--- title: "Weather Station Data Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-046c0a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-046c0a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-046c0a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-046c0a.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "MET OFFICE" published: "2024-05-29" --- # Weather Station Data Services Buyer: MET OFFICE Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-046c0a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-046c0a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-046c0a.json) ## Summary The Met Office is planning a procurement process titled "Weather Station Data Services" for services in the data services industry category. The procurement stage is currently planned, and it involves exploring options to replace the Weather Observations Website (WOW) with a new data-focused service. The process aims to replace the WOW dataset with an alternative automatic weather station dataset, procure data services from a third-party provider, and develop a webform for manual weather readings. The business is looking for suppliers to support them by providing solutions in line with their requirements. The deadline for submitting responses is 28th June 2024. This tender for Weather Station Data Services by the Met Office can offer opportunities for businesses providing automatic weather station datasets, data services, and web development services. Organisations capable of supplying AWS data, third-party data services, and web forms are well-suited to compete in this procurement process. The tender provides a chance for businesses to showcase their capabilities in meeting the Met Office's cost, quality, and sustainability requirements, potentially leading to future collaborations and growth opportunities in the weather data services sector. ## Notice The Met Office has been operating the Weather Observations Website (WOW; https://www.wow.metoffice.gov.uk/) since 2012, enabling members of the public to submit their weather station observations and exploiting them as an increasingly important source of third party data for use in forecast applications. WOW is reaching end of life and is no longer cost efficient, so the WOW Next project is exploring options to replace this capability with a new data-focused service. We are not looking to replace the service in a like-for-like way as the business need has changed, so we welcome alternative suggestions for provision of our requirements. Our requirements are threefold: 1. We are initially looking to replace the WOW dataset with an alternative but equivalent automatic weather station (AWS) dataset. This needs to have similar characteristics to the WOW data (including measured variables, quality, spatial and temporal resolution, reporting frequency and timeliness). WOW currently provides us with approximately 1700 sites across the UK and Ireland, and we are looking to source data from a similar, or greater, number of low cost AWSs, such as those operated by members of the public, or organisations with an interest in the weather, with a good distribution across the UK. 2. To explore the potential of procuring 'data as a service' from a third-party provider, who possesses the capability to ingest and expose various Automatic Weather Station (AWS) data sources. These sources of data could be quite varied and will include public and/or private sector weather networks. Initially, we plan to use data sourced in requirement 1, but we envisage that it will, over time, expand to encompass other sources. 3. To develop a webform or interface webpage that could be used to allow our Voluntary Climate Network (VCN) of observers to report manual weather readings on a daily basis, as is currently the practice via WOW. ### Lot Information Lot 1 This is an early market engagement activity. This notice is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition, and therefore publication or response does not commit the Met Office or any respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. The Met Office will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise. The Met Office has been operating the Weather Observations Website (WOW; https://www.wow.metoffice.gov.uk/) since 2012, enabling members of the public to submit their weather station observations and exploiting them as an increasingly important source of third party data for use in forecast applications. WOW is reaching end of life and is no longer cost efficient, so the WOW Next project is exploring options to replace this capability with a new data-focused service. We are not looking to replace the service in a like-for-like way as the business need has changed, so we welcome alternative suggestions for provision of our requirements. Our requirements are threefold: 1. We are initially looking to replace the WOW dataset with an alternative but equivalent automatic weather station (AWS) dataset. This needs to have similar characteristics to the WOW data (including measured variables, quality, spatial and temporal resolution, reporting frequency and timeliness). WOW currently provides us with approximately 1700 sites across the UK and Ireland, and we are looking to source data from a similar, or greater, number of low cost AWSs, such as those operated by members of the public, or organisations with an interest in the weather, with a good distribution across the UK. 2. To explore the potential of procuring 'data as a service' from a third-party provider, who possesses the capability to ingest and expose various Automatic Weather Station (AWS) data sources. These sources of data could be quite varied and will include public and/or private sector weather networks. Initially, we plan to use data sourced in requirement 1, but we envisage that it will, over time, expand to encompass other sources. 3. To develop a webform or interface webpage that could be used to allow our Voluntary Climate Network (VCN) of observers to report manual weather readings on a daily basis, as is currently the practice via WOW. We are looking for information from organisations that may be able to support us by supplying some or all aspects of the three requirements listed above. We are specifically looking for organisations to detail their capabilities in this market, to help us to understand what options may be available to us in determining the optimal solution(s) in terms of cost, quality, and sustainability. We will review what we have received from vendors to establish whether there is common ground, themes, trends. We will look at the IT security and data protection & licensing information which will guide how we set our requirements. Specifically, we are trying to unearth any areas that could be a problem or limiting factors on being able to achieve what we want to, so we can put measures in place to address those before issuing a tender, rather than being surprised at the tender return stage and wasting supplier's time. If you'd like to submit a response to us on any of the elements described, please do so by the 28th June 2024. Our full requirements are available to view via https://procontract.due-north.com/ together with a copy of the previous early market engagement for reference. Renewal: Ongoing provision of data and support/development of web forms will be required as long as the service is running. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016749-2024 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 29 May 2024 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 29 May 2024 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | MET OFFICE | | Locality | EXETER | | Post town | Exeter | | Postcode | EX1 3PB | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK4 Devon | | ITL 3 | TLK43 Devon CC | | Local authority | Exeter | | Electoral ward | Pinhoe | | Westminster constituency | Exmouth and Exeter East | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 72300000 - Data services ## Release History - 29 May 2024 at 12:43 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016749-2024 ## Notice URLs - http://www.metoffice.gov.uk - https://procontract.due-north.com/ - https://www.wow.metoffice.gov.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-046c0a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-046c0a.json.