---
title: "RFQ - D-Band VNA Extender Heads"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-6df0c8ac-abec-4a66-9930-63c6d374f162"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6df0c8ac-abec-4a66-9930-63c6d374f162"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6df0c8ac-abec-4a66-9930-63c6d374f162.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6df0c8ac-abec-4a66-9930-63c6d374f162.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY"
published: "2020-07-27"
---

# RFQ - D-Band VNA Extender Heads

Buyer: NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-6df0c8ac-abec-4a66-9930-63c6d374f162

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## Summary

The National Physical Laboratory is seeking tenders for the acquisition of WR6 D-Band VNA Extender Heads as part of its project aimed at improving metrological traceability for RF power measurements. This procurement falls under the category of laboratory, optical, and precision equipment, with a total contract value of £95,775. The tender was in the private quotation phase before its deadline on 25th June 2020, and the award was announced on 15th July 2020. The contract period spans from 28th July 2020 to 28th July 2021, with the delivery location based in Teddington, London.

This tender presents a valuable opportunity for businesses specialising in advanced measurement technology and laboratory equipment. Companies that manufacture or supply precision instruments, particularly those with capabilities in RF power measurement technologies, would be well-positioned to compete for future contracts like this. Engaging in this process could enable businesses to expand their market reach and strengthen their partnerships with established research institutions like the National Physical Laboratory.

## Notice

The current state of the art for traceable RF power measurement is up to a maximum frequency of 110 GHz in waveguides. One of the chief goals of the EMPIR project TEMMT - Traceability for electrical measurements at millimetre-wave and terahertz frequencies for communications and electronics technologies - is to develop metrological traceability for power measurements in waveguide in the D-Band, 110 to 170 GHz, thereby improving on the state of the art. NPL's involvement in this project consists of developing a Micro-calorimeter primary standard and direct comparison transfer systems in this band. NPL is also collaborating on the development and testing of metrology grade power sensors suitable to use in a micro-calorimeter. Two port S-parameter measurements are an essential part of the development characterisation and testing of these standards and systems. NPL's current VNA capability can access the WR10 W-Band (75 to 110 GHz) and the WR5 G-Band (140 to 220 GHz) for measurement of S-parameters across all of these frequencies, but not at the intervening frequencies. Therefore NPL's current VNA capability requires extending into the WR6 D-Band. The most effective way to achieve this is for NPL to acquire a pair of WR6 D-Band VNA Extender Heads. These heads are required to be compatible with the Keysight PNA-X, which will be used to drive them.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/253e1a8f-bc04-49d2-8b2a-2b665d6b6a90 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Competitive quotation (below threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Jul 2020 |
| Submission deadline | 25 Jun 2020 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 14 Jul 2020 |
| Contract period | 27 Jul 2020 - 28 Jul 2021 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £95,775 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY |
| Locality | TEDDINGTON |
| Post town | Twickenham |
| Postcode | TW11 0LW |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI7 Outer London - West and North West |
| ITL 3 | TLI75 Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames |
| Local authority | Richmond upon Thames |
| Electoral ward | Teddington |
| Westminster constituency | Twickenham |
| Delivery location | TLI London |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | VIRGINIA DIODES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

## Release History

- 27 Jul 2020 at 08:45 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/253e1a8f-bc04-49d2-8b2a-2b665d6b6a90

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/253e1a8f-bc04-49d2-8b2a-2b665d6b6a90
  27th July 2020 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Notice URLs

- http://www.npl.co.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6df0c8ac-abec-4a66-9930-63c6d374f162. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6df0c8ac-abec-4a66-9930-63c6d374f162.json.