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Provision of Aerial Surveillance for HMCG

Maritime & Coastguard Agency

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

Planning

21 Jul 2026 at 15:16

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

11 May 2026 at 11:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

15 Jan 2026 at 16:54

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

12 Sep 2025 at 12:14

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

07 Jul 2025 at 08:39

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

11 Jun 2025 at 17:37

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is planning an aerial search and surveillance service for HM Coastguard. The requirement is for intelligence, search, surveillance and reconnaissance assets that can provide near real-time maritime situational awareness in areas of need, supporting specialised search and rescue operations and wider government objectives. The service does not require national coverage. It may involve a surveillance asset operating continuously for 24 hours, across consecutive days and sometimes weeks, during periods of high risk. The procurement is for services, including surveillance and air-sea rescue support. Delivery locations are operational areas identified as needing maritime situational awareness rather than a single national or fixed site. The buyer is a central government agency based in Southampton.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the MCA has stated an intention to procure and has not issued an invitation to tender. It expects to use a solution-agnostic approach, with the procurement status recorded as planned and above the relevant threshold. One planned lot covers the service. The planned contract period is from 1 March 2029 to 28 February 2034, a five-year term. The recorded estimated procurement value is £0 GBP. The buyer has planned industry engagement through a face-to-face event at the Novotel Southampton on 29 July 2026, from 10:00 to 16:00, covering the requirement, procurement approach and delivery plan, followed by questions and discussions between potential partners. The next notice was expected on 11 September 2025.

The requirement is likely to suit suppliers able to provide persistent maritime surveillance and intelligence through aircraft, unmanned systems, sensors, data services or other technologies. The MCA has said it will consider different technical approaches where suppliers can demonstrate that they meet the operational need, so businesses with complementary capabilities may be relevant alongside prime contractors. Strong candidates are likely to have experience supporting search and rescue, maritime security, reconnaissance, aviation operations or other high-risk, time-critical services. The operating model may require sustained deployment for 24 hours and extended periods, including consecutive days or weeks, so suppliers should be prepared to demonstrate reliable assets, resilient operations, rapid mobilisation and the capacity to maintain near-real-time situational awareness in changing areas of need. The planned lot is identified as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Aerial Surveillance for HMCG

Notice Description

HM Coastguard (HMCG) helicopters and planes, provided under the UKSAR2G contract, have a primary role to provide search and rescue. However, they undertake a range of other missions in support of wider Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) objectives, and those of other government departments. In addition, HMCG require an Search and Surveillance service to provide near real time situational awareness in support of specialised SAR operations. Therefore, the MCA is planning to undertake a procurement for this additional Search and Surveillance service. The MCA will procure for intelligence, search, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets that can supply the information required. This service will not require national coverage. Potentially, during high-risk times, an HMCG surveillance asset could be operating for a full 24-hour period extending into consecutive days and sometimes weeks. Respondents should bear in mind that the MCA will take a solution agnostic approach to the procurement and is open to different technological approaches, providing they can demonstrably meet the requirement to provide persistent maritime situational awareness in areas of need.

Planning Information

10.00 – 16.00 on Wednesday the 29th of July 2026 Novotel Southampton Cherbourg Room 1 West Quay Rd Southampton SO15 1RA The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) invite you to attend the Industry Face-to-Face event for the Search and Surveillance Capability project on Wednesday 29 July 2026, at the Novotel Southampton. Please note that daytime parking at the venue is available on a first come first serve basis. The event will be hosted by Mark Bradley, Senior Responsible Owner for the Channel Search and Surveillance project. The event will begin at 10:00 with presentations by the project team which will include an overview of the requirement, the procurement approach and the delivery plan the MCA is looking to achieve, as well as an operational oversight by senior Coastguards. There will also be a representative from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), who will give a presentation and be available for questions. Lunch will be provided after presentations, and after lunch there will be a Question-and-Answer session with opportunity to submit questions anonymously. After the Q&A session, there will be an opportunity for attendees to meet and have discussions with other potential partners who may have complimentary offerings. This session is focused on in person so you can not only meet the MCA team but met other potential suppliers. We will be distributing slides and an overview of the Q&A for those that have not been able to attend. To register your attendance at the in-person event, please submit your request through Jaggaer or alternatively via contracts@mcga.gov.uk, providing the names of delegates that are representing your company. If we are oversubscribed, we reserve the right to limit delegate numbers from each company.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-054718
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068795-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

60443100 - Air-sea rescue services

79714000 - Surveillance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2029 - 28 Feb 2034 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Maritime & Coastguard Agency
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SOUTHAMPTON
Postcode
SO15 1EG
Postcode Area
Southampton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ32 Southampton
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Southampton
Electoral Ward
Banister & Polygon
Westminster Constituency
Southampton Itchen

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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