Published date: 17 February 2025

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Closing: 31 March 2025, 12pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Satellite-related communications equipment - 32530000

  • Modems - 32552410

  • Marine equipment - 34930000

Location of contract

United Kingdom

Value of contract

£180,000

Procurement reference

METOFC001-DN757572-16700740

Published date

17 February 2025

Closing date

31 March 2025

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

2 June 2025

Contract end date

1 June 2029

Contract type

Supply contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

The Met Office operates a marine weather observation network consisting of 10 offshore buoys, 5 lightvessels (LV) and 60 Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS). Observation data is transmitted globally over satellite back to the Met Office for weather prediction modelling and climate records. Reliable global/offshore communication is essential for the network to operate.

Observation data is currently transmitted over the Iridium SBD network using Iridium 9522b modems, with maximum message sizes of 395 bytes for buoy use and 40-80 bytes for Light Vessel and Voluntary Observation Ship use.

These platforms operate on solar/battery power arrangements, all proposed solutions should feature low power usage by design to accommodate the limited power supply arrangements available.

Met Office intend to issue a framework agreement with one supplier of Integrated Iridium Modems for the following use cases:

• SBD based direct replacement for obsolete Iridium 9522b modems (interim solution)
• Certus 100/IMT based solutions for increased observation throughput and remote station access

About the buyer

Contact name

Alison Browning

Address

Fitzroy Road
Exeter
EX1 3PB
England

Email

alison.browning@metoffice.gov.uk

Website

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk