and chain-of-custody controls, secure distribution across the United Kingdom, and documented processes for destroying plates safely and securely. The evaluation places greater emphasis on quality and social value than on price, so suppliers would need to evidence competence, credibility, operational resilience and a convincing approach to social value, alongside competitive commercial pricing. The successful supplier was an SME, indicating that the requirement can be delivered by a suitably capable smaller business. Experience of controlled government or vehicle-related supply chains would strengthen a competing proposition.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Trade and Diplomatic Plates 2026

Notice Description

The procurement will be for the provision of trade and diplomatic plates to support the needs of DVLA and the end users of the products.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: There are 2 (two) 12 month extensions that may be taken at the Authority's discretion.

Planning Information

DVLA’s current contract for the manufacture and supply of Trade and Diplomatic Plates is expiring in December 2026, and as a result, we are now beginning the process of engaging with key suppliers to gather market intelligence to help inform our requirements. • DVLA intends to procure a single supplier contract for the manufacture, secure supply, and destruction of: • Trade Plates • Diplomatic Plates This PME seeks early market insight, capability feedback, and innovation suggestions to inform the final specification and procurement approach. DVLA intends to host a live Q&A session via Microsoft Teams on 11/03/2026 at 10:00 am for all Suppliers who register an interest and wish to find out more information about this exciting opportunity. This session will include: • ✔ Overview of contract context, requirements, timelines and volumes • ✔ Open question time with transparent responses • ✔ Sharing of Q&A outputs with all participants • ✔ Opportunity for Suppliers to highlight innovations, emerging capabilities and service improvements • ✔ An opportunity to meet the Business and Commercial team responsible for running the procurement. Following the initial session, suppliers who wish to request an optional one to one engagement slot are asked to confirm this when responding to register their interest, so that appointments can be allocated in advance. DVLA encourages open, fair and transparent procurement and omission from the DVLA’s Q&A session shall not prejudice against the supplier’s ability to be invited to tender for the work. It should be noted that responding to this email does not place the supplier into an advantageous position nor are there any obligations bound by attendance. Following the Q&A session, DVLA anticipates issuing the Invitation to Tender (ITT) in May 2026. If you wish to register your interest, please contact Allison on the following email address by Monday 9th March 2026. (Allison.fry@dvla.gov.uk)

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0649d0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080595-2026
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
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34000000 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

34300000 - Parts and accessories for vehicles and their engines

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,766,666 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,766,666 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£481,292 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
3 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
11 May 2026Expired
Award Date
17 Aug 20261 months ago
Contract Period
12 Oct 2026 - 11 Oct 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
2026-09-07

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Driver & Vehicle Licensing 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
SWANSEA
Postcode
SA6 7JL
Postcode Area
Swansea
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL4 Mid and South West Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL43 Swansea
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swansea
Electoral Ward
Mynydd-bach
Westminster Constituency
Swansea West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

UGROUP UK NUMBERPLATES LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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