Award

6-off Broadband Ocean-Bottom Seismographs

DURHAM UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

23 Jan 2025 at 16:58

Summary of the contracting process

Durham University has completed the procurement process for six Broadband Ocean-Bottom Seismographs, classified under "Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)" (CPV 38000000). The procurement, backed by UKRI's NERC funding, is aimed at expanding the existing set of instruments identically designed to the current ones to ensure compatibility and efficiency. The awarded contract, valued at £511,360 and signed on 22 January 2025, places Nanometrics Inc. as the supplier, following a negotiated process without publication of a contract notice due to the absence of competition for technical reasons.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in the manufacture and supply of advanced scientific instruments, particularly those aligned with environmental science applications. Companies with expertise in creating precision equipment compatible with existing systems can benefit from similar future tenders. The procurement method deployed highlights the university's need for tailored, highly specific equipment suited for deep-sea research, offering a niche yet valuable growth area for businesses in this sector.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

6-off Broadband Ocean-Bottom Seismographs

Notice Description

The University has a requirement to purchase 6-off Broadband Ocean-Bottom Seismographs The University has published this VEAT notice and intends to award a contract to Nanaometrics following the expiry of 10 days from the date of publication of this notice.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The University has a requirement to purchase 6-off Broadband Ocean-Bottom Seismographs The University has published this VEAT notice and intends to award a contract to Nanaometrics following the expiry of 10 days from the date of publication of this notice.

Procurement Information

The Ocean-Bottom Instrumentation Facility (OBIF) has a successful track record of deploying a range of autonomous sensors on the seabed for over 20 years. OBIF is funded by the UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and operated jointly by the Universities of Durham and Southampton to support researchers across a broad range of environmental science disciplines. Instrumentation deployments are routinely carried out in water depths ranging from a few 10's of m to over 5000 m, for periods lasting from a few days to more than a year, to measure parameters such as ground vibration, pressure, and electric and magnetic field strengths to address a broad range of specific Earth and environmental science applications. OBIF currently have a fleet of more than 60 autonomous seabed instruments, including a small sub-set of instruments fitted with seismometers that are used for broadband, lower frequency, long deployment duration global seismicity studies. The sole purpose of this procurement is to expand (double) the sub-set of broadband, lower frequency, long deployment-capable instruments to meet increasing user demands and the specific scientific and data requirements of those users. The funding for this purchase was awarded on the basis that the instrumentation purchased is identical to that existing. Consequently, there is a fundamental requirement that the instruments to be purchased are identical in design, capability, operation, sensors and output to the existing set within the Facility. The instruments to be purchased must also be entirely compatible with existing Facility' systems (hardware and software) and approaches to instrument communication (seabed to sea surface) and release (from seabed), and data formatting, harvesting and conversation, QC systems and approaches, and meta data recording. Furthermore, to ensure cost-effective operation within the current financial climate and funding programmes, the systems to be purchased must be compatible with the entire pool of OBIF's existing instruments in terms of consumable types and the interchangeability of recovery sub-systems and spares, to ensure that all operational aspects are consistent across the entire combined pool of instruments.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04d5da
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002439-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)


CPV Codes

38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

38290000 - Surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic and hydrological instruments and appliances

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£511,360 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jan 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
22 Jan 20251 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DURHAM UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Rachael Devlin
Contact Email
rachael.devlin@durham.ac.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1913348682

Buyer Location

Locality
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 3LE
Post Town
Durham
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
TLC1 Tees Valley and Durham

Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Durham South
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

NANOMETRICS

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04d5da-2025-01-23T16:58:18Z",
    "date": "2025-01-23T16:58:18Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-04d5da",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "RFN00061",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "6-off Broadband Ocean-Bottom Seismographs",
        "status": "complete",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "38000000",
            "description": "Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
        "description": "The University has a requirement to purchase 6-off Broadband Ocean-Bottom Seismographs The University has published this VEAT notice and intends to award a contract to Nanaometrics following the expiry of 10 days from the date of publication of this notice.",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "The University has a requirement to purchase 6-off Broadband Ocean-Bottom Seismographs The University has published this VEAT notice and intends to award a contract to Nanaometrics following the expiry of 10 days from the date of publication of this notice.",
                "hasOptions": false
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "38290000",
                        "description": "Surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic and hydrological instruments and appliances"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKC1"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethod": "limited",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Negotiated without publication of a contract notice",
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "scheme": "TED_PT_AWARD_CONTRACT_WITHOUT_CALL",
                "id": "D_TECHNICAL",
                "description": "The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationale": "The Ocean-Bottom Instrumentation Facility (OBIF) has a successful track record of deploying a range of autonomous sensors on the seabed for over 20 years. OBIF is funded by the UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and operated jointly by the Universities of Durham and Southampton to support researchers across a broad range of environmental science disciplines. Instrumentation deployments are routinely carried out in water depths ranging from a few 10's of m to over 5000 m, for periods lasting from a few days to more than a year, to measure parameters such as ground vibration, pressure, and electric and magnetic field strengths to address a broad range of specific Earth and environmental science applications. OBIF currently have a fleet of more than 60 autonomous seabed instruments, including a small sub-set of instruments fitted with seismometers that are used for broadband, lower frequency, long deployment duration global seismicity studies. The sole purpose of this procurement is to expand (double) the sub-set of broadband, lower frequency, long deployment-capable instruments to meet increasing user demands and the specific scientific and data requirements of those users. The funding for this purchase was awarded on the basis that the instrumentation purchased is identical to that existing. Consequently, there is a fundamental requirement that the instruments to be purchased are identical in design, capability, operation, sensors and output to the existing set within the Facility. The instruments to be purchased must also be entirely compatible with existing Facility' systems (hardware and software) and approaches to instrument communication (seabed to sea surface) and release (from seabed), and data formatting, harvesting and conversation, QC systems and approaches, and meta data recording. Furthermore, to ensure cost-effective operation within the current financial climate and funding programmes, the systems to be purchased must be compatible with the entire pool of OBIF's existing instruments in terms of consumable types and the interchangeability of recovery sub-systems and spares, to ensure that all operational aspects are consistent across the entire combined pool of instruments."
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "002439-2025-1",
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "status": "active",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-FTS-136195",
                    "name": "Nanometrics Inc"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-RC000650",
            "name": "Durham University",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Durham University",
                "id": "RC000650",
                "scheme": "GB-COH"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Mountjoy Centre, Stockton Road",
                "locality": "DURHAM",
                "region": "UKC14",
                "postalCode": "DH13LE",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Rachael Devlin",
                "telephone": "+44 1913348682",
                "email": "rachael.devlin@durham.ac.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.durham.ac.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "BODY_PUBLIC",
                        "description": "Body governed by public law"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "id": "09",
                        "description": "Education"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-136195",
            "name": "Nanometrics Inc",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Nanometrics Inc",
                "noIdentifierRationale": "notOnAnyRegister"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "3001 Solent Road, Kanata, Ontario, Canada",
                "region": "CA",
                "postalCode": "K2K 2MB",
                "countryName": "Canada"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-70385",
            "name": "Durham University",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Durham University"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Durham",
                "postalCode": "DH1 3LE",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-COH-RC000650",
        "name": "Durham University"
    },
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "002439-2025-1",
            "awardID": "002439-2025-1",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amount": 511360,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "dateSigned": "2025-01-22T00:00:00Z"
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}