Notice Information
Notice Title
Replacement Telescope Solution Airdrie Library Observatory
Notice Description
As part of the preparatory work for a potential future procurement procedure, North Lanarkshire Council (the "Council") is looking to engage with the market for the purchase and installation of telescopes within Airdrie Observatory. The telescopes may be used by both the public and local partners. Training must be provided for council staff and partners (where applicable).
Lot Information
Lot 1
Within any potential future contract, services required would involve the provision of an 8" aperture refractor telescope, robotic telescope mount, all sky telescope and solar telescope. Installation of the equipment and staff training will also be required as will any and all additional resources such as a high specification computer designed specifically for astronomy use that will be used to remotely control the telescope and an APS-C sized colour sensor for live stacking and longer exposure imaging use. There will also be a requirement to enable live streaming of telescope images to the immersive room onsite and to the three other immersive rooms situated across the authority. The ability to record live stream sessions is also required. To enable the Council to plan and prepare for any future procurement procedure, the Council would like to invite interested parties to complete and return the attached Market Engagement Questionnaire as instructed within. The main objectives of this PIN and any future contract are to develop options to: -Replace the existing 6-inch equatorial refractor telescope with a modern larger aperture refractor telescope with digital capability. -Develop custom mounting hardware and brackets to adapt the mount to the existing pier and to mount the new telescope. -Install a solar telescope. -Install an all-sky camera. -Working with partners support and develop options for linking the telescopes to the onsite immersive room and the three other immersive rooms situated across the authority. -Install all relevant equipment and deliver onsite training to staff. These improvements will enable the service to: -To improve access to and use of an upgraded telescope, particularly for those users who are not able to access it in person, by linking an upgraded offer to the new immersive room. -To better foster, promote and encourage astronomical observations, the science of astronomy, spaceflight and related sciences to all members of the public. -To improve knowledge and understanding of the historic legacy of the current and previous telescope by developing a permanently mounted exhibition, within the library, as part of the Rediscovering Airdrie project. -To work with partners to improve the use of the observatory throughout the year and increase the scope of science and other activities that are delivered.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-r6ebe6-0000810894
- Publication Source
- Public Contracts Scotland
- Latest Notice
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539732
- Current Stage
- Planning
- All Stages
- Planning
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Goods
- Procurement Method
- Not Specified
- Procurement Method Details
- Not specified
- Tender Suitability
- Not specified
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
48 - Software package and information systems
-
- CPV Codes
38635000 - Telescopes
48000000 - Software package and information systems
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £100,000 £100K-£500K
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 22 Sep 20255 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 3 Nov 2025Expired
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- Not specified - Not specified
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Planned
- Lots Status
- Planned
- Awards Status
- Not Specified
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL
- Contact Name
- Not specified
- Contact Email
- brownru@northlan.gov.uk
- Contact Phone
- Not specified
Buyer Location
- Locality
- MOTHERWELL
- Postcode
- ML1 1AB
- Post Town
- Motherwell
- Country
- Scotland
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLM Scotland
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLM3 West Central Scotland
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLM34 North Lanarkshire
- Delivery Location
- TLM84 North Lanarkshire
-
- Local Authority
- North Lanarkshire
- Electoral Ward
- Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig
- Westminster Constituency
- Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP539732&idx=1
22nd September 2025 - Questionnaire -
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539732
Replacement Telescope Solution Airdrie Library Observatory - As part of the preparatory work for a potential future procurement procedure, North Lanarkshire Council (the "Council") is looking to engage with the market for the purchase and installation of telescopes within Airdrie Observatory. The telescopes may be used by both the public and local partners. Training must be provided for council staff and partners (where applicable).
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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"description": "The library has preserved the original 3.5-inch reflecting observatory telescope donated to Airdrie Museum in 1896 by Dr Thomas Reid. This antique telescope is on display in the library. The observatory's current telescope was acquired by James Lewis in 1925, and is a 6-inch equatorial refractor, brass telescope, eight feet in length. It sits on a Cook & Son of York, mount. While the current telescope is currently in good working order it is a historic piece of machinery and requires maintenance. The clock drive, which allows the telescope to track objects as they move across the sky, is no longer functioning and its repair, along with any maintenance needed on the telescope itself and the equatorial mount, would require specialist skills which are increasingly difficult to access. The people with the skills to service and repair large refractor telescopes, are few and far between making it increasingly difficult to ensure the proper maintenance that the equipment needs. Please complete and return the Market Engagement Questionnaire via instructions within. NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=810894. (SC Ref:810894)",
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