---
title: "Development of Additive Manufacturing Inspection Methods and Measurement Assurance Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f921"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f921"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f921.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f921.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NPL Management Limited"
published: "2026-09-14"
---

# Development of Additive Manufacturing Inspection Methods and Measurement Assurance Services

Buyer: NPL Management Limited  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f921

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## Summary

NPL Management Limited commissioned specialist research and technical services for additive manufacturing inspection. The work covers developing and validating inspection methods for additive manufacturing build plates, including prototype inspection methods, measurement uncertainty evaluation and reporting, standard operating procedures, support for implementing new inspection routines, and final technical reporting. The purpose is to improve inspection capability, measurement confidence and process control in additive manufacturing applications. This is a research and technical services requirement, classified under research services. Delivery is across the United Kingdom, for NPL Management Limited, a public undertaking associated with the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington. The requirement was organised as a single lot and involved services rather than goods or construction works.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to the University of Huddersfield. It used a below-threshold procedure, with the procurement method recorded as unknown, and comprised one completed lot. The award is active and the contract was signed on 24 August 2026. The contract runs from 24 August 2026 to 24 August 2026. Its value is £4,992,000 excluding VAT and £5,990,400 including VAT. The award covers the full research and technical services requirement. The buyer is NPL Management Limited. The published outcome identifies the University of Huddersfield as the selected supplier. The process is therefore an awarded procurement rather than an opportunity for further bids on this contract.

This procurement demonstrates demand for suppliers able to combine additive manufacturing expertise with applied inspection research and measurement assurance. A credible competitor for a future requirement of this kind would need to develop and validate prototype inspection methods for build plates, assess and report measurement uncertainty, and translate technical findings into practical standard operating procedures. Experience supporting the introduction of new inspection routines and producing clear final technical reports would also be relevant. The buyer’s requirement is suited to an organisation with substantial research capability, specialist metrology or inspection knowledge, and the capacity to manage a technically integrated project from method development through validation, implementation support and reporting. The University of Huddersfield’s selection indicates that higher education or similarly research-intensive organisations may be well placed.

## Notice

Provision of specialist research and technical services to develop and validate inspection methodologies for additive manufacturing build plates. The project includes the development of prototype inspection methods, evaluation and reporting of measurement uncertainty, preparation of standard operating procedures (SOPs), support for the implementation of new inspection routines, and delivery of final technical reporting. The work will enhance inspection capability, measurement confidence, and process control within additive manufacturing applications.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086864-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - unknown |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 24 Aug 2026 - 24 Aug 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £4,992,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NPL Management Limited |
| Locality | TEDDINGTON |
| Postcode area | 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 |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | University of Huddersfield |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73110000 - Research services

## Release History

- 14 Sep 2026 at 13:20 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086864-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086864-2026
  14th September 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.hud.ac.uk
- 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-06f921. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f921.json.