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Calibration Services

AWE PLC

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

21 Sep 2026 at 14:31

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

21 Sep 2026 at 14:17

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Atomic Weapons Establishment is procuring calibration and maintenance services for its equipment, together with software updates. The requirement includes calibration services, ongoing maintenance, software maintenance, firmware management, firmware upgrades and access to technical support and proprietary software updates. The work is associated with AWE’s Aldermaston site near Reading. This is a technical services requirement rather than the supply of new equipment, and is relevant to businesses that provide specialist calibration and maintenance for controlled or proprietary hardware and software environments. The procurement is for one service lot and is classified under CPV 50433000, calibration services. The buyer is a central government public authority operating from AWE Aldermaston.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded following a direct award. Atomic Weapons Establishment selected the withheld supplier on 27 July 2026. The award value is £326,962.90 excluding VAT, or £392,355.48 including VAT. The contract period runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030, with signature scheduled for 1 October 2026. The direct award was justified because the original equipment manufacturer has exclusive rights to provide the required services and does not license the relevant hardware or software intellectual property to third parties. The buyer stated that alternative providers could not supply the proprietary software updates, firmware releases, maintenance or technical support, and could put continued OEM support at risk.

This award demonstrates demand for a specialist supplier able to support safety-critical or otherwise controlled equipment over a multi-year service arrangement. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need demonstrable calibration capability, planned and reactive maintenance expertise, and the ability to manage software and firmware updates without disrupting operational support. Experience with proprietary hardware, restricted intellectual property and manufacturer-controlled technical environments would be important. Suppliers would also need sufficient technical capacity to provide continuing support, firmware management, software maintenance and upgrades at an established government site. The direct award rationale indicates that access to OEM rights, authorised technical knowledge or a formal manufacturer relationship may be decisive where third-party support cannot be guaranteed.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Calibration Services

Notice Description

Calibration and maintenance services and software updates.

Procurement Information

The OEM supplier has confirmed that it does not license or grant any Intellectual Property Rights relating to the relevant hardware or software to any third party suppliers. The OEM supplier has an exclusive right to provide these services and support. No third party is able to provide the required services, software maintenance of firmware management, nor are they able to provide access to proprietary software updates, firmware releases or technical support services. Use of any other provider puts at risk continued software support from the OEM supplier, and access to software maintenance updates and firmware upgrades, as the OEM supplier has confirmed that it cannot guarantee continued support in these circumstances. On that basis, there is no reasonable alternative to the OEM supplier providing the required services and software/firmware upgrades and maintenance.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07768c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089216-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50433000 - Calibration services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£326,962 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
27 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
AWE PLC
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
READING
Postcode
RG7 4PR
Postcode Area
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
West Berkshire
Electoral Ward
Aldermaston
Westminster Constituency
Reading West and Mid Berkshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Supplier N/A

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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