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Medical Provision for the British Antarctic Survey

UK Research and Innovation

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

23 Jul 2026 at 11:06

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

07 May 2026 at 14:47

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

19 Feb 2026 at 11:06

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

10 Feb 2026 at 14:49

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

05 Aug 2025 at 15:44

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research and Innovation, for the British Antarctic Survey, procured a comprehensive medical service for employees, visitors, collaborators and contractors working in polar environments. The service covers medical and dental screening before deployment; access to doctors operating in Antarctica; senior medical advice, support and clinical responsibility in the UK; and specialist consultant input for incidents affecting field staff elsewhere. It also includes employing doctors for polar operations, advising on and supplying consumables for Antarctic surgeries, and designing and delivering tailored first-aid training for staff and visitors travelling to polar regions. The requirement primarily supports Antarctica and the Arctic, as well as research vessels and associated aircraft, with possible use at other worldwide locations where the Survey has scientific interests. The procurement category is medical practice and related services, including dental and other health services.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through an open procedure. Two valid bids were received for the single lot, with evaluation weighted 75% to technical quality and 25% to commercial considerations. The contract was awarded to University Hospitals Plymouth on 5 May 2026, following a standstill period ending on 19 May 2026. The contract was signed on 7 July 2026 and runs from 7 July 2026 to 30 May 2030, with optional one-year plus one-year extensions available to a maximum date of 30 May 2032. Its value is £9,000,000 excluding VAT and £10,800,000 including VAT. The tender submission deadline was 9 March 2026 at 11:00, and the evaluation period was due to end on 23 March 2026. The lot was identified as suitable for SMEs.

This award demonstrates sustained demand from UK Research and Innovation for specialist medical support linked to Antarctic and Arctic research operations. Suppliers well placed for a future requirement would need to combine occupational and deployment medical screening, dental screening, remote and polar medicine, clinical governance and access to senior UK-based medical advice. Credible capability would also include recruiting or supplying doctors for challenging field environments, advising on surgical consumables, coordinating specialist consultant support and responding to incidents involving personnel away from established healthcare. Experience designing and delivering first-aid training at both standard and advanced levels is relevant, as is the ability to support employees, visitors, collaborators and contractors across polar travel, research vessels, aircraft and occasional overseas fieldwork. Performance would need to be managed through screening turnaround, training satisfaction and proactive medical advice.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Medical Provision for the British Antarctic Survey

Notice Description

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has a requirement for its employees and for those who travel under its sponsorship to be medically screened and to have access both to doctors in the Antarctic and top-level medical cover advice, support and ultimate responsibility in the UK. The on-going requirement is for the provision of a comprehensive medical service, including dental screening for its employees, visitors, collaborators and contractors working in the Antarctic, Arctic or on research vessels and supporting related aircraft. Similar provisions may be required from time to time at other locations worldwide where BAS has a scientific research interest. The purpose of the MSP is to provide medical screening for employees and visitors and advice in advance of deployment primarily to the Polar regions; employ the doctors that BAS require to cover its Polar operations; advise on and supply the consumables required for our Antarctic surgeries; and to provide access to specialist consultants as required to help facilitate when possible and appropriate for input into medical situations befalling BAS staff undertaking field work in other locations. The MSP is also responsible for design and provision of tailored first aid course for staff and visitors to the polar regions. Currently this takes the form of a course that all deploying staff undertake and a higher-level course for those deploying more remotely or independently.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Optional 1 year + 1 year extension

Planning Information

The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is to assess the market's appetite, concerns and views on the formulation of the requirements. To request the draft specification which provides the full details of the requirement, please contact professionalservices@uksbs.co.uk and mark for the attention of Victoria Clewer with the title CSP25236 - Medical Provision for the British Antarctic Survey for the draft specification which provides the full details of the requirement. If, after reviewing the draft specification, you are interested in this requirement and can provide the services required please email professionalservices@uksbs.co.uk and mark for the attention of Victoria Clewer with the title CSP25236 - Medical Provision for the British Antarctic Survey no later than Tuesday 19th August 2025 16:00 If you can only part deliver the services specified in the draft specification please confirm the elements you can provide by contacting professionalservices@uksbs.co.uk and mark for the attention of Victoria Clewer with the title CSP25236 - Medical Provision for the British Antarctic Survey no later than Tuesday 19th August 2025 16:00. By registering your interest and providing information you will be entering into non-competitive dialogue which will enable the Contracting Authority to develop and assess the market's appetite, concerns and view of the formulation if its requirements. The Contracting Authority may consider the information and responses received as part of the preliminary market consultant to help inform the specification and further decision making in relation to the planning and conduct of the proposed procurement, ensuring all valid options are considered. Any information supplied as part of preliminary market consultation shall not place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process. Please note this is a draft specification and is subject to change.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0581c9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069571-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85120000 - Medical practice and related services

85130000 - Dental practice and related services

85140000 - Miscellaneous health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£9,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£9,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£9,000,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£9,000,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
9 Mar 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
15 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
5 May 20263 months ago
Contract Period
7 Jul 2026 - 30 May 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
2031-02-03

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK Research and Innovation
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Postcode Area
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
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS PLYMOUTH

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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