Tenders/Helicopter Services — BBC Live Newsgathering

Helicopter Services — BBC Live Newsgathering

BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)

Published: Jul 1, 2026

Updated: Jul 1, 2026

About This Opportunity

This is a services contract in the media and communication and transport and logistics sectors, with a focus on Broadcasting. Located in United Kingdom, Europe, this opportunity is open to firms and consortiums.

Published through UK FTS - Find a Tender Service, a national government procurement portal. Public procurement tenders follow the country's national bidding regulations and may have specific eligibility and documentation requirements for services in the media and communication sector. Service contracts are typically evaluated on both technical quality and price, and may require bidders to demonstrate relevant experience and qualified personnel. This is an advance notice — the formal tender is expected to be published shortly. Interested parties can use this time to prepare documentation and identify potential partners.

Description

BBC Newsgathering uses a dedicated helicopter to support its live broadcast news-gathering operations across the United Kingdom. The helicopter provides an aerial news-gathering and live broadcast capability that is integral to the BBC’s ability to cover breaking news events, planned operations, and major incidents from the air, transmitting live footage directly to BBC News studio facilities. The current contract for this service is approaching the end of its term. The BBC is conducting pre-tender market engagement under the Procurement Act 2023 to understand the landscape of suppliers capable of delivering this service before potentially proceeding to a formal competitive procurement. This is a specialist service. The BBC requires a supplier with direct, demonstrable experience of working in a fast-paced live television news environment — not general aerial work, corporate charter, or commercial helicopter operations. Suppliers are encouraged to consider their suitability carefully before responding. Please review the RFI document uploaded on to the Jaggaer e-tendering platform.

Data provenance

This notice is sourced from UK FTS - Find a Tender Service and was originally published on July 1, 2026. Last refreshed today. Reference: 061914-2026. BidsFactory mirrors official procurement notices and links back to the source for full legal text.

About BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)

BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) has issued 22 procurement notices on BidsFactory, including 3 currently open and 7 awarded contracts. Activity concentrates in Governance & Public Administration, Information & Communication Technology, and Media & Communications. All notices are published for United Kingdom. Notices are distributed via UK FTS - Find a Tender Service. Most recent publication: July 1, 2026.

Frequently asked questions about this tender

Where will the contract be performed?

The contract is for delivery in United Kingdom. Foreign bidders should review local registration, taxation, and any in-country presence requirements before submitting.

How can I submit a bid?

Visit UK FTS - Find a Tender Service to access the full notice, required documents, and submission instructions. Quote reference 061914-2026 when communicating with the contracting authority.

Who is the contracting authority?

This notice was issued by BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) in United Kingdom. The authority is responsible for evaluating bids, awarding the contract, and managing performance.

What type of contract is this?

This is a Services contract in the Media & Communications sector. The classification helps bidders match the opportunity to their qualifications and registered scope of supply.