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PO/2026/1138/CO

University of Exeter

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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06 Aug 2026 at 10:36

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Exeter purchased two QCar 2 autonomous vehicle platforms and an associated Self-Driving Car Studio Upgrade. The equipment supports research and teaching in autonomous systems, robotics and machine learning. This is a goods procurement focused on autonomous vehicle platforms and specialist associated hardware or software for educational and research use. The buyer is the University of Exeter, based at Northcote House in Exeter. The selected supplier, Quanser UK, is a large UK business based in London. The requirement is therefore relevant to suppliers of autonomous vehicles, robotics teaching platforms, machine-learning research equipment and integrated studio or laboratory systems serving higher education and research customers.

This procurement has been completed and awarded following a direct below-threshold procedure without competition. Quanser UK was selected for the single requirement. The contract was signed on 30 April 2026 and runs from 1 May 2026 to 1 June 2027. Its value is £33,286.48 excluding VAT, or £39,943.77 including VAT. The award is recorded as active and the contract is active. The purchase was handled as one undivided requirement covering the two QCar 2 platforms and the Self-Driving Car Studio Upgrade. The process used a direct award route rather than a competitive tender, under the stated below-threshold basis. The available outcome shows the buyer's chosen supplier and the contracted scope.

For a supplier that did not win this procurement, the award indicates a defined University of Exeter requirement for autonomous vehicle platforms and an associated Self-Driving Car Studio Upgrade. A credible future competitor would need specialist capability in autonomous systems, robotics and machine-learning equipment, with products suitable for both research and teaching. It would need to supply two QCar 2-type autonomous vehicle platforms or an equivalent integrated solution, together with the associated studio upgrade rather than standalone vehicles alone. The selected supplier's profile also indicates that the buyer used an established large specialist supplier. Businesses targeting similar requirements from this buyer should therefore be able to demonstrate a complete, technically compatible platform and education-focused support proposition for university research and teaching.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

PO/2026/1138/CO

Notice Description

Purchase of two QCar 2 autonomous vehicle platforms and associated Self-Driving Car Studio Upgrade to support research and teaching in autonomous systems, robotics, and machine learning.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dd53
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074555-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34100000 - Motor vehicles

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£33,286 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 May 2026 - 1 Jun 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University of Exeter
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EXETER
Postcode
EX4 4QH
Postcode Area
Exeter
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Exeter
Electoral Ward
Duryard and St James
Westminster Constituency
Exeter

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Quanser

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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