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RFI - VHF FM Transmission Equipment / FM Transmitters

BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

26 Aug 2026 at 13:21

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The BBC intends to procure VHF FM broadcast transmission equipment, including FM transmitters, for the BBC World Service’s terrestrial Global Radio Network. The equipment will support FM re-broadcast relays across different territories and operating environments, including remote or difficult-to-access sites. The requirement is for robust, maintainable and supportable transmitter systems that can be installed, operated, fault-found and maintained with minimal specialist intervention. Systems should support straightforward module replacement and long-term operational resilience. Sites may experience major temperature changes, high humidity, condensation, dust, corrosive atmospheres and inconsistent power quality, with limited local technical support and challenging logistics for equipment and spare parts. Conformal coating and other protection against moisture, dust and corrosion would be advantageous. The work is for the BBC’s international radio network.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is currently a request for information to help the BBC assess manufacturers’ capabilities before selecting a preferred supplier or suppliers in a future procurement exercise. The BBC expects to use a competitive tender under the Procurement Act 2023. The estimated value is £250,000 excluding VAT, or £300,000 including VAT. The anticipated contract period is 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2030, with renewal provisions allowing the arrangement to extend to 31 January 2032. There is one planned lot, which is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. Market engagement responses are expected by 23 September 2026. Companies are asked to register on the BBC’s Jaggaer e-Tendering portal, express an interest in the relevant RFI and submit their response through the portal.

This is intended to suit manufacturers and specialist suppliers of VHF FM broadcast transmitters and radio transmission systems, particularly businesses able to support international deployment and long-term equipment operation. Relevant preparation should cover transmitter design for remote, harsh or unstable environments; resistance to humidity, condensation, dust, corrosion, temperature variation and poor-quality power; and maintainability where local engineering support is limited. Suppliers should be able to demonstrate systems that require minimal specialist intervention, allow rapid module replacement and can be fault-found and serviced efficiently. Experience supplying equipment, spare parts and technical support across difficult territories would be useful. The BBC is specifically seeking evidence of manufacturing capability, operational resilience, maintainability and support arrangements. The planned lot is identified as suitable for SMEs, so smaller specialist manufacturers and suppliers may be able to contribute.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

RFI - VHF FM Transmission Equipment / FM Transmitters

Notice Description

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: BBC World Service expects to undertake a procurement exercise for the supply of FM broadcast transmission equipment for its terrestrial Global Radio Network. During any future exercise, the BBC expects to assess equipment manufacturers capability to satisfy its requirements before selecting a preferred supplier or suppliers. The BBC operates re-broadcast FM relays across a range of territories and operating environments. Many sites are located in remote or hard to access locations and may be exposed to demanding environmental and electrical conditions, including significant temperature fluctuations, high humidity, condensation, dust ingress, corrosive atmospheres, and inconsistent power quality. Local technical support resources may be limited, while the procurement and delivery of equipment and spare parts can present logistical challenges and incur significant costs. Consequently, transmitters designed for enhanced resilience in such environments including the use of conformal coating for improved protection against moisture, dust, and corrosion would be highly advantageous. The BBC is therefore seeking information from manufacturers and suppliers able to provide robust, maintainable and supportable VHF FM transmitter systems that can be installed, operated, fault found and maintained with minimal specialist intervention, while supporting simplified module replacement and long-term operational resilience.

Planning Information

Register your company on the Jaggaer e-Tendering portal (this is only required once): a) Go to https://bbc.bravosolution.co.uk b) Click the link on the login page to register c) Accept the terms and conditions and click 'Continue' d) Enter your correct business and user details. e) Note the username you chose and click 'Save' when complete. f) You will shortly receive an email with your temporary password. Express an interest in the RFI: g) Login to the portal with the username/password. h) Click the 'PQQs Open to all Suppliers' link. (Any RFI will appear as a PQQ). i) Click on the relevant PQQ to access the RFI content. j) Click the 'Express Interest' button at the top of the page. This will move the PQQ into your 'My PQQs’ page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only. k) You can now access any attachments by clicking 'Buyer Attachments' in the 'PQQ Details' box. Responding to the RFI: i) Click 'My Response' under PQQ Details', you can choose to 'Create Response' or to 'Decline to Respond' (please give a reason if declining). m) You can now use the 'Messages' function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification. n) Note the deadline for completion, and then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the RFI. There may be a mixture of online and offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available). o) You must then submit your reply using the 'Submit Response' button at the top of the page. If you require any further assistance, please consult the online help, or contact the Jaggaer e-Tendering help desk.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ec85
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081298-2026
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
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

CPV Codes

32200000 - Transmission apparatus for radiotelephony, radiotelegraphy, radio broadcasting and television

32230000 - Radio transmission apparatus with reception apparatus

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Aug 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
23 Sep 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Feb 2027 - 31 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
BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
W1A 1AA
Postcode Area
West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
West End
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

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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