--- title: "Liverpool Telescope Upgrade Programme" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0789a7" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0789a7" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0789a7.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0789a7.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "Liverpool John Moores University" published: "2026-10-16" --- # Liverpool Telescope Upgrade Programme Buyer: Liverpool John Moores University Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0789a7 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0789a7) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0789a7.json) ## Summary Liverpool John Moores University, through its Astrophysics Research Institute, is planning an upgrade to the Liverpool Telescope, a fully robotic 2-metre astronomical observatory at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, Spain. The work centres on modernising the telescope’s control systems and related infrastructure to extend its operating life, improve reliability, reduce maintenance and enhance scientific performance. The scope under consideration includes replacing the telescope control system and the azimuth, altitude and Cassegrain axis drives; modernising enclosure controls; and replacing or redesigning selected optical and mechanism controls. Associated networking, timing and safety interfaces are included, as are design, manufacture, installation, testing, commissioning, post-upgrade support, documentation, training and knowledge transfer. This is a specialist telescope engineering and systems-integration service, with delivery involving both Liverpool and La Palma. The process is at the planning stage: the university is seeking market engagement to understand supplier capabilities and inform its tender documents and next steps. This is not an invitation to tender. The buyer expects to publish a further notice on 16 November 2026; the engagement milestone is scheduled for 13 November 2026. The estimated procurement value is £500,000 excluding VAT (£600,000 including VAT). The planned contract period runs from 1 January 2027 to 31 August 2028, with a maximum extent to 31 December 2028. The procurement is structured as one lot, and the buyer indicates that a renewal may be included. The lot is marked as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. No evaluation basis or detailed participation requirements are set out at this stage. The work is likely to suit specialist suppliers able to engineer and integrate complex electromechanical and control systems for observatories or other precision scientific facilities. Relevant strengths include telescope control systems, servo drives and motion control across multiple axes, programmable logic controller software, optical and mechanism controls, networking, timing and safety interfaces. Suppliers should be able to take responsibility across the delivery lifecycle, from design and manufacture through installation, testing and commissioning, then provide ongoing support. Experience working at a remote astronomical observatory would be relevant, given the installation location on La Palma and the need to maintain a scientific facility. The scope also calls for clear technical documentation, training and knowledge transfer. The buyer is using engagement to understand market capabilities, so suppliers with credible solutions for reliability, maintainability and improved scientific performance are well placed to contribute to its planning. ## Notice LJMU is conducting a pre-market engagement exercise to gauge the capabilities of the market for our requirement. This is not a call for competition/ ITT. This process enables LJMU to fully understand the market to assist us in drafting our tender documentation / determining next steps. Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), through its Astrophysics Research Institute (ARI), is undertaking a pre-market engagement exercise relating to the planned upgrade of the Liverpool Telescope (LT), a fully robotic 2-metre astronomical observatory located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, La Palma, Spain. The Liverpool Telescope has operated successfully for over twenty years and is a key scientific facility supporting UK-led astronomical research. LJMU is exploring options to modernise the telescope's control systems and associated infrastructure to extend operational life, improve reliability, reduce maintenance burden and enhance scientific performance. The current scope under consideration includes: * Replacement and modernisation of the Telescope Control System; * Replacement of azimuth, altitude and Cassegrain axis drive systems; * Modernisation of enclosure control systems (PLCs software and control cards); * Replacement or redesign of selected optical and mechanism control systems; * Associated control system networking, timing and safety interfaces; * Design, manufacture, installation, testing, commissioning and post-upgrade support service; * Knowledge transfer, documentation and training. ### Planning Information This will be available on our procurement platform (In-Tend), and all communication regarding the project should go through this once registered on the system. If this is of interest, then please register using the link below. https://supplier.in-tend.co.uk/ljmu/home ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098018-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 16 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 16 Nov 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Jan 2027 - 1 Sep 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £500,000 | | 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 | Liverpool John Moores University | | Locality | LIVERPOOL | | Postcode area | Liverpool | | Postcode | L3 5AH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD7 Merseyside | | ITL 3 | TLD72 Liverpool | | Local authority | Liverpool | | Electoral ward | Brownlow Hill | | Westminster constituency | Liverpool Riverside | | Delivery location | TLD72 Liverpool | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services ### Codes - 38635000 - Telescopes - 71320000 - Engineering design services ## Release History - 16 Oct 2026 at 14:35 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098018-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098018-2026 16th October 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/ - https://supplier.in-tend.co.uk/ljmu/home - 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-0789a7. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0789a7.json.