Award

UKRI-5138 Certification and Modification of USV

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

21 Oct 2025 at 09:07

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

13 Aug 2025 at 14:39

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process led by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), headquartered in Swindon, Wiltshire, involves the project titled "UKRI-5138 Certification and Modification of USV". It focuses on modifications and certification services for an uncrewed surface vessel. This initiative falls under the services category, specifically involving vessel repair services, and is executed through a direct award procurement method due to the intellectual property rights held by the supplier. The contract was finalised with Exail, a large supplier in France. The procurement process, starting in August 2025, is now in the award stage, with a standstill period set to end on 30th October 2025. The service delivery period is scheduled from 3rd November 2025 to 28th February 2026, with the potential for two one-month extensions, located primarily in the UK.

This tender offers a unique business growth opportunity for companies specialising in maritime technology and vessel certification services. The direct award nature of the contract illustrates significant potential for partnerships where intellectual property is a decisive factor, making it especially suitable for large organisations with proprietary technological capabilities similar to Exail. The focus on service provision in vessel modifications appeals to businesses engaged in niche maritime repair and certification processes, fostering collaboration and expansion within high-specialisation markets.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UKRI-5138 Certification and Modification of USV

Notice Description

Modifications to an uncrewed surface vessel and subsequent certification. This is a direct award due to intellectual property rights in line with schedule 5 of the Procurement Act.

Procurement Information

Competition absent due to technical reasoning. Supplier also owns the IPR to the platforms architecture.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05873d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066977-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50241100 - Vessel repair services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£161,369 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Aug 20256 months ago
Contract Period
3 Nov 2025 - 28 Feb 2026 1-6 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
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)
Contact Name
Commercial
Contact Email
nercprocurement@ukri.org
Contact Phone
01793 442000

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

EXAIL

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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