Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

SS Richard Montgomery Mast Reduction Project

Department for Transport

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

Implementation

19 Aug 2026 at 14:57

Award Notice
AwardUpdate

05 Aug 2026 at 13:04

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
AwardUpdate

05 Aug 2026 at 10:37

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

13 May 2026 at 12:28

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

26 Mar 2026 at 14:32

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

07 Nov 2025 at 10:50

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Transport procured marine salvage and construction works to reduce the masts of the protected wreck SS Richard Montgomery in the Thames Estuary. The requirement covers developing a detailed methodology and delivery plan, completing outstanding technical surveys where needed, and supplying the vessels, plant, equipment and personnel for the work. The appointed contractor is responsible for safely cutting, lifting and disposing of, or repurposing, the mast structures, together with environmental protection, health and safety, unexploded ordnance and potentially unexploded ordnance management, final site clearance and demobilisation. DfT and its specialist advisers retain responsibility for planning, assurance, project management, preparatory surveys, design assurance and permit applications. The work is classified as salvage and refloating, vessel salvage, marine construction, marine survey, anchor handling and engineering support services.

This completed procurement used a two-stage competitive flexible procedure: a participation stage followed by tendering for shortlisted suppliers. There was one lot, evaluated on technical quality at 70%, price at 20% and social value at 10%. Three valid final tenders were received. Resolve Salvage & Fire (Europe) Ltd was awarded the contract on 18 March 2026 for £9.5 million including gross value, against an estimated lot value of £10 million. The contract was signed on 7 May 2026 and runs from 7 May 2026 to 31 March 2027, with a possible extension to 31 March 2028. The award record gives a contract period from 13 April 2026 to 12 March 2027, extendable to 12 March 2028. Extensions or variations may address weather, site conditions, unexploded ordnance or vessel condition.

This award demonstrates demand for specialist marine salvage capability on a protected wreck in the Thames Estuary, involving complex offshore mobilisation and controlled removal of three derricks. A credible future supplier would need to integrate marine engineering, salvage operations, vessel and anchor-handling support, marine surveying, lifting and cutting, disposal or delivery to port, and engineering assurance. It would also need demonstrable arrangements for unexploded ordnance and potentially unexploded ordnance management, environmental protection, health and safety, technical planning and site clearance. The requirement is suited to organisations able to provide substantial vessels, plant, equipment and skilled personnel as a coordinated delivery team. Performance is measured through mobilisation, removal of all three derricks, and disposal or delivery, so suppliers would need clear methods for managing safety-critical milestones and completion evidence.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

SS Richard Montgomery Mast Reduction Project

Notice Description

The Department for Transport ("DfT") intends to procure a supplier to deliver mast reduction works (cutting and removal) on the SS Richard Montgomery ("SSRM"), a protected wreck located in the Thames Estuary. The contract will cover all associated works necessary to deliver mast reduction and disposal in a safe, controlled, and environmentally responsible manner. The supplier will be expected to provide a full range of activities and resources necessary for the planning and execution of mast reduction on the SSRM. This is likely to encompass: * Development of a detailed methodology and plan for mast reduction. * Completion of any outstanding technical surveys (for example, geotechnical / UXO- related) required to inform safe delivery of the works. * Provision of all vessels, plant, equipment, and personnel required. * Safe cutting, lifting, and disposal (or repurposing) of the mast structures. * Effective implementation of environmental protections, health and safety measures, and UXO / pUXO management procedures. * Final clearance and demobilisation of the site. Certain activities will fall outside the scope of the contract, including those that will be undertaken by DfT or its specialist advisors in the planning, assurance, and management of the project (for example, preparatory surveys, design assurance, permit applications). A more detailed description of the intended scope of works is provided within the Request to Participate ("RTP") document to support suppliers' understanding of the requirement. A full statement of requirements, setting out the technical, operational and safety aspects of the works, will be provided as part of the tender documents during the tendering stage

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: DfT reserves the right to vary the contract in accordance with Schedule 8, Paragraph 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 as a result of a materialisation of a known risk (including adverse weather, site conditions (including the location of unexploded ordinance), the condition of the vessel, and such other known risks).

Renewal: DfT reserves the right to extend the contract in accordance with Schedule 8, Paragraph 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 as a result of a materialisation of a known risk (including adverse weather, site conditions (including the location of unexploded ordinance), the condition of the vessel, and such other known risks).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05dc7e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079082-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

66 - Financial and insurance services

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

45244000 - Marine construction works

63725000 - Salvage and refloating services

63725100 - Vessel-salvaging services

63726800 - Research vessel services

63726900 - Anchor handling services

66519000 - Engineering, auxiliary, average, loss, actuarial and salvage insurance services

66519700 - Salvage administration services

71336000 - Engineering support services

71354500 - Marine survey services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£10,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£10,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£9,500,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£9,500,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Aug 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
21 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
18 Mar 20265 months ago
Contract Period
7 May 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Transport
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DR
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLJ41 Medway
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
Vincent Square
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Resolve Salvage & Fire (Europe) Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...