Planning

Provision of UK Shipping Data

OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Jan 2026 at 07:52

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Office for National Statistics (ONS), as part of the central government of the UK, is in the planning stage of a tender process for the provision of UK Shipping Data. This procurement process is described as a planning notice with the completion of this milestone scheduled for the 6th of February 2026. The ONS, located in Newport, seeks to acquire services within the data services category (CPV: 72300000), which will contribute towards the nation's statistical products related to shipping and trade. The contract period is projected to start on the 1st of April 2026 and end on the 31st of March 2028, with possible extensions until March 2029. The anticipated gross value of the contract is £432,000, with a net amount of £360,000. The main procurement category for this tender is services, and there is a focus on accommodating SMEs.

This tender offers an excellent opportunity for businesses able to provide comprehensive and detailed shipping data services, as it involves the potential of working closely with a world-renowned statistics authority. Companies that can supply data on ship transactions, chartering arrangements, port services, and freight data stand to benefit significantly. Engagement with this tender can support business growth by aligning with ONS’s mission to produce robust statistical analyses that guide national and international policies. The tender process involves an open call for information and engagement, allowing organisations that meet the required capabilities to register their interest and establish themselves as potential partners for ONS's ongoing data needs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of UK Shipping Data

Notice Description

About the Office for National Statistics (ONS) ONS is the UK's largest independent producer of official statistics and is the National Statistical Institute for the UK. Formally, it is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-Ministerial Department established by the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. It is responsible for collecting and publishing statistics related to the economy, population, and society at national, regional and local levels. ONS plays a leading role in national and international good practice in the production of official statistics. Introduction The Office for National Statistics has a requirement for the Provision of UK Shipping Data. This data will be used to publish statistics on the provision of shipping services and UK-based traders, involved in the shipping industry. These aggregated statistics feed into the calculation of Balance of Payments transactions; supply aggregate UK trade in shipping services to Eurostat in accordance with Balance of Payments Regulations; Publish aggregate trade in goods statistics on the import/export of ships; and carry out research and quality assurance work within Government to inform trade policy. The ONS requires the provision of data, preferably monthly but as a minimum quarterly. This should include historic data as well as data for the latest time periods. The data required can be broken into four categories: 1. Sale and Purchase of UK Owned Ships 2. Bareboat Chartering Arrangements where one Party is a UK Entity 3. Services Purchased in UK Ports by Non-UK Ships 4. Sea Freight Data See annex for more detail. The types of organisations that should consider contacting us: Organisations who can provide all the data we require. What can a contract with ONS offer? An opportunity to work with a world class statistics organisation, to create better and more timely statistics to be used by all for the benefit of the public good. There is a possibility for this work to be funded if all requirements are met by the provider. How to register When you have expressed an interest, please submit a return to Ellie.stafford@ons.gov.uk with the following information to allow ONS to have an understanding of what your company can offer. Please include as a minimum: * Organisation Name * Contact details * Brief description of primary activity of organisation * Type of data you can provide and support available Any future tenders will be conducted through ONS's 'DPS Data SaSiE'. If you would like to sign up for this in readiness to receive any future tender packs, please search for the DPS title on the e-tendering portal and 'opt in'. This will take you through to the associated documentation for your organisation to apply. Additional Information This Exercise is NOT a pre-qualification or selection exercise and is NOT part of any pre-qualification or selection process that may apply to any future potential procurement. It is intended to act as an awareness and information gathering exercise offering an opportunity for suppliers to advise the extent to which they potentially can provide some or all the services that ONS may require, in order to help ONS with its future intentions. Annex 1. Sale and Purchase of UK Owned Ships The successful Supplier must provide: * List of ships where registered / legal ownership has transferred between a UK and a non-UK owner. * An indicator as to whether the ship is a new-build or second-hand in the transactions above. * Indicator specifying whether the transaction above is the sale of a UK ship or the purchase of a non-UK ship. * The country of the non-UK counterpart in the transactions above. * Value paid in these transactions - using actual sale/purchase values where available and estimates based on market value otherwise. 2. Bareboat Chartering Arrangements where one Party is a UK Entity The successful Supplier must provide: * List of ships under these chartering arrangements. * The country of the non-UK bareboat charterer the ship was chartered to, if chartered from a UK registered / legal owner, estimated based on a set of clearly defined assumptions if unknown. * The country of the non-UK registered / legal owner the ship was chartered from, if chartered by a UK bareboat charterer, estimated based on a set of clearly defined assumptions if unknown. * The value of the ship under the chartering arrangement using either actual reported values where available or estimates using market values were not available. 3. Services Purchased in UK Ports by Non-UK Ships The successful Supplier must provide: * Port / Harbour Dues on Vessels (including conservancy charges) * Wharfage / Port Dues on Cargo * Passenger Dues * Berthing and Mooring Dues * Stevedoring / Cargo Handling * Pilotage / Towage * Warehousing / Storage Dues * Agency Fees / Commissions * Other Services (e.g., Water, Waste, Security etc.) 4. Sea Freight Data The successful Supplier must provide: * Sea freight revenues earned on all goods imported into the UK by non-UK operated ships (commercial operator). * Sea freight revenues earned on all goods transported around the UK coast by non-UK operated ships (commercial operator). * The country of the non-UK commercial operators earning the freight revenues.

Planning Information

How to register When you have expressed an interest, please submit a return to Ellie.stafford@ons.gov.uk with the following information to allow ONS to have an understanding of what your company can offer. Please include as a minimum: • Organisation Name • Contact details • Brief description of primary activity of organisation • Type of data you can provide and support available Any future tenders will be conducted through ONS's 'DPS Data SaSiE'. If you would like to sign up for this in readiness to receive any future tender packs, please search for the DPS title on the e-tendering portal and 'opt in'. This will take you through to the associated documentation for your organisation to apply. Additional Information This Exercise is NOT a pre-qualification or selection exercise and is NOT part of any pre-qualification or selection process that may apply to any future potential procurement. It is intended to act as an awareness and information gathering exercise offering an opportunity for suppliers to advise the extent to which they potentially can provide some or all the services that ONS may require, in order to help ONS with its future intentions.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-061287
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008281-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

72300000 - Data services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£360,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Jan 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
6 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
commercialteam@ons.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWPORT
Postcode
NP10 8XG
Post Town
Newport
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL54 Monmouthshire and Newport
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Newport
Electoral Ward
Tredegar Park and Marshfield
Westminster Constituency
Newport West and Islwyn

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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Additional Information This Exercise is NOT a pre-qualification or selection exercise and is NOT part of any pre-qualification or selection process that may apply to any future potential procurement. It is intended to act as an awareness and information gathering exercise offering an opportunity for suppliers to advise the extent to which they potentially can provide some or all the services that ONS may require, in order to help ONS with its future intentions. Annex 1. Sale and Purchase of UK Owned Ships The successful Supplier must provide: * List of ships where registered / legal ownership has transferred between a UK and a non-UK owner. * An indicator as to whether the ship is a new-build or second-hand in the transactions above. * Indicator specifying whether the transaction above is the sale of a UK ship or the purchase of a non-UK ship. * The country of the non-UK counterpart in the transactions above. * Value paid in these transactions - using actual sale/purchase values where available and estimates based on market value otherwise. 2. 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