NEPO217 - Winter Bureau, Weather Forecasting & Outstation Maintenance

Procurement reference

NEPO217

Procurement description

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

Main category

Services

Additional categories

Goods

Delivery regions

• UK - United Kingdom

Total value (estimated, excluding VAT)

50000000 GBP to 100000000GBP

Contract dates (estimated)

01 April 2027, 00:00AM to 31 March 2035, 23:59PM

Is a framework being established?

Yes

Is this an open framework scheme?

Yes

The Association of North East Councils Limited (NEPO)

Procedure type

Open procedure

Is the total value above threshold?

Above threshold

Further information about fees

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%.

Percentage fee charged to suppliers

1.00%

Open framework scheme end date (estimated)

31 March 2035, 23:59PM

Award method when using the framework

With and without reopening competition

Contracting authorities that may use the framework

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

Framework operation 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.

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.

CPV classifications

• 38127000 - Weather stations
• 50312310 - Maintenance of data network equipment
• 71351600 - Weather-forecasting services
• 71351610 - Meteorology services
• 71356000 - Technical services

Delivery regions

• UK - United Kingdom

Lot value (estimated)

50000000 GBP Excluding VAT

60000000 GBP Including VAT

Sustainability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Contract start date (estimated)

01 April 2027, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

31 March 2035, 23:59PM

Does the lot include options?

Yes

Description of options

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.

Award criteria

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.

CPV classifications

• 38127000 - Weather stations
• 50312310 - Maintenance of data network equipment
• 71351600 - Weather-forecasting services
• 71351610 - Meteorology services
• 71356000 - Technical services

Delivery regions

• UK - United Kingdom

Lot value (estimated)

50000000 GBP Excluding VAT

60000000 GBP Including VAT

Sustainability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Contract start date (estimated)

01 April 2027, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

31 March 2035, 23:59PM

Does the lot include options?

Yes

Description of options

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.

Award criteria

Tender submission deadline

04 November 2026, 12:00PM

Enquiry deadline

23 October 2026, 12:00PM

Date of award of contract

15 March 2027, 23:59PM

Submission address and any special instructions

NEPO intends to publish an Invitation to Tender viathe Open eTendering system. Suppliers wishing tobe considered for this Framework must registeran expression of interest and submit a tenderthrough the Open eTendering system athttps://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 foropportunities and respond is included within theSuppliers Hub. If you require further support pleaseemail open.support@nepo.org

May tenders be submitted electronically?

Yes

Languages that may be used for submission

• English