Award

CETUS Trials and Evaluation

SUBMARINE DELIVERY AGENCY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

15 Apr 2025 at 10:32

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Submarine Delivery Agency has awarded a direct contract to M Subs Ltd for the Trials and Evaluation (T&E) of the CETUS Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), aimed at de-risking underwater autonomy and demonstrating military utility. The procurement process falls under the defence and security regime and the industry category of services. Located in Bristol, the Submarine Delivery Agency oversees this process, which is currently at the award stage with key dates including a start date on 30th June 2025 and a potential maximum end date by 31st May 2028. The awarded contract, valued at £12,600,000 gross, has an option for extension by up to two years to ensure comprehensive understanding and deployment of the system.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in underwater vehicle design, manufacturing, and testing. The initial trials led by the sole designer, M Subs Ltd, underscore the need for unique technical and proprietary knowledge, presenting niche market opportunities for SMEs with expertise in AUV operations and payload testing. The Submarine Delivery Agency's intent to eventually open the market for competitive bidding on different payloads suggests future prospects for varied suppliers to partake in advancing military capability, fostering innovation, and expanding their portfolio in defence technology.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

CETUS Trials and Evaluation

Notice Description

To undertake Trials and Evaluation (T&E) to de-risk underwater autonomy and demonstrate military utility through payload tests. CETUS will be the UK's largest military Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), which is a new experimental vessel, originally intended to be Navy operated however now planned as Commercially operated within a GOCONO model. CETUS will support the Navy operation with deep maintenance and payload operation.

Procurement Information

The SDA require Trials and Evaluation (T&E) to be undertaken using the CETUS vessel that is currently being developed by M Subs. T&E is required to de-risk underwater autonomy and demonstrate military utility through payload testing. As the sole designer and manufacturer of CETUS, M Subs hold all technical and proprietary knowledge of the vessel's form and function, and as such are uniquely positioned to safely operate the vessel in the execution of trials. Initial trials are a repeat of S201 trials XLAUV trials previously performed by M Subs on a smaller vessel within Project Manta), which M Subs delivered through the DASA Open call (competitive) contracting. Knowledge of these trials is advantageous in allowing these activities to be repeated consistently and efficiently. While there are alternative commercial operators of AUVs, none currently hold the necessary system knowledge to operate this unique system appropriately. Choosing an alternative supplier risks delay, increased cost, or higher system risks (e.g. of system damage) while this knowledge is gained. This would impede development of this capability, which the Authority has a military imperative to advance. Once the initial trials have been undertaken there will be greater scope for the Authority to compete longer term operation of the system once it is better understood by all parties allowing a meaningful competition to be undertaken. Separate to the operation of CETUS, the Authority intends to competitively seek different payloads from the open market in the coming years, allowing a broad range of suppliers to participate in advancing military capability within this project.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050312
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015189-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73430000 - Test and evaluation

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£10,500,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Apr 202510 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
15 Apr 202510 months ago
Contract Period
29 Jun 2025 - 29 May 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SUBMARINE DELIVERY AGENCY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
nicole.hoult101@mod.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8JH
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

M SUBS

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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. 

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