Planning

NEPO217 Winter Bureau, Weather Forecasting & Outstation Maintenance

THE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH EAST COUNCILS LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

01 May 2026 at 11:43

Summary of the contracting process

The Association of North East Councils Limited is planning a procurement process titled "NEPO217 Winter Bureau, Weather Forecasting & Outstation Maintenance". This Open Framework aims to streamline services for winter bureau, weather forecasting, and RWIS outstation maintenance for UK local authorities by consolidating existing arrangements. Located in Gateshead, UK, this process falls under the public authority - sub-central government category. The procurement stage is currently in the planning phase, with a future tender notice expected on 26th July 2026. The contract period is planned to start on 1st April 2027 and end on 31st March 2035. The framework is valued at £12 million gross and employs an open procedure method, allowing for periodic market refreshes under the Procurement Act 2023.

This tender provides significant potential for businesses engaged in weather forecasting, data management, and technical services related to meteorology. Companies with capabilities in providing locally relevant forecasts, route-based forecasting, and roadside infrastructure maintenance will find the opportunity to expand their business within an eight-year framework. Additionally, businesses offering modular services like enhanced radar data or analytical tools might find opportunities to innovate and compete. The framework supports existing systems, ensuring continuity and avoiding the need for wholesale replacement, making it particularly attractive to service providers looking to work closely with local authorities across the UK.

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Notice Title

NEPO217 Winter Bureau, Weather Forecasting & Outstation Maintenance

Notice Description

The proposed procurement will establish a single NEPO-led 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. Please note, details in this notice are subject to change and are not to be considered final. NEPO reserves the right to alter or change details in this notice at any time at its sole discretion. 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 agreed version. NEPO will engage with the wider market in a pre-market consultation session in the near future to inform the market of a more developed scope. 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 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

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06903b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040470-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
£10,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 May 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
26 Jul 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2035 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

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
Post Town
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

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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