Notice Information
Notice Title
UAA Small Tank
Notice Description
NPL is seeking a solution for design, development and integration of a new underwater acoustics open tank test facility. This notice is split into lots; stakeholder and supplier management and collaboration will be the responsibility by NPL. All lots will be integrated into a wider system, and the integration activities will be managed by NPL including collaboration between suppliers as required. The facility will be comprised of an open water tank (Lot A), a water filtration system (Lot B) and a gantry-type positioning and control system (Lot C). Acoustic test panels and hydrophones will be deployed into the open water tank. The test panels and hydrophones are mounted on the control and positioning system to perform material characterisation and hydrophone calibration activities. These activities will take place by scanning test panels and translating the hydrophones in the water. The schematic block diagram of the facility includes overall room dimensions. Please engage with this notice and NPL Procurement to receive the attachments. The requirements specification provides all relevant details for the open water tank, water filtration system and positioning and control system. The high-level PBS indicates what NPL Engineering and suppliers will be responsible for; any requirements relevant to the operating room will be the responsibility of NPL Estates which will be managed by NPL internally but are given in this notice as they help to provide context to the wider system. Please engage with this notice and NPL Procurement to receive the attachments. This is not an evaluation exercise and nothing in this activity will limit the opportunity to engage in any follow on Invitation To Tender. The specifications in the Lots below is not an exhaustive list and further details will be provided in the tendering documents. This requirement is structured into three distinct lots. Suppliers are invited to submit their interest on a single lot, any combination of lots, or all lots. Scope: LOT A - OPEN WATER TANK NPL is seeking engagement from suppliers who have capability to provide a solution to the following requirements. High-level requirements include: * The open water tank shall have minimum dimensions of 2m (w) x 2m (h) x 4m (l) and maximum dimensions of 3m (w) x 3m (h) x 5m (l). The open water tank shall have inner faces that are flat and free of flanges. The open water tank shall be constructed of a material such that it is subject to no galvanic activity and that it does not cause acoustic reflections. * The open water tank shall include water monitoring instrumentation capable of measuring water temperature within +-0.1degC. * There shall be a head tank from which the open water tank may be filled and topped up. * The open water tank shall include an overflow prevention mechanism to avoid overfilling and flooding. It shall be possible to fill the open water tank from the head tank and shut off automatically when the required water level is reached. It shall be possible to top up the water level of the open water tank by drawing water from the head tank to make up for the water loss during normal operation. It shall be possible to fully drain the open water tank such that drained water can be directed to the wastewater mains. LOT B - WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM NPL is seeking engagement from suppliers who have capability to provide a solution to the following requirements. Parameters may be relaxed upon agreement. Some high-level requirements include: * The system shall include a water filtration system that is able to filter the water from the head tank into the open water tank. * The quality of the water after passing through the filters shall be safe for human handling. The filtration system shall use no chemical conditioning. The filtration system shall feature, as a minimum, a UV and physical canister filter. * The water filtration system shall be able to circulate the full volume of water during out of hours operation (16-hour cycle). * The water filtration system shall be able to maintain water temperature at the operating room ambient temperature (20+-2degC) when circulating the water during out of hours operation. The water filtration system shall also be able to heat up water temperature to 20+-2degC when filling the open water tank by drawing water from the head tank. LOT C - POSITIONING AND CONTROL SYSTEM NPL is seeking engagement from suppliers who have capability to provide a solution to the following requirements. Parameters may be relaxed upon agreement. Some high-level requirements include: * The system shall include a 3-axis positioning and control system to support controlled placement, alignment and movement of test panels and hydrophones in and around the open water tank. The system shall be able to support simultaneous but independent operation of multiple axes. All three carriages shall be aligned along the length of the tank when in operational configuration * The system must be able to translate in X, Y & Z, and rotate about Z (complete 360deg rotation). The required accuracy and precision of the solution is as below: o X, Y & Z precision: +-0.5mm o Z-rotation precision: +-0.1deg o X, Y & Z repeatability: 0.5mm o Speed: 0.06m/min to 30m/min * The minimum payload capability