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NEPO217 - Winter Bureau, Weather Forecasting & Outstation Maintenance

THE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH EAST COUNCILS LIMITED

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Tender

30 Sep 2026 at 16:50

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

08 May 2026 at 14:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

01 May 2026 at 12:43

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NEPO is procuring a national framework for winter bureau operations, road weather information system (RWIS) outstation maintenance and weather forecasting, replacing its existing winter bureau, outstation maintenance and forecasting arrangements. The services support local authorities’ winter service planning and operational decisions. Lot 1 combines winter bureau platform operation and management, helpdesk, data and communications services with RWIS monitoring, calibration, maintenance, repair, upgrades, replacement and installation. It also covers software, integrations, training and related support. Lot 2 covers production and monitoring of forecasts, amendments, operational notifications, performance reporting and consultancy, with related portals, route-based forecasting, data integration and training. Optional enhancements and emerging technologies may also be included. Delivery is across the UK for NEPO member authorities and associate members; organisations must register as NEPO Associate Members to use the framework.

NEPO invited tenders through an open procedure for an open framework, with call-offs by direct award or further competition. The framework covers two lots: winter bureau and outstation maintenance, and weather forecasting services. Each lot has an estimated value of £50 million excluding VAT (£60 million including VAT); these are separate lot estimates, not a combined total. The planned contract period for both lots is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2035. The tender submission deadline was 4 November 2026 at 12:00 UTC, and the enquiry deadline was 23 October 2026 at 12:00 UK time. Award was scheduled by 15 March 2027. Evaluation for each lot weights quality at 70% and price at 30%. A rebate of up to 1% of invoices for framework orders applies.

The requirement suits suppliers able to deliver winter operations technology and services at national scale, including weather bureau platforms, operational data management, resilient system availability and user support. Lot 1 calls for practical RWIS expertise covering roadside equipment inspection, monitoring, calibration, repair, upgrades, replacement and installation, as well as associated infrastructure, software integration, mobilisation and training. Lot 2 is suited to forecasting providers that can produce locally relevant forecasts, monitor and amend them, issue operational notifications and report performance, with consultancy and ongoing support. Providers of forecast portals, route-based forecasting, data integration, analytical products or environmental monitoring enhancements may also be relevant. The lots are marked as suitable for small and medium-sized businesses, and the framework is designed to retain authorities’ existing systems and infrastructure rather than require wholesale asset replacement. Quality carries greater evaluation weight than price.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

NEPO217 - Winter Bureau, Weather Forecasting & Outstation Maintenance

Notice Description

The proposed procurement will establish a NEPO-led Unranked Open Framework for the provision of Winter Bureau services, weather forecasting services, and RWIS outstation maintenance for UK local authorities. The framework will replace the existing NEPO217 (Winter Bureau & Outstation Maintenance) and NEPO230 (Weather Forecasting Services) arrangements and will bring these services together into one solution reflecting how they are used operationally by authorities. The scope is expected to include: Winter Bureau services, including decision support, data management, system availability, resilience and user access to operational winter information. Weather forecasting services, providing locally relevant and operationally defensible forecasts to support winter service decision-making. RWIS outstation maintenance, covering inspection, maintenance, repair, calibration and associated support for existing roadside infrastructure. Optional or modular services, which may include enhanced data products, radar data, route-based forecasting or analytical tools, where supported by market capability and authority demand. The framework will be designed to support continuity of existing systems and infrastructure, recognising recent investment by authorities and avoiding mandated wholesale replacement of assets. Authorities will be able to access services through clearly defined call-off mechanisms, including further competition where appropriate. The Open Framework is expected to operate for up to eight years, with periodic reopening in line with the Procurement Act 2023 to allow for market refresh and potential new entrants. NEPO is a Centralised Procurement Authority as defined in the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23), providing central purchasing activity on behalf of Contracting Authorities. All elements in this notice are subject to change at the sole discretion of NEPO. This notice is intended to inform the market of the potential scope of the procurement, not to be taken as the final version. The agreement will be available to NEPO Member Authorities and all current and future Associate Members. Current Associate Members are listed in the Associate Member section of the NEPO website at: https://www.nepo.org/associate-membership A list of permissible users is available at: https://www.nepo.org/associate-membership/permissible-users Organisations wishing to access the NEPO agreement will be required to register as a NEPO Associate Member in the first instance. Further information can be found at: www.nepo.org

