---
title: "DNO553-ISIP Post-Doctoral Project-TN"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078893"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078893"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078893.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078893.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Ministry of Defence"
published: "2026-10-15"
---

# DNO553-ISIP Post-Doctoral Project-TN

Buyer: Ministry of Defence  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078893

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078893.json)

## Summary

The Ministry of Defence is buying specialist research services to develop and mature autonomous radiation-mapping capabilities using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The work covers algorithms for mapping radiation, locating radiation sources and characterising radiological threats, together with validation trials and transfer of knowledge. It continues an existing autonomy research programme funded through NTR. The work is led by the University of Bristol, which is also the selected supplier. The procurement is for research and development rather than equipment supply or routine drone operations. The requirement centres on combining autonomous UAV technology with radiological measurement and analysis, then testing the resulting capabilities. The buying organisation is the Ministry of Defence; the supplier is based in Bristol.

The procurement is complete and the University of Bristol was selected through a direct award. The Ministry of Defence justified the single-tender route because the research continues an existing programme and Bristol has unique knowledge, intellectual property, datasets, methods and specialist capability developed through earlier work. The award value is £368,512.48 excluding VAT (£442,214.98 including VAT). The contract period runs from 6 November 2026 to 6 November 2028, with signature scheduled for 6 November 2026. There is one lot, covering the research requirement as a whole. No separate evaluation criteria are stated; the award rationale focuses on continuity and the supplier’s specialist expertise. The award is recorded as pending, while the overall tender status is complete.

For suppliers preparing for a comparable Ministry of Defence requirement, credibility would depend on demonstrable expertise in autonomous UAV systems and radiological sensing, particularly the ability to develop algorithms for radiation mapping, source localisation and threat characterisation. The work also calls for a research capability that can validate technical developments through trials and transfer knowledge to the customer. Bristol’s selection shows the commercial importance of continuity: familiarity with the existing programme, its datasets and established methodologies was central to the direct award rationale. A future competitor would therefore need to evidence relevant prior research and technical results, along with the capacity to mature and test integrated capabilities rather than deliver an isolated component. Experience working with defence-funded research programmes would help demonstrate fit with this buyer’s requirement.

## Notice

Provision of post-doctoral research to develop and mature UAV-based autonomous radiation mapping, source localisation and radiological threat characterisation capabilities, including algorithm development, validation trials and knowledge transfer.

### Procurement Information

A single tender action is justified in this instance as the requirement is a direct continuation of an existing NTR-funded autonomy research programme led by Bristol University. The University possesses unique knowledge, intellectual capital, developed datasets, established methodologies and specialist capability generated through the preceding work.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097499-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 15 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 6 Nov 2026 - 6 Nov 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £368,512 |
| 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 | Ministry of Defence |
| Locality | BRISTOL |
| Postcode area | Bristol |
| Postcode | BS34 8JH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England |
| ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire |
| Local authority | South Gloucestershire |
| Electoral ward | Stoke Park & Cheswick |
| Westminster constituency | Filton and Bradley Stoke |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

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

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73110000 - Research services

## Release History

- 15 Oct 2026 at 13:56 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097499-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097499-2026
  15th October 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
- 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-078893. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078893.json.