Planning

UKRI-5996 BGS North Sea Late Cenozoic Environments

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Apr 2026 at 09:28

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) is currently in the planning stage of its procurement process for the project titled "UKRI-5996 BGS North Sea Late Cenozoic Environments." This initiative, falling under the services industry category and specifically focusing on offshore drilling services, aims to undertake a 30-day scientific drilling and coring campaign in the southern North Sea off the coasts of the Netherlands and Denmark. The main goal is to explore and gain insights into the Earth's historical climate patterns. The procurement process is still in planning, with key dates including an expression of interest due by 30th June 2026 and future notices planned for 2nd July 2026. The total budget for this project is estimated at €15,000,000, funded by central government public authority.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in offshore drilling services, especially those capable of providing marine coring capabilities and vessels suitable for scientific exploration. Companies focusing on geological surveys, marine research, and environmental analysis will find potential growth avenues by participating in this tender. The procurement is particularly suitable for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), providing an avenue to engage in a high-value European research initiative that could lead to further collaborative opportunities in the scientific and environmental sectors. Interested parties are encouraged to express their interest and prepare for potential collaboration on this impactful scientific expedition.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UKRI-5996 BGS North Sea Late Cenozoic Environments

Notice Description

The British Geological Survey (BGS), acting on behalf of the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD), requires a marine coring capability and suitable vessel to operate offshore southern North Sea, Netherlands or Denmark, for a scientific drilling and coring campaign for a period of 30 days (estimated) between April and May 2027. This scientific coring project seeks to extend our understanding of Earth's dynamics during the last 50 ice ages and the warmer periods between them. The North Sea Basin is an area that was heavily impacted by these ice age cycles as climate fluctuated between fully glacial to warmer-than-present conditions. The continuous sediment accumulation found in this marine environment should be thought of as a 'tape recorder' that contain an almost complete record of glacial-interglacial episodes, providing insight on Europe's past climate, ecology, and large river systems over the last ~3.3 million years. Relatively little is known about how Europe evolved during repeated ice age cycles. In this expedition, we aim to collect geological samples to gain insight into the baseline dynamics and thresholds for depositional and ecosystem regime shifts, as well as biodiversity turnover driven by rapid climate changes. This research will help us better understand the environmental responses to modern-day warming.

Planning Information

Interested parties are invited to express their interest in the upcoming tender opportunity. Please find details of the opportunity here: https://ukri2.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_ContractPage?SearchType=Projects&uid=a1MTm00000AqHDVMA3&searchStr=&sortStr=Recently+Published&page=1&filters=&County=

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068ee5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039684-2026
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

76 - Services related to the oil and gas industry

CPV Codes

76320000 - Offshore drilling services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Apr 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Jul 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2026 - 30 Jun 2027 6-12 months
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
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)
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
Post Town
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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