Design and Supply of Underwater Acoustics Test Facility Components

NPL invites suppliers to design, develop, and supply components for a new underwater acoustics open tank test facility. This opportunity is structured into three independent lots that will be integrated into a wider system managed by NPL. Lot A (Open Water Tank, £30,000): Supply an open water tank with dimensions between 2m-3m wide, 2m-3m high, and 4m-5m long, constructed from non-magnetic, acoustically neutral material. The tank must include water monitoring instrumentation (±0.1°C accuracy), a head tank for filling, and automatic overflow prevention with full drain capability. Lot B (Water Filtration System, £15,000): Provide a filtration system capable of filtering water from the head tank into the open water tank using UV and physical canister filters without chemical conditioning. The system must circulate the full water volume during 16-hour out-of-hours cycles and maintain water temperature at 20±2°C ambient or heat incoming water to this temperature. Lot C (Positioning and Control System, £200,000): Supply a 3-axis gantry-type positioning system with ±0.5mm precision (±0.1° rotation) for controlled placement and movement of test panels and hydrophones. The system must support speeds of 0.06m/min to 30m/min with payload capabilities of 50kg minimum on two carriages and 300kg on one carriage. The system must include safety interlocks, electromagnetic noise suppression suitable for RF-sensitive environments, and both standalone and LabVIEW-compatible control interfaces. Compliance with Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) and Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU) is mandatory. Suppliers may bid on individual lots or combinations of lots. NPL will manage stakeholder collaboration and overall system integration. Full technical specifications and block diagrams are available through NPL Procurement. This engagement does not limit future tendering opportunities.