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Open Framework for Boat Recognised Organisations

Submarine Delivery Agency

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

25 Aug 2026 at 11:58

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

18 Feb 2026 at 10:38

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Submarine Delivery Agency is establishing an open framework of recognised organisations to support the Ministry of Defence Naval Authority’s safety certification of more than 2,500 boats under 24 metres. Services include civil and naval safety-regulation advice, developing MoD boat-safety rules and standards, boat-survey training, technical support, boat surveys and certification, and technical audits. Work may produce technical reports, survey findings, presentations, training and certification on a task-by-task basis. Delivery is across the United Kingdom. The requirement is for specialist maritime safety and certification providers able to advise on military and civil standards, support implementation and development of codes, and maintain recognised-organisation status for naval boats.

This completed below-threshold open competition created an open framework. Two bids were received, including one from an SME, and Mecal Ltd and LLOYD’S REGISTER EMEA were awarded places on 25 August 2026. The awarded framework value is £122,500 gross. The tender estimate was £108,000 excluding VAT (£135,000 gross), described as indicative rather than a spending commitment. The award contract period runs from 25 August 2026 to 31 March 2030, with provision to reopen the framework and extend it by a further four years. The original procurement timetable had an enquiry deadline of 4 March 2026 at 16:00 and a tender deadline of 17 March 2026 at 18:00. Selection required Regime 1B boat-certification evidence and MoD Naval Authority delegation as a Recognised Organisation. Stage 1 scoring gave 45% each to MCA Certifying Authority recognition and MoD Recognised Organisation recognition, and 10% to carbon-reduction measures. Call-offs use further competition, or direct award where only one compliant supplier participates.

This opportunity is most relevant to maritime classification societies, naval boat surveyors, certification authorities and specialist marine engineering or safety consultancies. A credible future entrant would need demonstrable experience certifying Regime 1B military boats, recognition by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency as a Certifying Authority, and delegation from the MoD Naval Authority as a Recognised Organisation. Capability should cover safety regulation, military boat standards, surveys, certification, technical audits, training and clear technical reporting. Suppliers also need the capacity to respond to individual tasking requests with defined deliverables, acceptance criteria and timings, while maintaining evidence that required standards remain current. Familiarity with MoD standard terms, security requirements, conflicts-of-interest declarations and Defence Sourcing Portal processes would support participation. The framework’s open structure indicates a route for qualified new suppliers to join when supplier lists are reopened.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Open Framework for Boat Recognised Organisations

Notice Description

It is the Naval Authority's role to provide safety certification for all MOD Shipping, which includes over 2500 boats less than 24 metres in length. To do this, Naval Authorities develop and maintain safety rules and standards to formally recognise organisations to perform certification activities on their behalf. These recognised organisations, under their similar civil delegation from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, must maintain a current knowledge of all aspects of boat safety and civil rules and regulations. There is an essential need for the Naval Authority to have a commercial arrangement with Recognised Organisations (RO) to provide feedback and experience on certification, implementation of standards, development of codes, tailoring thereof and training etc. The Authority seeks to implement an Open Framework with Ministry of Defence Naval Boat Recognised Organisations. An Open Framework is defined as a scheme of successive frameworks that allows for the periodic reopening of supplier lists under substantially the same terms. This contrasts with traditional 'closed' frameworks where after a single process suppliers are attached to a framework for its full duration. This Open Framework will operate as the main delivery mechanism for the Naval Boat Recognised Organisations, highlighting the qualified suppliers available to perform the services required and allow the opportunity for new entrants to join when the Framework is reopened. It is estimated this Framework will span over four core years, with the option to re-open after the first two years (with options to extend). The estimated value of this framework has been identified as being below threshold of PS135,000 over four years which will cover individual tasks. This figure is indicative, not a commitment to spend, and is subject to amendment prior to the publishing of the Invitation to Participate Notice and associated Documentation. Individual requirements will be sought by using a tasking request form with each task defining the Requirement, Deliverables, Acceptance Criteria and Timing. Deliverables may include, but not necessarily limited to, technical reports, survey findings, presentations, training and certification. Tasking requests against this Open Framework will seek to cover work of the type listed below, but subject to variation. a) Provision of civil and naval Safety Regulation advice. b) Development of MoD Boat Safety Rules and Standards. c) Provision of boat survey training. d) Technical support. e) Boat Survey & Certification; and f) Technical audit. To help industry and MOD understand availability within the market to meet this requirement, MOD has outlined a set of applicable standards to be met enabling acceptance on this Open Framework. Participants shall be required to provide evidence in support for agreement by the Naval Authority. The Authority has the right to request this evidence at any time in the duration of the Open Framework Agreement to ensure Standards are maintained.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: There is the potentional to extend to Open Framework for a further 4 years, should the Authority wish to enact this and if this should comply with the PA23 regulations.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0656c7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080787-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79132000 - Certification services

79132100 - Electronic signature certification services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£108,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£108,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£122,500 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Aug 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
17 Mar 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
25 Aug 20262 days ago
Contract Period
25 Aug 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Submarine Delivery Agency
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8JH
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

LLOYD'S REGISTER EMEA

Mecal Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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