Planning

Provision of Aerial Surveillance for HMCG

MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Planning

15 Jan 2026 at 16:54

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

12 Sep 2025 at 11:14

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

07 Jul 2025 at 07:39

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

11 Jun 2025 at 16:37

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), located in Southampton, United Kingdom, is planning a public procurement process for the "Provision of Aerial Surveillance for HMCG." This procurement falls under the services industry category and involves surveillance and air-sea rescue services. As part of the procurement process, a preliminary market engagement has been scheduled to conclude by January 30, 2026. The procurement is currently in the Planning stage, with the market engagement notice published on January 15, 2026. The planned contract period will begin on January 1, 2027, and will conclude on December 31, 2031. The procurement method indicates an open approach to solutions that can provide persistent maritime situational awareness during high-risk periods.

This procurement presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for SMEs and VCSEs with capabilities in providing intelligence, search, surveillance, and reconnaissance services. Businesses with innovative technological solutions that can deliver near real-time situational awareness and are adaptable to extended operation periods will find this tender well-suited to their strengths. The engagement seeks to explore market compositions, potential barriers, and cost frameworks, ensuring that businesses can effectively compete and showcase their offerings. Engaging in this tender process could position businesses as valuable partners in national maritime safety and intelligence operations, providing a platform to expand their influence and service scope within the public sector.

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 MCA objectives and those of other government departments. In addition the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) require an Aerial Surveillance service to provide near real time situational awareness in support of specialised SAR operations. Therefore the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is planning to undertake a procurement for this additional Aerial Surveillance service. HMCG will procure for intelligence, search, surveillance and reconnaissance assets that can supply the information required. This service will not require national coverage. Potentially, during a high-risk times, a Coastguard 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

This market engagement aims to gauge potential barriers to entry and eliminate them where possible, determine an appropriate funding envelope and construct the procurement and contract in such a way as to deliver a solution which represents good value for money. Specifically, the MCA would like to understand: a) The composition of the market for aerial search and surveillance services and its appetite to bid for this requirement; b) Views on the Draft Single Statement of User Need (“SSUN"), setting out the MCA’s user requirements, particularly in terms of feasibility and whether any requirements represent barriers to entry; c) Views on the MCA’s route to procurement and contracting, particularly whether there are any concerns around perceived barriers to entry in these areas: and d) A cost envelope for delivering this service. If you wish to particiopate in this consultation and have not previously engaged with the Authority you are required create an account on Jaggaer if you do not already have one. The portal can be accessed using the following link https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/ Once you have accessed the e-procurement portal, please navigate to pqq_710 - Provision of Aerial Surveillance for HMCG - Registration of New Interest, to register an interest. Once registered you will be sent further information. If you have previously answered the Market Questionnaire, information will be sent via the Jaggaer portal and no further action is necessary.

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/003647-2026
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
15 Jan 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2031 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 AND COASTGUARD AGENCY
Contact Name
Jonathan Nicklin
Contact Email
contracts@mcga.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
SOUTHAMPTON
Postcode
SO15 1EG
Post Town
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)

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. 

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