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Barometer Upgrade for Drifting Buoys Procurement

Met Office

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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15 Sep 2026 at 11:46

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Met Office procured barometer upgrades for Scripps Institution of Oceanography Iridium-SVP drifting buoys, supporting its surface observations operations. This is a goods requirement for marine equipment, with delivery to the United Kingdom. The equipment is intended to upgrade the barometers fitted to drifting buoys used in ocean and surface-weather observation. The requirement was managed by the Met Office, a central government public authority based in Exeter. The selected supplier is Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC San Diego), based in La Jolla, California. The work therefore suits businesses that supply, manufacture or integrate marine observation equipment, particularly barometers or compatible components for drifting buoy systems and related operational deployments.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. The Met Office used a below-threshold limited competition, described as a three-quote process. Three suppliers were known in the market, but only one could provide the requirement because supply was unavailable elsewhere; one compliant quotation was therefore considered. Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC San Diego) was awarded the single lot. The award date was not recorded, and the contract was signed on 3 September 2026. The active contract runs from 4 September 2026 to 26 November 2026 and is worth £31,400 gross. The agreed delivery outcome is supply of the goods to the stipulated Met Office location by 26 November 2026, allowing for manufacturing and shipping lead time.

This procurement shows demand for specialist marine observation equipment that can be integrated with Iridium-SVP drifting buoys and used in surface observations operations. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need to supply suitable barometer upgrades or closely compatible marine instrumentation, understand the technical constraints of drifting buoy systems, and demonstrate that its equipment can be manufactured and shipped reliably. Evidence of product availability would be particularly important where the buyer needs a specific upgrade rather than a general catalogue item. Relevant suppliers are likely to include marine-equipment manufacturers, oceanographic instrumentation businesses, buoy-system integrators and specialist distributors with dependable international fulfilment. The successful supplier was recorded as an SME, indicating that this scale of specialist goods procurement can suit a focused technical business.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Barometer Upgrade for Drifting Buoys Procurement

Notice Description

A three-quote procurement process was undertaken for the acquisition of barometer upgrades for SIO Iridium-SVP drifting buoys, to support Surface Observations Operations. Of the 3 known suppliers in the market only one supplier was able to provide the requirement due to no supply available. Consequently, only one compliant quotation was received for consideration.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f9f3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087229-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - limited competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34930000 - Marine equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£31,400 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Sep 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Sep 2026 - 26 Nov 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Met Office
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
EX1 3PB
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
Pinhoe
Westminster Constituency
Exmouth and Exeter East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC San Diego)

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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