---
title: "UKRI-6358 Testing and Evaluation of Counter-UAS (Drone)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-07850b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07850b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07850b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07850b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION"
published: "2026-10-09"
---

# UKRI-6358 Testing and Evaluation of Counter-UAS (Drone)

Buyer: UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-07850b

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## Summary

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) seeks a supplier to test and evaluate counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) in a competition demonstrating the equipment in prison environments. The work is a testing and evaluation service for security equipment, with a research and development consultancy element. The supplier must provide the facilities, personnel and equipment needed to run the tests, including a range of drones against which to test the C-UAS units, and at least one qualified pilot to fly them. Delivery is across the United Kingdom. This is a single-lot service procurement.

UKRI invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. The tender’s enquiry deadline was 20 October 2026 at 11:00 UK time, and the bid submission deadline was 6 November 2026 at 11:00 UK time. The contract period is 7 December 2026 to 7 May 2027. The estimated value is £80,000 excluding VAT (£96,000 including VAT). Bids are assessed on quality, weighted at 90%, and price, weighted at 10%. Electronic submission is permitted. The procurement has one lot; offers are sought for the complete testing and evaluation requirement.

This opportunity suits suppliers able to organise and deliver practical counter-drone testing in a prison-demonstration context. A bidder needs access to suitable test facilities, a range of drones, the equipment required to test counter-UAS units, and qualified drone-pilot capacity. The work also calls for personnel who can conduct testing and evaluation of security equipment and support a competition demonstration. UKRI identifies the requirement as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises, so organisations of those types may find it relevant if they can supply the required technical resources and delivery team. The high quality weighting means the strength of the proposed testing approach and capability is central to the competition, alongside a smaller price component.

## Notice

UKRI are looking to procure a supplier to assist in the testing and evaluation of the Counter-UAS demonstrations in Prison Environments competition. The supplier must provide all the required test facilities, personnel and equipment, including a variety of drones to test the C-UAS units against, and one, or more, qualified pilot(s) to fly them.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095793-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 6 Nov 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 7 Dec 2026 - 7 May 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £80,000 |
| Lots value | £80,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION |
| Locality | SWINDON, WILTSHIRE |
| Postcode area | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN2 1FL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Rodbourne Cheney |
| Westminster constituency | Swindon North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
- 73430000 - Test and evaluation
- 73431000 - Test and evaluation of security equipment

## Release History

- 9 Oct 2026 at 16:01 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095793-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095793-2026
  9th October 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://ukri2.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_ContractPage?SearchType=Projects&uid=a1MTm00000CxRoTMAV&searchStr=&sortStr=Recently+Published&page=1&filters=&County=
- https://ukri2.my.site.com
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.ukri.org/

## 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-07850b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07850b.json.