Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13bd0-d9af-7168-a6ff-c5edf90c3b55/supply-deployment-and-translation-of-hydrophones-for-underwater-acoustic-facil closed GB open procedure Suitable for SMEs # Supply, Deployment, and Translation of Hydrophones for Underwater Acoustic Facility [NPL Management Limited](https://tendernation.io/buyers/npl-management-limited) Estimated value £200,000 Published 18 Mar 2026 Deadline Rolling deadline ## Who can bid - Buyer says suitable for SMEs The buyer ticked “suitable for SMEs” on the notice. Anyone can still bid. - Buyer says suitable for VCSEs The buyer ticked “suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises” on the notice. - Open procedure Anyone can submit a full tender; there is no shortlisting stage. [More contracts for small businesses and VCSEs](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/for-small-businesses) ## About this tender NPL is seeking a solution for the deployment and translation of a set of hydrophones into an underwater acoustic facility. The facility is an underwater acoustic calibration tank consisting of a large wooden vessel (5.5m in diameter and 5m deep) filled with potable water. The calibration activities will be performed with either 2 or 3 hydrophones deployed at the mid-depth point of the vessel. The hydrophones are mounted at the end of carbon fibre poles of minimum size to avoid acoustic reflections. The size and design of the poles is flexible and may be adjusted to the solution (this will be the responsibility of NPL). The poles may be permanently attached to the solution as long as the hydrophones can be removed and mounted onto the ends. The schematic and model of the facility attached depict dimensions, swept volume required of each hydrophone (shown as coloured prisms), starting positions of the hydrophones (shown at the top of each prism) and extreme positions of the hydrophones (shown at the bottom of the prisms). The facility is operated from the first floor, and it currently has 3 separate linear axis carriage systems (as shown in the images attached). The facility features a concrete floor, steel framework around the vessel, a HVAC system and an overhead crane. The size of the room cannot be altered, but modifications to the concrete floor and steel framework are feasible for attachment/fixing of solutions. NPL has conducted initial research into possible solutions such as industrial robots. NPL is open to explore different solutions to meet the requirements below. NPL is seeking engagement from suppliers who have capability to provide a solution to the following requirements: - The solution must be able to deploy the hydrophones maintaining the poles always in a vertical position for scanning under computer control. - The solution must be able to translate the hydrophones in X, Y & Z against each other effectively scanning a flat plane across the projected beam. - The solution must enable rotation of the poles about their axis to aim the hydrophones. - The solution must be able to lift the poles out of the water for an operator to safely load the hydrophones to onto the end. - The solution must have a minimum payload capability of 300kg. - The solution must be able to scan in incremental steps of 1±0.5mm. - The solution should feature a control software compatible with LabVIEW (other options will be considered) This is not an evaluation exercise and nothing in this activity will limit the opportunity to engage in any follow on ITT. Read full description ## CPV classification Industrial process control equipment and remote-control equipment Lifting and handling equipment and parts Installation services (except software) Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services Research and development services and related consultancy services Source Find a Tender (UK) · Notice ocds-h6vhtk-05f2f9-2026-03-18T11:39:58Z [View official notice](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/ocds-h6vhtk-05f2f9-2026-03-18T11:39:58Z) Never miss a tender like this again Get AI summaries, deadline alerts and a bid pipeline for tenders matched to your business. Free to start. [Track tenders free](https://tendernation.io/register) [Buyer profile NPL Management Limited: past awards and live tenders](https://tendernation.io/buyers/npl-management-limited) [Sector More Laboratory & precision equipment tenders](https://tendernation.io/sectors/laboratory-precision-equipment) ## More tenders like this [Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) – Dostawa aparatury naukowo – badawczej dla INTiBS PAN we Wrocławiu, z podziałem na dwa zadania: ZADANIE 1: stacjonarny analizator impedancji (0,01 Hz – 1 MHz) ZADANIE 2: stacjonarny analizator impedancji (1MHz - 1GHz) · Instytut Niskich Temperatur i Badań Strukturalnych im. Włodzimierza Trzebiatowskiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk · 14 days left · 3 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-619a-714a-bd19-e119865a29ce/poland-laboratory-optical-and-precision-equipments-excl-glasses-dostawa) [Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) – Modernizácia vedecko-výskumnej infraštruktúry Katedry jadrovej chémie Prírodovedeckej fakulty Univerzity Komenského v Bratislave · Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave · 29 days left · 18 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-65a9-72ca-9922-4b240629b051/slovakia-laboratory-optical-and-precision-equipments-excl-glasses-modern) [Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) – Liquid Handling System · Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH) · 30 days left · 19 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-9882-716e-89c9-cdf421537c1b/germany-laboratory-optical-and-precision-equipments-excl-glasses-liquid) [Detection and analysis apparatus – Zaawansowana platforma do badań emisji akustycznej. Znak sprawy: DZPZ.282.65.2026.MK · Politechnika Śląska · 30 days left · 19 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156aa-10e7-7353-9fc0-d245bd78322b/poland-detection-and-analysis-apparatus-zaawansowana-platforma-do-badan-emis) [Electron microscopes – Prístroje a zariadenia pre projekt: Vývoj a výroba udržateľných bio-vláknových uhlíkových anód pre vysokovýkonné lítium-iónové batérie na podporu dekarbonizácie a energetickej nezávislosti Košíc a Košického kraja · Technická univerzita v Košiciach · 29 days left · 18 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-651c-7266-b85f-cef62e6c451c/slovakia-electron-microscopes-pristroje-a-zariadenia-pre-projekt-vyvoj-a-vy) [Vibration analysers – Dostawa wibrometru laserowego na potrzeby Politechniki Lubelskiej. · Politechnika Lubelska · 3 days left · 23 Oct 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-7c9f-71ac-ba41-52e17a7ec92f/poland-vibration-analysers-dostawa-wibrometru-laserowego-na-potrzeby-politec)