Lot Information

Lot 1: Winter Bureau and Outstation Maintenance

Lot 1 covers the provision of Winter Bureau Services and Road Weather Information System (RWIS) Outstation Maintenance. This includes the operation and management of weather bureau platforms, helpdesk services, data management, communications, monitoring, calibration, maintenance, repair, upgrade, replacement and installation of RWIS equipment and associated infrastructure. The Lot also includes related software, integrations, training, mobilisation, demobilisation, consultancy, service enhancements and associated services required to support operational winter service operations.

Options: The Framework may additionally be used for the provision of emerging technologies, system enhancements and value-added services associated with weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, road weather information systems, decision support systems and associated operational infrastructure where such products and services support the objectives of the Framework.

Weather Forecasting Services

Lot 2 covers the provision of weather forecasting services to support winter service decision-making. This includes forecast production, forecast monitoring and amendment, consultancy, operational notifications, performance reporting and associated support services. The Lot may also be used for related products and services including forecast web portals, action logging systems, route-based forecasting, additional forecast sites and domains, data integrations, training, mobilisation, demobilisation, consultancy and other service enhancements associated with weather forecasting and operational decision support.

Options: The Framework may additionally be used for the provision of emerging technologies, system enhancements and value-added services associated with weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, road weather information systems, decision support systems and associated operational infrastructure where such products and services support the objectives of the Framework.

Planning Information

NEPO intends to undertake early market engagement in support of the proposed renewal and consolidation of NEPO217 - Winter Bureau, Weather Forecasting & Outstation Maintenance. This will be delivered through the publication of a Pre-Market Engagement Questionnaire (PMEQ) via the Open e-Tendering system (www.open-uk.org). The PMEQ will be used to test market appetite, gather feedback on the proposed combined solution, and inform the development of a proportionate and deliverable framework specification under the Procurement Act 2023. Supplier responses will provide insight into market capability, potential risks, and the practical implications of integrating winter bureau, outstation maintenance, and forecasting services within a single procurement. The questionnaire is currently accessible via the Open e-Tendering system, with a deadline of 12 June 2026 for responses. Suppliers wishing to access and complete the questionnaire must be registered on the Open system. Registration is free and can be completed at https://www.open-uk.org Guidance on registering and submitting responses via Open is available through the Open Hub Training Guides at https://www.open-hub.org/training Technical support is available via open.support@nepo.org Open is accessible 24/7, with support services available Monday to Thursday 08:30-17:00 and Friday 08:30-16:30. In addition to the written engagement, NEPO intends to host virtual Pre-Market Engagement sessions on a one-to-one basis with interested suppliers via Microsoft Teams during the PMEQ window. These sessions will provide an opportunity for NEPO to develop a further understanding of the current market and for suppliers to ask questions regarding the proposed solution. Suppliers' PMEQ responses will form the primary basis of discussion during the meetings. Attendance at the sessions will be optional and will not provide any advantage in any subsequent procurement process. An anonymised summary of PMEQ responses and outcomes will be published following the response deadline in order to maintain transparency. Participation in the PMEQ and attendance at the virtual sessions do not constitute an intention to tender, nor do they preclude suppliers from participating in any future procurement related to NEPO217. NEPO reserves the right to amend the engagement timetable or process as necessary.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06903b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092576-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

50 - Repair and maintenance services

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

38127000 - Weather stations

50312310 - Maintenance of data network equipment

71351600 - Weather-forecasting services

71351610 - Meteorology services

71356000 - Technical services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£50,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£50,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
4 Nov 20262 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
26 Jul 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2035 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH EAST COUNCILS 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
GATESHEAD
Postcode
NE8 3DF
Postcode Area
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Gateshead
Electoral Ward
Bridges
Westminster Constituency
Gateshead Central and Whickham

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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