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1D Measurement Beam - Stage 1

NPL Management Limited

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

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 is procuring a high-precision motion control stage mounted on a structural beam for use in a dimensional metrology instrument. The system must have two integrated carriages, an operating envelope of more than 2.3 metres, its own control system and integrated cable management. It will be supplied to NPL for internal operation as part of a larger assembly, supporting physical interfacing, design analysis and advice on mounting the measurement beam. The supplier will also support installation and integration with the main instrument. The work is classified as laboratory, optical and precision equipment and will be delivered in the United Kingdom. The requirement is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

The procurement has reached tender: NPL invited offers through an open competitive flexible procedure, using an accelerated timetable. It has two stages, with Stage 1 covering mandatory requirements, capability, delivery timeline and indicative cost; Stage 2 will cover technical specifications, delivery timeline, social value and final cost. Expressions of interest were due by 7 August 2026 at 17:00, enquiries by 27 July 2026 at 17:00, and tender responses by 21 September 2026 at 17:00. The contract period is 15 October 2026 to 1 July 2027, with award expected by 5 October 2026. The estimated value is £300,000 excluding VAT, or £360,000 including VAT. Evaluation is 80% quality and technical and 20% cost: capability 30%, technical 25%, delivery 15%, delivery risks 10% and commercial 20%. Up to two suppliers may be appointed for Stage 1 design studies.

This opportunity suits suppliers experienced in precision motion control, metrology equipment and integrated electromechanical systems. The proposed stage must achieve in-position noise of 1 nanometre RMS, pitch and yaw errors of no more than 50 microradians, incremental carriage movement of 1 micrometre or less, and linear encoder resolution of 1 nanometre. Each of the two carriages must carry a 10-kilogram payload and operate across at least 2,300 millimetres, at speeds from 1 micrometre to 25 millimetres per second with acceleration of at least 1 metre per second squared. Suppliers need to provide integrated control, cable management with provision for four additional signal cables, and a LabVIEW interface. They must demonstrate design suitability for a minimum 20-year life, support installation and integration, and provide a technical file showing compliance with relevant standards and UKCA marking 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/080350-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Aug 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
21 Sep 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
13 Jul 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
15 Oct 2026 - 1 Jul 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
2026-12-14

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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