---
title: "Broadcast of the Time From NPL"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03223d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03223d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03223d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03223d.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY"
published: "2022-03-15"
---

# Broadcast of the Time From NPL

Buyer: NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-03223d

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## Summary

The National Physical Laboratory is seeking to award a contract for the broadcast of the Time From NPL, a service involving the operation and maintenance of the MSF signal at a frequency of 60 kHz, essential for providing time standards across the UK. The procurement process is currently at the Award stage, with a substantial contract value of £1,999,268, signed on 15 March 2022. The contract is categorised under postal and telecommunications services, and the delivery location is in Teddington, UK. This procurement follows a limited method, awarded without prior publication of a call for competition, based on the unique capabilities of the supplier, Babcock Communications Limited.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the telecommunications and broadcasting industries, particularly those with expertise in frequency management and electronic signal services. Companies capable of providing similar technological solutions or those looking to establish partnerships may find this a strategic avenue to expand their offerings. Given the complexity and technical requirements of the contract, firms with experience in maintaining high-precision broadcast services could be particularly well-suited to compete in future related tenders.

## Notice

Broadcast of the Time From NPL (formerly MSF 60kHz Standard Frequency & Time Service) We are purchasing the service to provide, operate and maintain the MSF signal at a carrier frequency of 60 kHz. The effective radiated power of the signal shall be sufficient to provide a minimum field strength of 100 uVolts / m at a distance of 1000km from the transmitter, and shall cover the whole of mainland UK. The contractor shall provide at least 2 frequency standards able to maintain the carrier frequency at 60 kHz to within 2E-12 (2 parts in 10 to the power of 12) over a period of 30 days without dependence on off-air reception of any signal and shall provide the equipment required to generate and to monitor the correct time and date code at the Transmission Station.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

We are purchasing the service to provide, operate and maintain the MSF signal at a carrier frequency of 60 kHz. The effective radiated power of the signal shall be sufficient to provide a minimum field strength of 100 uVolts / m at a distance of 1000km from the transmitter, and shall cover the whole of mainland UK. The contractor shall provide at least 2 frequency standards able to maintain the carrier frequency at 60 kHz to within 2E-12 (2 parts in 10 to the power of 12) over a period of 30 days without dependence on off-air reception of any signal and shall provide the equipment required to generate and to monitor the correct time and date code at the Transmission Station. Contract length: 5 Years.

### Procurement Information

We are awarding this contract directly as no other provider has come forward to offer the service, and we believe that there is no other infrastructure other than that currently installed at Anthorne, operated by Babcock International, that is able to offer this service. Related PIN reference number: 2022-040278

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007075-2022 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 15 Mar 2022 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 15 Mar 2022 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £1,999,268 |

## Status

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

## 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BABCOCK COMMUNICATIONS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 64 - Postal and telecommunications services

### Codes

- 64000000 - Postal and telecommunications services

## Release History

- 15 Mar 2022 at 22:45 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007075-2022

## 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-h6vhtk-03223d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03223d.json.