Award

Direct Award - Protective Marking for Protected Wreck Sites: Longevity Testing, Evidence Gathering and Distribution

HISTORIC ENGLAND

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

06 Mar 2025 at 10:50

Summary of the contracting process

Historic England has concluded the procurement stage for a project titled "Direct Award - Protective Marking for Protected Wreck Sites: Longevity Testing, Evidence Gathering and Distribution." The procurement falls under the industry category of marine research services. This direct award, conducted below the threshold without competition, concerns examining the durability of a forensic marking product on protected wreck sites across the United Kingdom. The project aims to deter heritage crimes and has garnered interest from multiple agencies. The contract commenced on 3rd April 2025 and is scheduled to end on 1st April 2026, with a gross value of £75,000. The award to MSDS Marine was signed on 4th March 2025.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in marine research, forensic marking technologies, and heritage conservation. Companies equipped with expertise in archaeological diving fieldwork, product testing in marine conditions, and developing evidence procedures for heritage crime incidents are well-suited to compete in similar future tenders. The project also highlights potential collaborations with international agencies and the Ministry of Defence, offering avenues for expanding business operations and services within the heritage and conservation sectors.

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Notice Title

Direct Award - Protective Marking for Protected Wreck Sites: Longevity Testing, Evidence Gathering and Distribution

Notice Description

In response to a series of high-profile thefts from protected wreck sites, the 7591 project pioneered the development of a forensic marking product suitable for deployment on to high value objects on protected wreck sites around England. Several products were developed and initially tested in the laboratory and in benign sea conditions in a sheltered harbour. This project was completed in 2023, with the markers being successfully deployed onto several protected wreck sites around the coast of England. We now need to return to these sites to establish how well the product has survived in the dynamic environment of the sea, and to determine the next steps for larger scale deployment across other Protected Wrecks and Scheduled Monuments under the management of Historic England. Historic England has received multiple enquiries from partner agencies, including the MoD, and the heritage agencies of other nations, who are interested in purchasing the product for deployment on other wreck sites. This project will comprise archaeological diving fieldwork to assess the longevity of the product when deployed on shipwrecks in the marine environment, and will establish a procedure for production, deployment and evidence gathering in relation to heritage crime incidents. Publicity around the project will have the secondary benefit of deterring heritage crime aimed at Protected Wreck sites.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04ea07
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008162-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services


CPV Codes

73112000 - Marine research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£65,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Mar 202511 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
4 Mar 202511 months ago
Contract Period
2 Apr 2025 - 1 Apr 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HISTORIC ENGLAND
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement-he@historicengland.org.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN2 2EH
Post Town
Swindon
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Mannington and Western
Westminster Constituency
Swindon South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

MSDS MARINE

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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