Award

Profiling Floats for Ocean Data Collection

  • Met Office

UK6: Contract award notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-084620

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-059f75 (view related notices)

Published 18 December 2025, 4:49pm



Scope

Reference

DN783668

Description

The Met Office wishes to award a framework agreement to cover the following Lots:

Lot 1 - Standard floats with Iridium communications

Lot 2 - Iridium floats with bio-geochemical sensors

Commercial tool

Establishes an open framework


Lot 1. Standard floats with Iridium communications

Description

Standard floats with Iridium communications (temperature, salinity and depth only).


Lot 2. Iridium floats with bio-geochemical sensors

Description

Bio-geochemical-Argo is the extension of the Argo array of profiling floats to include floats that are equipped with additional sensors for pH, oxygen, nitrate, chlorophyll fluorescence, suspended particles and down-welling irradiance. With respect to Lot 2, it is likely that purchases of such floats may range from those with a single additional sensor (most likely dissolved oxygen) through to the full sensor suite.


Contract 1

Lots

Lot 1. Standard floats with Iridium communications

Suppliers (2)

Contract value

  • £2,152,748 excluding VAT
  • £2,583,297.60 including VAT

Framework lot values may be shared with other lots

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

18 December 2025

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

18 December 2025

Standstill period

  • End: 31 December 2025
  • 8 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

9 January 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 27 January 2026 to 26 January 2029
  • Possible extension to 26 January 2030
  • 4 years

Description of possible extension:

Extension option available for 12 months.

Main procurement category

Goods

CPV classifications

  • 38120000 - Meteorological instruments

Contract locations

  • UKK4 - Devon

Contract 2

Lots

Lot 2. Iridium floats with bio-geochemical sensors

Suppliers (2)

Contract value

  • £179,090.88 excluding VAT
  • £214,909.06 including VAT

Framework lot values may be shared with other lots

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

18 December 2025

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

18 December 2025

Standstill period

  • End: 31 December 2025
  • 8 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

9 January 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 27 January 2026 to 26 January 2029
  • Possible extension to 26 January 2030
  • 4 years

Description of possible extension:

Extension option available for 12 months.

Main procurement category

Goods

CPV classifications

  • 38120000 - Meteorological instruments

Contract locations

  • UKK4 - Devon

Information about tenders

Lot 1. Standard floats with Iridium communications

  • 2 tenders received
  • 2 tenders assessed in the final stage:
    • 2 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
    • 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
  • 2 suppliers awarded contracts
  • 0 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)

Lot 2. Iridium floats with bio-geochemical sensors

  • 2 tenders received
  • 2 tenders assessed in the final stage:
    • 2 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
    • 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
  • 2 suppliers awarded contracts
  • 0 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)

Procedure

Procedure type

Open procedure


Suppliers

nke Instrumentation

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PPXP-5436-VCHN

6 Rue Gutenberg

Hennebont

56700

France

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 1

Contract 2

SWALE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

  • Companies House: 02500466
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBJQ-5821-HXXW

6 Greenacres Warpsgrove Lane

Chalgrove

OX44 7RW

United Kingdom

Region: UKJ14 - Oxfordshire

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 1

Contract 2


Contracting authority

Met Office

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVZW-3234-DTLY

Met Office

Exeter

EX1 3PB

United Kingdom

Region: UKK43 - Devon CC

Organisation type: Public authority - central government