ProcuraAxisBeta
Sign inCreate Free Account
Home / Opportunities / Opportunity
PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

NEPO217 - Winter Bureau, Weather Forecasting & Outstation Maintenance

The Association of North East Councils Limited (NEPO) · Tender notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 20:36.

Opportunity overview

The proposed procurement will establish a NEPO‑led Unranked Open Framework for the provision of Winter Bureau services, weather forecasting services, and RWIS outstation maintenance for UK local authorities. The framework will replace the existing NEPO217 (Winter Bureau & Outstation Maintenance) and NEPO230 (Weather Forecasting Services) arrangements and will bring these services together into one solution reflecting how they are used operationally by authorities. The scope is expected to include: Winter Bureau services, including decision support, data management, system availability, resilience and user access to operational winter information. Weather forecasting services, providing locally relevant and operationally defensible forecasts to support winter service decision‑making. RWIS outstation maintenance, covering inspection, maintenance, repair, calibration and associated support for existing roadside infrastructure. Optional or modular services, which may include enhanced data products, radar data, route‑based forecasting or analytical tools, where supported by market capability and authority demand. The framework will be designed to support continuity of existing systems and infrastructure, recognising recent investment by authorities and avoiding mandated wholesale replacement of assets. Authorities will be able to access services through clearly defined call‑off mechanisms, including further competition where appropriate. The Open Framework is expected to operate for up to eight years, with periodic reopening in line with the Procurement Act 2023 to allow for market refresh and potential new entrants. NEPO is a Centralised Procurement Authority as defined in the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23), providing central purchasing activity on behalf of Contracting Authorities. All elements in this notice are subject to change at the sole discretion of NEPO. This notice is intended to inform the market of the potential scope of the procurement, not to be taken as the final version. The agreement will be available to NEPO Member Authorities and all current and future Associate Members. Current Associate Members are listed in the Associate Member section of the NEPO website at: https://www.nepo.org/associate-membership A list of permissible users is available at: https://www.nepo.org/associate-membership/permissible-users Organisations wishing to access the NEPO agreement will be required to register as a NEPO Associate Member in the first instance. Further information can be found at: www.nepo.org

Classification

  • CPV38127000 — Weather stations
  • CPV50312310 — Maintenance of data network equipment
  • CPV71351600 — Weather-forecasting services
  • CPV71351610 — Meteorology services
  • CPV71356000 — Technical services

Lots

  • Lot 1: Winter Bureau and Outstation Maintenance£50m
  • Weather Forecasting Services£50m

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
NEPO217
Status
active
Procurement Method
open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Main Procurement Category
services
Above Threshold
Yes
How to submit
NEPO intends to publish an Invitation to Tender via the Open eTendering system. Suppliers wishing to be considered for this Framework must register an expression of interest and submit a tender through the Open eTendering system at https://open-uk.org Tenders must be submitted via the link above. Submissions via email or post will not be accepted. Guidance for how to create an account, search for opportunities and respond is included within the Suppliers Hub. If you require further support please email open.support@nepo.org

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Additional Procurement Categories

goods

Participation Fees

Entry 1
Description
NEPO operates a Contract Rebate arrangement whereby Suppliers are asked to repay NEPO a set percentage of each invoice in respect of orders placed by NEPO or any Contracting Authority accessing the Framework. The maximum rebate taken by NEPO against the value of awarded contracts will not exceed 1%.
Id
ocds-h6vhtk-06903b

Type

win

Relative Value

Proportion
0.01
Monetary Value
award

Techniques

Has Framework Agreement
Yes

Framework Agreement

Is Open Framework Scheme
Yes
Method
withAndWithoutReopeningCompetition
Type
open
Buyer Categories
The Framework will be open and accessible to all NEPO Member Authorities and Associate Members. A full list of NEPO Member Authorities can be found at - https://www.nepo.org/about A full list of Associate Members can be found at - https://www.nepo.org/associate-membership/current-associate-members
Description
The successful Tenderer will enter into a Framework Agreement (NEPO217 - Winter Bureau, Weather Forecasting & Outstation Maintenance) with NEPO. This Framework will be made accessible to the Member Authorities and the Associate Members of NEPO. NEPO will establish overarching terms and conditions that define the core principles of the Framework. Pricing will be determined through the tender process and evaluated against predefined award criteria and associated weightings. All tenderers will be assessed accordingly. Pricing submitted as part of this Framework will apply to requirements nationally. Under the Framework Contracting Authorities may establish Call-Off contracts through either Direct Award or Mini/Further Competition. A Direct Award may be used where the Contracting Authority objectively determines that there are benefits and rationale, this rationale may include but is not limited to: necessity for urgency relating to timescales, the complexity of the project or continuity of works. This is subject to the Contracting Authority's internal procurement and legal guidelines permitting a Direct Award. All suppliers awarded to the Framework may be invited to participate in Further Competitions. The evaluation criteria for any Further Competitions will be specified by the Contracting Authority and included in the competition documentation. Suppliers will be required to submit pricing based on the specific project requirements.
Open Framework Scheme End Date
31 Mar 2035, 23:59

