Award

UKRI-4855 North Sea Late Cenozoic Environments

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

03 Nov 2025 at 14:41

TenderUpdate

22 Aug 2025 at 10:07

Tender

06 Aug 2025 at 10:56

Summary of the contracting process

The contract titled "UKRI-4855 North Sea Late Cenozoic Environments" was conducted by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), a central government public authority based in Swindon, Wiltshire, UK. This procurement sought a marine coring capability and suitable vessel for a scientific drilling and coring campaign in the southern North Sea, with delivery expected in the Netherlands or Denmark between June and September 2026. The process has progressed to the Award stage as of 3rd November 2025, following an open procurement method. The contract has been awarded to Fugro UK Limited, reflecting a comprehensive approach to recovering core samples from depths of up to 1200 meters below the seabed. The contract is valued at approximately 14.88 million EUR, aligning with service provisions above the procurement threshold.

This initiative opens avenues for business growth, particularly in the marine engineering and drilling sectors. Companies specialising in offshore drilling services, with the necessary technical capacity and personnel to provide a full operational spread, can leverage such opportunities to solidify their foothold within the niche market of geoscientific research support services. The project also underscores the need for businesses adept in handling intricate scientific requirements under challenging offshore conditions, thereby offering strategic expansion possibilities for large maritime service firms and those equipped with specialised drilling rigs.

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Notice Title

UKRI-4855 North Sea Late Cenozoic Environments

Notice Description

The British Geological Survey (BGS), acting on behalf of the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD), requires a marine coring capability and suitable vessel to operate offshore southern North Sea, Netherlands or Denmark, for a scientific drilling and coring campaign for a period of 30 days (estimated) between June and September 2026 This scientific coring project seeks to extend our understanding of Earth's dynamics during the last 50 ice ages and the warmer periods between them. The North Sea Basin is an area that was heavily impacted by these ice age cycles as climate fluctuated between fully glacial to warmer-than-present conditions. The continuous sediment accumulation found in this marine environment should be thought of as a 'tape recorder' that contain an almost complete record of glacial-interglacial episodes, providing insight on Europe's past climate, ecology, and large river systems over the last ~3.3 million years. Relatively little is known about how Europe evolved during repeated ice age cycles. In this expedition, we aim to collect geological samples to gain insight into the baseline dynamics and thresholds for depositional and ecosystem regime shifts, as well as biodiversity turnover driven by rapid climate changes. This research will help us better understand the environmental responses to modern-day warming. The Contractor must be able to supply the full operational spread including a drill rig, the vessel, and all personnel required to operate the spread. The drilling platform must be capable of recovering core to at least 1200m below seafloor in shallow water depths (28m or 60m). UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice: 2025/S 000-014119

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-058255
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070507-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award 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

76 - Services related to the oil and gas industry


CPV Codes

76320000 - Offshore drilling services

76340000 - Core drilling

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£14,883,062 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Nov 20253 months ago
Submission Deadline
12 Sep 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Nov 20253 months ago
Contract Period
1 Dec 2025 - 30 Sep 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)
Contact Name
Kate Richardson
Contact Email
nercprocurement@ukri.org
Contact Phone
+44 1793442000

Buyer Location

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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

FUGRO

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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