---
title: "BLC0114 - Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) 2026 - RFI"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0689bc"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0689bc"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0689bc.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0689bc.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "WEST YORKSHIRE COMBINED AUTHORITY"
published: "2026-04-23"
---

# BLC0114 - Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) 2026 - RFI

Buyer: WEST YORKSHIRE COMBINED AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0689bc

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## Summary

The procurement process titled "BLC0114 - Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) 2026 - RFI" is currently in the planning stage, facilitated by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in collaboration with BlueLight Commercial. This initiative focuses on the goods category, specifically targeting aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles, and is planned to encompass operations in both urban and rural areas. Interested parties should note the deadline for engagement queries is set for 15 May 2026. The procurement is progressing with milestones scheduled, and the initiative aims to gather market insights to inform future strategies. Discussions are actively managed through the In-tend e-Procurement portal, and direct communications are guided by the system.

This tender represents significant opportunities for businesses within the aerospace and defence sectors, especially those specialising in cutting-edge technology and unmanned systems. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) may find this engagement particularly advantageous as it suits their innovative capabilities in rapidly adopting new technologies. Enterprises engaging in this process could benefit from demonstrating their equipment's capabilities and establishing themselves in a growing area of public service technology procurement. This opportunity to collaborate with NPAS and BlueLight Commercial offers avenues for businesses to expand their market presence and influence future procurement strategies through active engagement in the preliminary stages.

## Notice

Welcome to this market engagement activity where we are looking to gather information from the market to inform future strategy and decisions. More information and an online survey regarding this new request, including your opportunity to inform NPAS and BlueLight Commercial can be found using this link: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/RFI_BVLOS_RPAS_2026/ Overview As part of its commitment to providing an effective and efficient service, in support of forces in keeping the public safe, NPAS is exploring the use of BVLOS RPAS to form part of its future blended fleet. An initial trial has concluded, in which airborne radar systems were operated so they may be evaluated for suitability as part of a detect and avoid system. This new request for information seeks to understand options, which may be available for the rapid insertion (within 3 years) of this technology, operating in non-segregated airspace in support of units on the ground and over both congested (urban) and non-congested (rural) areas. "Congested area" in relation to a city, town or settlement, means any area, which is substantially used for residential, industrial, commercial or recreational purposes. If you have any queries in relation to this request for information, please send a message to the team via the In-tend Portal and a response will be provided as soon as possible. Suppliers submitting information may be asked to participate in a demonstration of their equipment at a further market engagement event. Details of which will be provided once all information is considered. IMPORTANT All messages should be directed via the In-tend e-Procurement portal messaging system and no direct contact should be made with NPAS or BlueLight Commercial. A link to the procurement portal is provided here: https://sell2.in-tend.co.uk/blpd/home This document is not a statement of user need and does not attempt to outline such. It is intended to assist NPAS and BlueLight Commercial representatives to liaise with industry professionals. All information provided by suppliers in response to this RFI will be treated as commercially sensitive and will not be shared outside of BlueLight Commercial and NPAS representatives.

### Planning Information

The documentation attached provides further information. Please raise a clarification via In-tend with any queries.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037133-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 15 May 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Dec 2029 - 1 Jan 2030 |
| 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 | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | WEST YORKSHIRE COMBINED AUTHORITY |
| Additional buyers | BLUELIGHT COMMERCIAL |
| Locality | LEEDS |
| Post town | Leeds |
| Postcode | LS1 2DE |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

### Codes

- 34700000 - Aircraft and spacecraft
- 35613000 - Unmanned aerial vehicles

## Release History

- 23 Apr 2026 at 13:30 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037133-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037133-2026
  23rd April 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.bluelightcommercial.police.uk/
- https://sell2.in-tend.co.uk/blpd/home
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/RFI_BVLOS_RPAS_2026/

## 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-0689bc. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0689bc.json.