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Provision of Lead for Fixed Ballast, RRS Sir David Attenborough

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

ContractTermination

20 Oct 2026 at 15:03

UK11 - Contract Termination Notice
Award

17 Dec 2025 at 12:07

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

20 Nov 2025 at 09:26

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

22 Oct 2025 at 16:31

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) bought 477 tonnes of lead ballast for the research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough, an ice-class vessel used for polar research. The lead was to be supplied in blocks that could be handled by hand and installed in a purpose-designed space in the ship’s aft ballast tank, to counter the vessel’s bow-heavy weight distribution. The ballast also needed protection to limit noise and vibration travelling through the hull, which could disrupt acoustic equipment. This is a specialist marine materials supply requirement, rather than a general lead supply: suppliers need to meet the handling, installation-space and noise and vibration protection requirements. Delivery was specified in the United Kingdom.

The procurement is complete, and UKRI selected Calder Industrial Materials Ltd following an open procedure. The award was made on 18 November 2025, for £1,933,519 excluding VAT (£2,320,222.80 including VAT). The contract was signed on 3 December 2025 and ran from 4 December 2025 to 30 September 2026. There was one lot, with an estimated value of £2 million excluding VAT. Bids were assessed on price, weighted at 80%, and technical and quality factors, weighted at 20%. One bid was received, from an SME. The contract is recorded as terminated; its implementation end date was 30 September 2026, and the termination rationale is classified as contract completed.

This award shows UKRI’s demand for substantial, purpose-specific ballast for a polar research vessel: the lead had to be formed into hand-manageable blocks for a defined space in the aft tank, with protection against noise and vibration that could affect onboard acoustic equipment. Suppliers seeking to compete for a comparable requirement would need credible capacity to source and supply a large quantity of lead, control its form and handling characteristics, and deliver material suited to a specialist marine installation. Technical compliance and quality matter, but price carried the greater weight in evaluation. The single bid came from an SME, indicating that a supplier of this scale was able to compete without the award being restricted to a large business. Experience with vessel ballast and noise-isolation requirements would support a strong technical offer.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Lead for Fixed Ballast, RRS Sir David Attenborough

Notice Description

RRS Sir David Attenborough is an Ice class research ship that operates in the polar regions for UKRI research activities. The ship is very heavy towards the bow due to the ice strengthening. To correct the Ballast the ship requires 477 tonnes of lead ballast in the aft of the ship. The lead is to be inserted in man handleable blocks into a specially designed void space within the aft peak ballast tank. The lead requires to be protected to prevent noise and vibration transmitting through the hull that would interfere with the acoustic equipment and create vibration.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d1f0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099094-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK11 - Contract Termination Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

14 - Mining, basic metals and related products

CPV Codes

14712000 - Lead

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£1,933,519 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,933,519 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Oct 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
17 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
18 Nov 202511 months ago
Contract Period
4 Dec 2025 - 30 Sep 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK RESEARCH & 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, WILTSHIRE
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

CALDER INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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