--- title: "Josephson Arbitrary Waveform Synthesiser 2V (JAWS) primary voltage standard" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06020f" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06020f" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06020f.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06020f.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "NPL MANAGEMENT LIMITED" published: "2026-01-08" --- # Josephson Arbitrary Waveform Synthesiser 2V (JAWS) primary voltage standard Buyer: NPL MANAGEMENT LIMITED Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06020f [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06020f) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06020f.json) ## Summary NPL Management Limited, based at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, has initiated a tender process for procuring a Josephson Arbitrary Waveform Synthesiser (JAWS) primary voltage standard. This procurement is categorised under the industry sectors of electrical machinery and laboratory equipment, with the contract being a public undertaking. The process is currently in the planning stage, with significant dates including the engagement deadline on 19 January 2026. The selected supplier will deliver services within the specified contract period starting from 1 February 2026 through to 1 July 2026. The procurement is anticipated to be executed as a direct award notice to the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology by the culmination of the engagement phase. This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses operating in the field of electrical machinery, laboratory, and precision equipment. Companies with expertise in advanced electrical engineering, particularly those specialising in precision voltage standards, will find an advantageous position in terms of technical alignment. The project requires the integration of high-frequency synthesis and precision voltage generation, suggesting a strong fit for firms with experience in developing innovative automated calibration systems and waveform technologies. This opportunity allows such businesses to engage with a high-profile buyer like NPL, potentially leading to further collaboration and expansion within the governmental and scientific sectors. ## Notice NPL is procuring a Josephson Arbitrary Waveform Synthesiser (JAWS) primary voltage standard. This is a series array of Josephson junctions in which single pulses of bias current each generate a small but precisely defined quantised voltage across the array. Accurate voltage waveforms are constructed by fast repetition of the pulses with accurately timed intervals between them. In the JAWS system, the output voltage is always precisely defined. This is in contrast to the Programmable Josephson Voltage Standard (PJVS) in which there are time intervals when the voltage output is not precisely known and is not suitable. NPL intends to award the contract for a 2V JAWS reference system to the manufacturer the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology. NPL requires the following specifications: Range and accuracy of voltage output Output voltage: Up to 2 V Upper frequency limit: Up to at least 1 MHz Lower frequency limit: Down to 5 Hz (lowest frequency component), with the capability to output DC Pulse repetition rate: At least 10 Gsamples / second RMS uncertainty with 100 Hz sine wave generation: better than 4 ppm (k=2) RMS uncertainty with 10 kHz sine wave generation: better than 8 ppm (k=2) Cooling The system will not require any liquid cryogens Automation The system will be provided with software for custom waveform design or selecting standard sine waveforms. A detailed knowledge of the techniques used to generate the pulse patterns (e.g. delta-sigma conversion) should not be required of the operators. It is highly desirable that the software is able to perform automatic calibration of AC voltmeters and calibrators such as the Fluke 5700 series. Training The system should be simple enough to operate that users already experienced with programmable Josephson voltage standards can operate it after 2-3 days of training. The training will be provided by the supplier at the NPL Teddington site. ### Planning Information This Engagement Notice is intended to act a s a Direct Award Notice that NPL will award this contract to U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology at the end of this engagement deadline . ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001546-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | 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 | 8 Jan 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 19 Jan 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Feb 2026 - 1 Jul 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £447,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | NPL MANAGEMENT LIMITED | | 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 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting - 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) ### Codes - 31000000 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting - 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) ## Release History - 8 Jan 2026 at 15:18 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001546-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001546-2026 8th January 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.npl.co.uk - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-06020f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06020f.json.