Submission terms

Electronic Submission Policy
allowed

Languages

en

Tender Period

Ends
4 Nov 2026, 12:00

Enquiry period

Ends
23 Oct 2026, 12:00

Expected award period

Ends
15 Mar 2027, 23:59

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Title
Lot 1: Winter Bureau and Outstation Maintenance
Description
Lot 1 covers the provision of Winter Bureau Services and Road Weather Information System (RWIS) Outstation Maintenance. This includes the operation and management of weather bureau platforms, helpdesk services, data management, communications, monitoring, calibration, maintenance, repair, upgrade, replacement and installation of RWIS equipment and associated infrastructure. The Lot also includes related software, integrations, training, mobilisation, demobilisation, consultancy, service enhancements and associated services required to support operational winter service operations.
Status
active
Has Options
Yes

Value

Including VAT
60,000,000
Amount
50,000,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
price
Name
Price

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
30
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Quality

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
70
Weight
percentageExact

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Starts
1 Apr 2027, 00:00
Ends
31 Mar 2035, 23:59

Options

Description
The Framework may additionally be used for the provision of emerging technologies, system enhancements and value-added services associated with weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, road weather information systems, decision support systems and associated operational infrastructure where such products and services support the objectives of the Framework.
Entry 2
Id
2
Title
Weather Forecasting Services
Description
Lot 2 covers the provision of weather forecasting services to support winter service decision-making. This includes forecast production, forecast monitoring and amendment, consultancy, operational notifications, performance reporting and associated support services. The Lot may also be used for related products and services including forecast web portals, action logging systems, route-based forecasting, additional forecast sites and domains, data integrations, training, mobilisation, demobilisation, consultancy and other service enhancements associated with weather forecasting and operational decision support.
Status
active
Has Options
Yes

Value

Including VAT
60,000,000
Amount
50,000,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
price
Name
Price

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
30
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Quality

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
70
Weight
percentageExact

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Starts
1 Apr 2027, 00:00
Ends
31 Mar 2035, 23:59

Options

Description
The Framework may additionally be used for the provision of emerging technologies, system enhancements and value-added services associated with weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, road weather information systems, decision support systems and associated operational infrastructure where such products and services support the objectives of the Framework.

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
38127000
Description
Weather stations
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
50312310
Description
Maintenance of data network equipment
Entry 3
Scheme
CPV
Id
71351600
Description
Weather-forecasting services
Entry 4
Scheme
CPV
Id
71351610
Description
Meteorology services
Entry 5
Scheme
CPV
Id
71356000
Description
Technical services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UK
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 2
Id
2
Related Lot
2

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
38127000
Description
Weather stations
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
50312310
Description
Maintenance of data network equipment
Entry 3
Scheme
CPV
Id
71351600
Description
Weather-forecasting services
Entry 4
Scheme
CPV
Id
71351610
Description
Meteorology services
Entry 5
Scheme
CPV
Id
71356000
Description
Technical services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UK
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
conflictOfInterest
Document Type
conflictOfInterest
Description
Not published
Entry 2
Id
L-1
Document Type
biddingDocuments
Entry 3
Id
L-2
Document Type
technicalSpecifications
Entry 4
Id
092576-2026
Document Type
tenderNotice
Notice Type
UK4
Description
Tender notice on Find a Tender
Published
30 Sept 2026, 16:50
Format
text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
The Association of North East Councils Limited (NEPO)
Id
GB-COH-05014821

Identifier

Scheme
GB-COH
Id
05014821

Additional Identifiers

Entry 1
Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PYVX-2132-JNMM

Address

Street Address
Northern Design Centre
Locality
Gateshead
Postal Code
NE8 3DF
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKC22

Contact

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - sub-central government

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Gateshead · UKC22 · NE8 3DF · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UK · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

3 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

3 VERSIONS
  1. 040470-2026Pipeline notice on Find a Tender ·
  2. 042563-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
  3. 092576-2026Tender notice on Find a Tender ·