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Drones and Drone Services

YPO

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

07 Aug 2026 at 15:18

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation is renewing an existing procurement solution for drones, unmanned aerial vehicles and associated services supporting emergency services and wider public-sector operational requirements. The scope is expected to include the supply and distribution of drones, together with servicing, maintenance, surveying, photography, video production, analysis and surveillance. The buyer is also seeking views from potential customers that may use the solution as a compliant public-sector purchasing route. Work and deliveries are intended for public-sector use across the United Kingdom. General photography, events filming, wedding or portrait photography, hobbyist drone activity and standard commercial media production are outside the primary focus unless they form part of a specialist UAV or operational service relevant to public safety, inspection, surveying, surveillance, resilience, analysis or technical support. The goods classification is unmanned aerial vehicles (CPV 35613000).

This procurement is at the planning and early supplier-engagement stage: it is an intention to procure, not an invitation to tender. Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation expects to publish a subsequent notice around 1 October 2026, subject to deciding to proceed. The planned engagement is scheduled to close on 21 August 2026, with suppliers invited to share views on the solution, routes to market, customers and public-sector delivery challenges. The expected procurement includes a framework agreement with an estimated value of £500 million excluding VAT, or £600 million including VAT. One planned lot is for drones, with an indicative contract period from 1 March 2027 to 28 February 2031. The buyer envisages competitive selection for drones and drone services, with award without competition also considered for the drones lot.

The engagement should suit manufacturers, distributors and specialist service providers with experience in drones or UAVs for emergency response and public-sector operations. Relevant capability may include fleet supply, deployment, servicing, maintenance, inspection, surveying, surveillance, resilience, data analysis, aerial photography and video production where these support operational or public-safety needs. Suppliers able to explain their route to market, customer base and experience of selling to or working with the wider public sector will be well placed to contribute. The buyer is also seeking practical input on how customers could use the arrangement as a compliant purchasing route, so suppliers with framework, procurement and public-sector delivery experience can help shape the model. The planned lots are identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises. Businesses should prepare for a future formal procurement rather than bid at this stage.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Drones and Drone Services

Notice Description

We are renewing an existing solution and seeking interest from suppliers of drones, UAV's and associated services such as servicing, maintenance, surveying, distribution, photography, video production, analysis and surveillance. We are particularly interested in understanding your current route to market, customer base and the challenges around selling to and working with the wider public sector. As part of this exercise, we are also seeking views of potential YPO customers who may use this solution as compliant procurement route. We envisage the routes to market being Competitive Selection Process for lots 1 and 2 (Drones and Drone Services) and Award Without Competition on lot 1 only. (Drones) For clarity, this early engagement is focused on drones, UAVs and associated services that support emergency services and wider public-sector operational requirements. Services relating solely to general photography, events filming, wedding/portrait photography, hobbyist drone activity or standard commercial media production are not the primary focus of this engagement, unless they form part of a specialist UAV or operational service relevant to public safety, inspection, surveying, surveillance, resilience, analysis, maintenance, servicing or associated support.

Planning Information

Your support will enable us to shape the solution to meet yours and your customer’s needs. YPO reserves the right to not commit to advertising this tender if we do so wish. Any information provided by suppliers prior to any advertising of the tender will not be used to determine the outcome of any processes. Should YPO wish to proceed further a formal procurement process will be followed in accordance with YPO's contract procedure rules. Please note that this notice is to undertake early supplier engagement only, information is being sought without prejudice and without commitment. If you are interested in this opportunity, please email the named contact on this notice. emergencyservices@ypo.co.uk

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06df58
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075396-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

CPV Codes

35613000 - Unmanned aerial vehicles

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£500,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Oct 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2027 - 28 Feb 2031 4-5 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
YPO
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WAKEFIELD
Postcode
WF2 0XE
Postcode Area
Wakefield
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE45 Wakefield
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Wakefield
Electoral Ward
Wrenthorpe and Outwood West
Westminster Constituency
Wakefield and Rothwell

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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