Under Vehicle Inspection Equipment 2026

What the buyer is asking for

This notice informs the market that DVSA intends to award a contract to a single supplier to manufacture Under Vehicle Inspection Equipment. This equipment will enable DVSA staff to inspect vehicles for defects in situations where access beneath the vehicle or where an inspection pit is not available. This notice is issued to engage the market at a supplier day in advance of a forthcoming procurement for the supply and maintenance of eight units. Elements we are looking for in terms of this requirement, some of the ‘Could Have’ elements listed below can be added as part of a continuous improvement initiative over the life of the contract: Category Requirement Imaging & Evidence - AES-256 encrypted local storage, USB/USB-C transfer to Windows laptops and mobile phones (Must Have) Imaging & Evidence - High-resolution imaging: Still images ≥12MP, 4K video, low-light & thermal imaging (Must Have) Imaging & Evidence - Time & date stamping in ISO 8601 format (Must Have) Imaging & Evidence - Moveable camera to see around components (Should Have) Imaging & Evidence = Side-view camera with option to view with thermal imaging (Should Have) Imaging & Evidence - The capability to zoom in and focus on the camera's live view [not just once image has been taken] (Must Have) Imaging & Evidence - Optional secure wireless transfer (Could Have) Control System - IP66 ruggedized casing, usable with gloves (Must Have) Control System - Range ≥30m, battery life ≥4 hours, screen resolution ≥1080p (Must Have) Control System - Ability to annotate images [to highlight defects] while retaining the original raw image (Should Have) Control System - Large display screen viewable in all weather (Must Have) Physical / Build - Drop-proof from 1.5m, corrosion-resistant (Must Have) Physical / Build - Operate on uneven surfaces, height ≤80mm for PSV access (Must Have) Power & Battery - Removable battery pack with spare, fast charging ≤2 hours (Must Have) Power & Battery - Battery health monitoring system (Should Have) Safety & Compliance - ATEX Zone 2 compliance, no sparking components (Must Have) Transport & Storage - Secure case, total weight ≤16kg (Must Have) Transport & Storage - Shock-absorbing storage case with lockable latches (Should Have) Transport & Storage - Lanyard for control device to prevent dropping (Must Have) Transport & Storage - Van- or wall-mounted charging cradle option (Could Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Comprehensive user guide with troubleshooting (including quick-start guide) (Must Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Cleaning kit with instructions (Could Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Agreed process to support end users through phone or online chat throughout contract period (Must Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Structured maintenance and repair policy that ensures minimal downtime (Must Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Structured policy for replacing faulty devices that ensures minimal downtime (Could Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Process for software update versions e.g. Windows etc. (Must Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Support ticket service level agreement (SLA) with guaranteed responses within 72 hours (Must Have) Documentation / Training & Support - Training options: live (in person or online) or recorded sessions (Should Have) Optional Enhancements - AI-assisted vehicle mapping for defect detection (Should Have) Optional Enhancements - GPS tagging for inspection location (Could Have) Optional Enhancements - Integration with DVSA enforcement applications (Could Have) Optional Enhancements - Automated navigation/collision avoidance functionality (Could Have) Optional Enhancements - Remote cloud sync for inspection logs (Won’t Have) Cyber Security - Development process has followed Secure By Design Principles (Could Have) Cyber Security - ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus where applicable (Must Have) Cyber Security - Suppliers cascade security standards (e.g. ISO27001) to third parties and maintain transparent processes for supply chain risk managemet (Must Have) The authority does not want a solution that will require vehicles to drive over the inspection equipment.

How this is scored

Published by the buyer. A winning response is written to these weightings, not to the question.

• 60%qualityTechnical envelope including Social Value
• 40%priceCommercial Envelope

How contested is this?

Buyers publish how many bids they received. Across 59 comparable procurements we can tell you the typical field size, how often one of these goes uncontested, and whether the buyer awards on price or on quality.

Timeline

4 published dates · Europe/London

1. Tender notice published21 days ago

   1 Sept 2026, 08:28 BST
2. Clarification questions by3 days ago

   18 Sept 2026, 16:00 BST
3. Submission deadlinein 15 days

   6 Oct 2026, 16:00 BST
4. Award decision expected byin 34 days

   25 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMT

Commercial outcome and contract awards

Nothing awarded yet

Notice history

3 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender

1. Pipeline or early engagement notice22 Jun 2026, 09:50 BST058336-2026
2. Notice published25 Jun 2026, 10:22 BST059706-2026
3. Tender notice1 Sept 2026, 08:28 BST082429-2026

Payment terms

The equipment will be paid for after the delivery has been made. All repair, maintenance and innovation works which takes place can be invoiced after the work has been completed.

Documents

• Tender notice on Find a Tender