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Under Vehicle Inspection Equipment 2026

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

25 Jun 2026 at 10:22

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

22 Jun 2026 at 09:50

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), a prominent public authority within the central government, based in Bristol, UK, is in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Under Vehicle Inspection Equipment 2026". This process, initiated on 25th June 2026, seeks a single supplier to manufacture the equipment necessary for vehicle inspections when conventional under-vehicle access is not feasible. A vital supplier engagement event is scheduled for 7th July 2026, in Birmingham, with an overarching procurement milestone due by 3rd July 2026. The tender encompasses categories such as special-purpose electrical goods and industrial robots, with anticipatory future communications planned for 17th August 2026, indicating the timeline for this significant opportunity.

This procurement represents a significant business growth opportunity for organisations specialising in manufacturing high-tech inspection and imaging equipment, particularly those adept at meeting stringent specifications such as ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications. There is an emphasis on developing equipment featuring high-resolution imaging capabilities, resilient build quality, and innovative control systems. The process is ideally suited for SMEs and VCSEs familiar with catering to central government requirements, offering a contract period from January 2027 to January 2030. Businesses also stand to gain from the potential for continuous improvement initiatives included in the contract, providing a sustained avenue for growth and enterprise development.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Under Vehicle Inspection Equipment 2026

Notice Description

This notice informs the market that DVSA intends to award a contract to a single supplier to manufacture Under Vehicle Inspection Equipment. This equipment will enable DVSA staff to inspect vehicles for defects in situations where access beneath the vehicle or where an inspection pit is not available. This notice is issued to engage the market at a supplier day in advance of a forthcoming procurement for the supply and maintenance of eight units. It should be noted that the start date and value are indicative at this stage. Elements we are looking for in terms of this requirement, some of the 'Could Have' elements listed below can be added as part of a continuous improvement initiative over the life of the contract: MoSCoW Prioritization Table (Grouped by Category) Category Requirement Imaging & Evidence - AES-256 encrypted local storage, USB/USB-C transfer to Windows laptops and mobile phones (Must Have) Imaging & Evidence - High-resolution imaging: Still images >=12MP, 4K video, low-light & thermal imaging (Must Have) Imaging & Evidence - Time & date stamping in ISO 8601 format (Must Have) Imaging & Evidence - Moveable camera to see around components (Should Have) Imaging & Evidence = Side-view camera with option to view with thermal imaging (Should Have) Imaging & Evidence - The capability to zoom in and focus on the camera's live view [not just once image has been taken] (Must Have) Imaging & Evidence - Optional secure wireless transfer (Could Have) Control System - IP67 ruggedized casing, usable with gloves (Must Have) Control System - Range >=30m, battery life >=4 hours, screen resolution >=1080p (Must Have) Control System - Ability to annotate images [to highlight defects] while retaining the original raw image (Should Have) Control System - Large display screen viewable in all weather (Must Have) Physical / Build - Drop-proof from 1.5m, corrosion-resistant (Must Have) Physical / Build - Operate on uneven surfaces, height <=150mm for PSV access (Must Have) Power & Battery - Removable battery pack with spare, fast charging <=2 hours (Must Have) Power & Battery - Battery health monitoring system (Should Have) Safety & Compliance - ATEX Zone 2 compliance, no sparking components (Must Have) Transport & Storage - Secure case, total weight <=16kg (Must Have) Transport & Storage - Shock-absorbing storage case with lockable latches (Should Have) Transport & Storage - Lanyard for control device to prevent dropping (Must Have) Transport & Storage - Van- or wall-mounted charging cradle option (Could Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Comprehensive user guide with troubleshooting (including quick-start guide) (Must Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Cleaning kit with instructions (Could Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Agreed process to support end users through phone or online chat throughout contract period (Must Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Structured maintenance and repair policy that ensures minimal downtime (Must Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Structured policy for replacing faulty devices that ensures minimal downtime (Could Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Process for software update versions e.g. Windows etc. (Must Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Support ticket service level agreement (SLA) with guaranteed responses within 72 hours (Must Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Training options: live (in person or online) or recorded sessions (Should Have) Optional Enhancements - AI-assisted vehicle mapping for defect detection (Should Have) Optional Enhancements - GPS tagging for inspection location (Could Have) Optional Enhancements - Integration with DVSA enforcement applications (Could Have) Optional Enhancements - Automated navigation/collision avoidance functionality (Could Have) Optional Enhancements - Remote cloud sync for inspection logs (Won't Have) Cyber Security - Development process has followed Secure By Design Principles (Could Have) Cyber Security - ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus where applicable (Must Have) Cyber Security - Suppliers cascade security standards (e.g. ISO27001) to third parties and maintain transparent processes for supply chain risk managemet (Must Have) Areas, the DVSA would like further information on include: a) Build on the findings of the previous market engagement and seek clarity on key areas to inform further development of the specification for this equipment, including removing any unnecessary barriers to keep participation in the competition as broad as possible. b) Seek further information on cost drivers to determine a final cost. c) To understand whether collaboration between market participants may be necessary to meet the DVSA's requirements and establish how the DVSA can facilitate. d) To understand whether there is existing equipment available that would support delivery of this requirement. e) To get an idea of delivery time from Contract Award for the equipment to be manufactured.

Planning Information

A supplier engagement event is provisionally scheduled for 7th July, 09:30 - 15:00, at a DVSA site at Garretts Green MPTC, Granby Avenue, Garretts Green, Birmingham, B33 0SD. Suppliers are encouraged to attend in person and, where possible, bring examples of similar equipment previously developed to demonstrate their capabilities. Attendance will only be facilitated online via MS Teams in exceptional circumstances, where a valid reason for not attending in person is provided; this may then be arranged on an alternative date. Suppliers who are unable to attend but wish to provide written feedback are invited to register their interest to receive the schedule of requirements upon release. If you wish to participate in this consultation, and have not previously engaged with the Authority, you are required to create an account on Jaggaer if you do not already have one. The portal can be accessed using the following link: https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/ Any correspondence must be submitted via Jaggaer and not directly to different areas of DVSA.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b9b6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059706-2026
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

CPV Codes

42990000 - Miscellaneous special-purpose machinery

42992000 - Special-purpose electrical goods

42997300 - Industrial robots

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£205,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Jun 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
17 Aug 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
5 Jan 2027 - 4 Jan 2030 3-4 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
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS5 0DA
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK51 Bristol, City of
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Lawrence Hill
Westminster Constituency
Bristol East

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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