shall be 50kg in two of the three carriages, and the minimum payload capability of one of the three carriages shall be 300kg. Note: all three carriages may have a payload capability of 300kg. If only one carriage has a payload capability of 300kg this shall be the middle carriage. All carriages shall feature a common mechanical mounting interface * The system shall minimise radiated and conducted electromagnetic noise. Electrical screening and noise suppression shall be applied to power cables and control lines. The system shall be suitable for operation in an RF-sensitive measurement environment. Major components (motors, drives, controllers) shall be selected to minimise RF and electrical noise emissions. * The system shall prevent unintended movement during power up, power down, communication loss and system failure. The system shall prevent motion beyond defined operational points with travel limits by either physical or electronic constraints. Motion shall be able to be interlocked with an access doorway or gateway such that automatic motion is inhibited when the operator is within the designated loading area. The system shall detect faults such as loss of feedback, actuator malfunction or communication errors, and automatically transition to a safe state. Safe states shall be defined as motion inhibited, brakes engaged and load supported * The system shall include a standalone supplier-provided control interface. The standalone control interface shall support manual jogging, commanded moves to predefined positions, and execution of multi-axis movements. The system shall include provision for an integrated control interface which shall allow direct operation and automation from laboratory control software. The integrated control interface shall be compatible with NPL's existing laboratory control environment (e.g. LabVIEW-based systems). * The supplier must demonstrate that the system complies with, as a minimum but not limited to, Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) and Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU). Total value (estimated) LOT A - PS30,000 excluding VAT LOT B - PS15,000 excluding VAT LOT C - PS200,000 excluding VAT
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. Questions - Your Organisation 1. What is your organisation's name? 2. What is your name and role at the organisation? 3. Please Provide a brief description of your Organisation 4. Please provide the location (s) of your organisations operational facilities (eg headquarters, manufacturing site). Capabilities 5. Does your organisation have the capability to deliver a solution in line with the requirements described in the Scope section of this document. a. If yes, please provide an estimated lead time for delivery from the point of contract award. b. Are there any current or upcoming commitments, capacity constraints, or resource limitations that may affect your ability to submit an offer or deliver the project. Scope Delivery & Budget Alignment 6. Would your organisation be able to deliver the full project scope independently? If not, please specify which elements would require sub-contracting and identify any anticipated delivery partners (if known). 7. Are there any risks, issues, or opportunities that you believe NPL should consider in relation to the delivery of this project? 8. NPL's estimated budget for this project is Lot A £30,000.00, Lot B £15,000.00 and Lot C £200,000.00, all values are excluding VAT. Please confirm which Lot(s) you are submitting your interest in. Please confirm if delivery within the Lot budgets is feasible. If not please provide an indicative budget for the Lot(s) you are interested in. Route to Market, Contractual Terms & Timescales 9. Are there any contract terms or commercial conditions that your organisation would consider unacceptable, or any terms that if not included would deter your participation? 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, Friday 26th June 2026
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-06a91b
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050936-2026
- Current Stage
- Planning
- All Stages
- Planning
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Goods
- Procurement Method
- Not Specified
- Procurement Method Details
- Not specified
- Tender Suitability
- SME, VCSE
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
42 - Industrial machinery
44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)
-
- CPV Codes
42912310 - Water filtration apparatus
44611500 - Water tanks
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £245,000 £100K-£500K
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 29 May 20266 days ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 2 Nov 20266 months to go
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 1 Jan 2027 - 31 Jul 2028 1-2 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Planning
- Lots Status
- Planning
- 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
- Post Town
- 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
- Not specified
-
- Local Authority
- Richmond upon Thames
- Electoral Ward
- Teddington
- Westminster Constituency
- Twickenham
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050936-2026
29th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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