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Provision of Autonomous Underwater Glider Platforms

National Oceanography Centre

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

28 Mar 2026 at 09:35

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

26 Feb 2026 at 15:08

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

24 Feb 2026 at 14:51

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The National Oceanography Centre has successfully awarded a contract for the provision of autonomous underwater glider platforms, reinforcing its capacity for oceanographic research and operational activities. The contract entails the delivery of buoyancy-driven underwater gliders, alongside requisite scientific payloads and ancillary equipment, all intended for deep-water and shallow-water operations. Based in Southampton, United Kingdom, the National Oceanography Centre ensures that these new assets integrate seamlessly with their current operational and data handling infrastructure. This procurement, classified under the industry category of unmanned underwater vehicles (CPV code 35512400), was executed through a direct award process, leveraging Schedule 5, paragraph 7 of the Procurement Act 2023. Key contractual dates include the start of the contract on 31 March 2026 and its completion by 30 March 2028, with the contract having been signed on 25 March 2026.

This procurement process provides significant opportunities for suppliers specialising in advanced oceanographic technology and underwater robotics, particularly those capable of delivering customised and integrated solutions. Businesses that are well-suited to compete in such tenders typically possess strong technical expertise in unmanned underwater vehicle development and can offer compatible systems that ensure ease of integration with existing infrastructures. The direct award methodology was chosen to maintain continuity and operational efficiency, thereby offering minimal disruptions to the ongoing research and operational objectives of the centre. Companies looking to engage with public sector clients in this specialised field could see substantial business growth by ensuring they have the capability to deliver innovative technology that aligns with the precise needs of such institutions.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Autonomous Underwater Glider Platforms

Notice Description

The National Oceanography Centre has awarded a contract for the provision of autonomous underwater glider platforms to support oceanographic research and operational activities. The contract covers the supply of fully configured buoyancy-driven underwater gliders, together with associated scientific payloads, ancillary equipment, delivery, and acceptance arrangements. The platforms will be used to support both deep-water and shallow-water operations and are intended to integrate with the National Oceanography Centre's existing operational and data handling infrastructure.

Procurement Information

Additional or repeat goods, services or works - extension or partial replacement This direct award is made in reliance on Schedule 5, paragraph 7 of the Procurement Act 2023. The proposed contract concerns the supply of goods by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, and partial replacement of, existing autonomous underwater glider platforms currently operated by the National Oceanography Centre. The existing platforms are integrated into established operational, command and control, data handling, maintenance, and training arrangements. A change of supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods that are different from, and incompatible with, the existing platforms and supporting infrastructure. This incompatibility would require significant changes to operational systems, software, data processing workflows, spares, tooling, and staff training. The resulting differences would give rise to disproportionate technical difficulties in operation and maintenance, including increased operational risk, loss of continuity in research capability, and additional cost and time to implement and validate alternative systems. These impacts would be beyond what could reasonably be justified for the scope and value of this requirement. The direct award is therefore necessary to ensure continuity of operations, compatibility with existing systems, and the effective delivery of NOC's research and operational objectives, in accordance with the conditions set out in Schedule 5, paragraph 7.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065b32
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028793-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

CPV Codes

35512400 - Unmanned underwater vehicles

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,005,848 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,005,848 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Mar 20265 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
26 Feb 20266 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 30 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
National Oceanography Centre
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SOUTHAMPTON
Postcode
SO14 3ZH
Postcode Area
Southampton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ32 Southampton
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Southampton
Electoral Ward
Bargate
Westminster Constituency
Southampton Itchen

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Teledyne Instruments Inc. d/b/a Teledyne Webb Research

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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