---
title: "Space Weather R20 Maintenance - University of Birmingham"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078453"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078453"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078453.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078453.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Met Office"
published: "2026-10-09"
---

# Space Weather R20 Maintenance - University of Birmingham

Buyer: Met Office  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078453

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## Summary

The Met Office procured research and experimental development services for space-weather modelling. The work covers ongoing delivery of input datasets for the Advanced Ensemble Networked Environment Assimilative System (AENEAS) model; integration of ODRAM version 2.2; provision of an orbit propagator; improvements to AENEAS health routines; support with PS48 implementation issues; validation and verification; exploratory work on assimilating thermospheric densities into AENEAS; and customer engagement. The Met Office is the buying organisation. Delivery is in the United Kingdom.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to the University of Birmingham. The award date was 9 October 2026, with a value of £251,295 excluding VAT (£301,554 including VAT). The contract period runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027, with an extension possibility to 31 March 2029; renewal is described as annual statements of work. The single-lot contract was awarded through a selective route under a framework agreement. The notice records the award as pending, and a future contract signature was scheduled for 30 October 2026. No evaluation criteria are stated.

For a supplier competing when this requirement returns to market, credible capability would combine specialist space-weather research with practical delivery for operational modelling systems. Relevant experience would include producing and integrating model input datasets, developing or supplying orbit-propagation tools, improving model health routines, and supporting implementation issues such as PS48. The scope also calls for rigorous validation and verification, research into assimilating thermospheric density data, and engagement with the customer. Suppliers would need to support continuing work delivered through recurring annual statements of work, rather than a single isolated research task. The award to a university indicates that an established research organisation with both scientific expertise and the capacity to deliver and support this varied programme was selected.

## Notice

Ongoing delivery of the Advanced Ensemble Networked Environment Assimilative System (AENEAS) model input datasets Integration of ODRAM version 2.2 Orbit Propagator to be supplied Improvements to AENEAS "health" routines Support for PS48 implementation issues Validation and verification Exploratory work on the assimilation of thermospheric densities into AENEAS Customer engagement activity requirements

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095481-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Award under framework |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Contract period | 1 Nov 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £251,295 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Met Office |
| Locality | EXETER |
| Postcode area | 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 | 1 |
| Supplier names | University of Birmingham |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

## Release History

- 9 Oct 2026 at 09:43 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095481-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095481-2026
  9th October 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.birmingham.ac.uk
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsReleasePackages/ocds-h6vhtk-050b18
- 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-078453. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078453.json.