Weather Forecasting Services
Framework Description
ESPO's Weather Forecasting Services framework (reference 118_25) provides weather forecasting for public bodies, covering a standard winter service, site-specific services, training, optional summer forecasts and bespoke forecasting. It has one lot and was tendered under the Procurement Act 2023 as a framework agreement rather than a DPS. It runs from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2027, with an option to extend to 30 September 2029.
Context & Use Case
Highway authorities use 118_25 to decide when to send out gritters, relying on forecasts of road surface temperature and ice risk through the winter. Some add site-specific forecasts or summer forecasts for events and operations. Contracts are awarded through a further competitive selection process, so authorities can compare forecasting accuracy, service levels and price.
Scope of Services
Standard winter service Site-specific services Training services Optional summer forecast services Bespoke weather forecasting
Lots
Single lot
Who Can Apply
Suits specialist weather forecasting providers serving highway and infrastructure operators. Applications for 118_25 are closed, so new providers cannot join until ESPO re-tenders, likely around 30 September 2027 or, if extended, 30 September 2029.
Buyer Benefits
A gritting decision costs money either way: treating roads unnecessarily wastes salt, while missing ice risks safety. Buyers therefore value accurate, site-specific forecasts and training for duty officers, all available through one agreement with competition to test price and service.
Next Steps
Appointed providers should prepare for winter season competitions with forecast accuracy data, duty officer training content and service availability commitments. Others should check the 118_25 page on espo.org for the extension decision and build highway authority references ahead of the re-tender.
How Athena Can Help
Weather forecasting competitions are often won on evidence of accuracy and support to duty officers. Athena's bid management advice helps appointed providers present that evidence and price each winter service competitively.
For providers outside 118_25, our framework application writing prepares the re-tender submission, and our highways tender support helps you win forecasting contracts that highway authorities let directly, including bid/no-bid decisions and compliance checks. We can also price multi-year winter services so they stay profitable.
