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1D Measurement Beam - Stage 1

NPL Management Limited

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

19 Oct 2026 at 18:30

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

24 Aug 2026 at 13:22

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

02 Jun 2026 at 15:01

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

30 Apr 2026 at 10:23

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NPL Management Limited bought a high-precision motion-control stage mounted on a structural beam for use in a dimensional metrology instrument. The equipment is to be integrated into a larger assembly at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington. It includes two independently controlled carriages, an integrated linear encoder and a controller compatible with LabVIEW. The supplier must support physical interface design, analyse the proposed installation and advise how the beam should be mounted. The package also includes cable management and a control system. This is specialist laboratory and precision-measurement equipment, rather than general-purpose motion-control supply.

The procurement is complete and NPL selected IBS Precision Engineering BV of Eindhoven for the Stage 1 design study. The award is recorded as pending, at £39,945 excluding VAT (£47,934 including VAT); the procurement’s overall estimated value was £300,000 excluding VAT (£360,000 including VAT). The award date was 19 October 2026, and the awarded study period runs from 2 November to 14 December 2026. The contract was competed through an open, competitive flexible procedure, with two stages evaluated separately. The Stage 1 assessment covered mandatory requirements, technical merit, capability, delivery, delivery risks and commercial factors; the overall stated basis was 80% quality and technical assessment and 20% cost. One supplier reached the final stage from two initial bids.

For suppliers seeking to compete when NPL next buys this measurement-beam requirement, credibility depends on designing and delivering a stable, long-travel precision motion stage as part of an integrated instrument system. The specification calls for two carriages, each with a travel envelope of at least 2.3 metres, nanometre-scale position sensing and in-position noise of 1 nanometre RMS. Carriages must support 10 kg payloads, move at very low speeds with specified acceleration, and meet tight pitch and yaw limits. Suppliers also need motion-control and encoder expertise, integrated cable management, a controller operable through LabVIEW, and the ability to support installation and integration. Evidence that the design is suitable for a 20-year service life, plus UKCA-related compliance and technical-file capability, will matter. Stage 1 demanded a complete design proposal addressing later-stage requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

1D Measurement Beam - Stage 1

Notice Description

This Procurement is divided into two distinct stages, with evaluations undertaken separately at the conclusion of each stage. Although Stage 2 will be evaluated at a later stage, bidders must review and consider the Stage 2 requirements when developing their Stage 1 submission. This is to ensure that Stage 1 responses provide a complete design proposal that demonstrates the bidder's ability to meet the full project requirements. Subject to the outcome of the Stage 1 evaluation, NPL reserves the right to award the design study to up to two suppliers. NPL intends to appoint and remunerate the two successful Stage 1 suppliers to undertake the design study. NPL are looking for the supply of a high precision motion control stage mounted to a structural beam with an operating envelope of greater than 2.3m with 2 integrated carriages. This will be used as part of a Dimensional Metrology Instrument. The system will be supplied to NPL to use and operate internally as an operational piece of equipment to be installed into a larger assembly. The supply will be required to support physical interfacing and design analysis and advise how the measurement beam will be mounted. The system is to come with its own control system to be supplied with the system able to support the requirements. The final system will be installed with the expectation of a minimum 20-year life, and the supplier shall provide all information to show design suitability. Within the main instrument there are other small motion control stages that are available from other suppliers, however an integrated solution from a control system perspective would be seen as advantageous. Refers to point 16 of Stage 2 Technical Specifications. The final instrument is intended to be UKCA marked and a technical file for the motion stage and control system must be shared with NPL along with showing compliance to the relevant standards and legislation. Refers to point 19 of Stage 2 Technical Specifications. The supplier will need to be able to support installation of the equipment and integration with the main instrument. The following is a high-level set of requirements for the system: * An integrated slide/Motion axis/Motion Stage on a structural beam with appropriate mounting arrangements. * A very stable slide or motion axis with in-position noise levels of 1 nanometre rms. * slide should have pitch and yaw errors of maximum 50+/- microradians. * There should be 2 carriages on the motion stage/slide, each having an operating envelope of 2300 mm or more. * The carriages should be controlled to an incremental motion of 1 micron or less, with an integrated linear encoder to detect position into the nanometer scale. * The carriages are expected to carry a payload of 10 kgs. * All cable management should be integrated into the solution with the ability to add up to 4 additional signal cables. * The carriages will move at low speeds in the range of 1 micron to 25mm per second and accelerations of at least 1 m/s2 * The slide to include an inbuilt linear encoder with a 1 nanometre resolution. * The controller for the system should be provided with an interface be controlled via LabVIEW software.

Planning Information

Prior to initiating the procurement, NPL wishes to establish the level of market interest in the forthcoming procurement process. Suitably qualified and experienced suppliers who may have an interest in this project are invited to register for this Preliminary Market Engagement. The purpose of the market engagement is to help assess the reaction of the market, to understand risks and future possibilities to ensure a future proofed procurement strategy and resulting contract. Any submission received in response to this exercise will not constitute any contractual agreement between the respondent and NPL. Nor does the receipt of a response automatically include the respondent in the procurement process. A Tender Notice will be issued to the market which will provide details of how the relating procurement documentation can be accessed and timescales for submission of the said tender response. Interested parties shall bear their own costs of participation in this Market Engagement of whatever nature. NPL shall not be liable for the costs, expenses or losses howsoever arising (including, without limitation, any loss of profit or other economic loss incurred), regardless of the outcome of the Market Engagement. The next stage in the process will be considered once this exercise has been completed. If you have any questions, or would like to provide a response to the above, please email etenders@npl.co.uk to request a Preliminary Market Engagement Supplier Questionnaire "FOR RESPONSES" excel spreadsheet. Please return all responses by 17.00, Monday 27th April 2026

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068ee2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098714-2026
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
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£39,945 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
21 Sep 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
13 Jul 2026Expired
Award Date
19 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 14 Dec 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
2026-12-14

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NPL Management Limited
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
TEDDINGTON
Postcode
TW11 0LW
Postcode Area
Twickenham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI7 Outer London - West and North West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI75 Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames
Delivery Location
TLI6 Outer London - South
Local Authority
Richmond upon Thames
Electoral Ward
Teddington
Westminster Constituency
Twickenham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

IBS Precision Engineering BV

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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