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

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. 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.

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. 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.

Procurement Act 2023

Open procedure

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.

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 [email protected]

Bidding documents: https://www.open-uk.org/ Technical specifications: https://www.open-uk.org/