--- title: "Drones and Drone Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06df58" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06df58" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06df58.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06df58.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "YORKSHIRE PURCHASING ORGANISATION" published: "2026-08-07" --- # Drones and Drone Services Buyer: YORKSHIRE PURCHASING ORGANISATION Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06df58 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06df58) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06df58.json) ## Summary The Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation is currently in the planning stage of a public procurement process titled "Drones and Drone Services," aimed at sourcing drones, UAVs, and related services, with a focus on supporting emergency services and public sector operations. This initiative falls under the goods category and covers a significant industry segment within the UK, specifically targeting the development and maintenance of unmanned aerial vehicles for public safety and operational needs. The contracting process is at the engagement planning stage, with an early supplier engagement due by 21st August 2026, and a formal procurement notice slated for 1st October 2026. This initiative anticipates a competitive selection process for different lots with a contract period running from March 2027 to February 2031 and a substantial estimated contract value of up to £600 million gross. This procurement presents substantial opportunities for businesses specializing in drone technology and associated services, including servicing, surveying, and maintenance tailored for public safety needs. SMEs and VCSEs are particularly noted as suitable for participation, indicating a focus on inclusive business growth opportunities. Companies with innovative solutions in UAV technology, particularly those that can effectively engage with the public sector and address logistical challenges, are well-positioned to benefit from this process. By participating, businesses can expand their market reach, enhance their service offerings, and establish long-term relationships with public sector entities across the UK. This is an opportunity to contribute to shaping solutions that address critical operational requirements in emergency services and broader public sector applications. ## Notice We are renewing an existing solution and seeking interest from suppliers of drones, UAV's and associated services such as servicing, maintenance, surveying, distribution, photography, video production, analysis and surveillance. We are particularly interested in understanding your current route to market, customer base and the challenges around selling to and working with the wider public sector. As part of this exercise, we are also seeking views of potential YPO customers who may use this solution as compliant procurement route. We envisage the routes to market being Competitive Selection Process for lots 1 and 2 (Drones and Drone Services) and Award Without Competition on lot 1 only. (Drones) For clarity, this early engagement is focused on drones, UAVs and associated services that support emergency services and wider public-sector operational requirements. Services relating solely to general photography, events filming, wedding/portrait photography, hobbyist drone activity or standard commercial media production are not the primary focus of this engagement, unless they form part of a specialist UAV or operational service relevant to public safety, inspection, surveying, surveillance, resilience, analysis, maintenance, servicing or associated support. ### Planning Information Your support will enable us to shape the solution to meet yours and your customer’s needs. YPO reserves the right to not commit to advertising this tender if we do so wish. Any information provided by suppliers prior to any advertising of the tender will not be used to determine the outcome of any processes. Should YPO wish to proceed further a formal procurement process will be followed in accordance with YPO's contract procedure rules. Please note that this notice is to undertake early supplier engagement only, information is being sought without prejudice and without commitment. If you are interested in this opportunity, please email the named contact on this notice. emergencyservices@ypo.co.uk ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075396-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | 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 | 7 Aug 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 1 Oct 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Mar 2027 - 28 Feb 2031 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £500,000,000 | | 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 | YORKSHIRE PURCHASING ORGANISATION | | Locality | WAKEFIELD | | Post town | Wakefield | | Postcode | WF2 0XE | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber | | ITL 2 | TLE4 West Yorkshire | | ITL 3 | TLE45 Wakefield | | Local authority | Wakefield | | Electoral ward | Wrenthorpe and Outwood West | | Westminster constituency | Wakefield and Rothwell | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment ### Codes - 35613000 - Unmanned aerial vehicles ## Release History - 7 Aug 2026 at 14:18 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075396-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075396-2026 7th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - 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-06df58. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06df58.json.