---
title: "3PODS (Third Party Observation Data Service)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-052900"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-052900"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-052900.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-052900.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "MET OFFICE"
published: "2025-12-18"
---

# 3PODS (Third Party Observation Data Service)

Buyer: MET OFFICE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-052900

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## Summary

The Met Office, the United Kingdom's national weather service based in Exeter, has completed the awarding of a procurement process titled "3PODS (Third Party Observation Data Service)" aimed at enhancing its data processing capabilities through partnerships for Automated Weather Station data services. The procurement was conducted using an open procedure, focusing on the data-processing services industry. The process included two key lots. Lot 1, for supplying Automated Weather Station datasets to approximately 2,000 or more UK sites, has been awarded to Netatmo, with the service starting from 1st April 2026, extending initially over two years, with options for additional two and one-year extensions. Lot 2, which involves developing a data service capability to process data from various sources, is pending award with expected commencement on the same date. This procurement signifies a major step in data service capabilities, with both lots valued at significant amounts, particularly Lot 2's potential value exceeding £1.3 million GBP.

This procurement presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses in data-processing and meteorological data services. Companies specializing in automated weather data collection and processing can leverage this opportunity to partner with the Met Office, a central government entity, and potentially secure long-term contracts with extensions. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and socially-oriented businesses, such as Synoptic Data PBC, that emphasise data quality, scalability, and flexibility could have a competitive edge in such contracts. Such procurements not only offer financial benefits but also present a chance to contribute strategically to national weather service capacities, thereby enhancing their portfolio and market presence in the UK and internationally.

## Notice

The Met Office wishes to contract with an organisation or organisations to deliver a Third-Party Observation Data Service (3PODS), which consists of the supply of Automated Weather Station data and the processing of this data into Met Office Systems. The contract(s) shall be for an initial period of 2 years with extensions of 2 and 1 years up to a maximum of 5 years in length. Requirement 1- Lot 1- AWS dataset(s) Procure (a) dataset(s) of approximately 2,000 or more sites across the UK, that is of a similar quality and size to the existing WOW dataset, with a view to increase the number of observations from the baseline level over that 5-year period subject to budget availability and data suitability. Should both Lots be awarded, Lot 1 data supply will not begin until Lot 2 delivery has been completed, as Met Office does not wish to pay for data it is not ingesting. The effective date for commencement of services under Lot 1 is therefore unknown until a contract for Lot 2 is awarded. Should Lot 2 not be awarded, the Met Office reserves the right to still award contract(s) under Lot 1, in which case, provision of the services will commence immediately. Requirement 2- Lot 2- Data as a Service Capability Delivery of a solution which minimises MO staff involvement, both in its creation and maintenance. This will deliver a supported platform that is initially capable of processing data from at least 2,000 sites and also be capable of change and delivering new data sets as identified in the future more quickly and flexibly than current internal Met Office capabilities (with a view to increase the number of observations from the baseline level of 2,000 up to 3,000 or more over that 5-year period subject to budget availability and data suitability). It is important to note that the fundamental concept for Lot 2 is that the data ingested will not be confined to Lot 1 data sources. Other potential example data sets could include but are not limited to data from automatic weather stations run by other central government organisations and local authorities, the academic sector, UK energy providers, rain gauge network data and data from marine buoys. This represents a strategic opportunity to scale. The speed of deployment of new data sources is the key component of this capability- if it does not represent a material improvement on current internal Met Office processes, no contract will be awarded. Met Office's expectation is that Lot 2 delivery is a prerequisite for Lot 1 data supply and the operational deployment of the solution will determine when the Lot 1 data supply can begin. Should Lot 2 not be awarded, the Met Office reserves the right to still award contract(s) under Lot 1, in which case, provision of those services will commence immediately.

### Lot Information

Automated Weather Station dataset(s)

Procure (a) dataset(s) of approximately 2,000 or more sites across the UK, that is of a similar quality and size to the existing WOW dataset, with a view to increase the number of observations from the baseline level over that 5-year period subject to budget availability and data suitability. Should both Lots be awarded, Lot 1 data supply will not begin until Lot 2 delivery has been completed, as Met Office does not wish to pay for data it is not ingesting. The effective date for commencement of services under Lot 1 is therefore unknown until a contract for Lot 2 is awarded. Should Lot 2 not be awarded, the Met Office reserves the right to still award contract(s) under Lot 1, in which case, provision of the services will commence immediately.

Options: Option to extend beyond initial 2 year period by a further 2 years plus one year. Option to increase volume and type of data provided via both Lots.

Renewal: Options to extend will be subject to satisfactory performance and budget availability.

Data as a Service Capability

Delivery of a solution which minimises MO staff involvement, both in its creation and maintenance. This will deliver a supported platform that is initially capable of processing data from at least 2,000 sites and also be capable of change and delivering new data sets as identified in the future more quickly and flexibly than current internal Met Office capabilities (with a view to increase the number of observations from the baseline level of 2,000 up to 3,000 or more over that 5-year period subject to budget availability and data suitability). It is important to note that the fundamental concept for Lot 2 is that the data ingested will not be confined to Lot 1 data sources. Other potential example data sets could include but are not limited to data from automatic weather stations run by other central government organisations and local authorities, the academic sector, UK energy providers, rain gauge network data and data from marine buoys. This represents a strategic opportunity to scale. The speed of deployment of new data sources is the key component of this capability- if it does not represent a material improvement on current internal Met Office processes, no contract will be awarded. Met Office's expectation is that Lot 2 delivery is a prerequisite for Lot 1 data supply and the operational deployment of the solution will determine when the Lot 1 data supply can begin. Should Lot 2 not be awarded, the Met Office reserves the right to still award contract(s) under Lot 1, in which case, provision of those services will commence immediately.

Options: Option to extend beyond initial 2 year period by a further 2 years plus one year. Option to increase volume and type of data provided via both Lots.

Renewal: Options to extend will be subject to satisfactory performance and budget availability.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084263-2025 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 18 Dec 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 17 Jul 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 18 Nov 2025 |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,733,000 |
| Lots value | £1,733,000 |
| Awards value | £1,375,013 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active, Pending |
| 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 |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 2 |
| Supplier names | NETATMO; SYNOPTIC DATA PBC |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 72310000 - Data-processing services

## Release History

- 18 Dec 2025 at 11:38 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084263-2025
- 29 May 2025 at 15:08 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028573-2025
- 29 May 2025 at 14:10 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028522-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084263-2025
  18th December 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028573-2025
  29th May 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028522-2025
  29th May 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://procontract.due-north.com/Login
  Log in and search for DN776177 published by the Met Office

## Notice URLs

- http://www.synopticdata.com
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.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-052900. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-052900.json.