Planning

Leasing Round 6 (LR6) Digital Aerial Survey (DAS) Supplier - Preliminary Market Engagement

THE CROWN ESTATE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

28 May 2026 at 10:46

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

27 May 2026 at 10:54

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Crown Estate is preparing for a procurement process to identify a Digital Aerial Survey (DAS) supplier to support their Leasing Round 6 Ecological Surveys Programme. This initiative is currently in the planning stage, seeking to engage with the market in a structured way to design this future procurement. The primary focus lies in the industry categories of environmental services, surveying, and technical services, with operations mainly anticipated within the UK. The procurement effort plans to conduct a 24-month offshore digital aerial survey campaign beginning in March 2027, and interested suppliers are invited to express their interest in participating by 5th June 2026.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, especially for companies specialising in map-making, surveying, and environmental services. Firms experienced in offshore services, technical services, and environmental monitoring are ideally positioned to benefit. The planning stage, underscored by the opportunity to engage in tailored virtual sessions, provides a unique chance for businesses to influence the procurement's substance and scope. Suppliers able to deliver advanced data acquisition methods via aerial imagery and video, as well as those equipped to perform sophisticated analysis on ecological data, stand to gain from this long-term project.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Leasing Round 6 (LR6) Digital Aerial Survey (DAS) Supplier - Preliminary Market Engagement

Notice Description

The Crown Estate (TCE) is undertaking preliminary market engagement in advance of a future procurement for a Digital Aerial Survey (DAS) supplier to support the Leasing Round 6 (LR6) Ecological Surveys Programme. The requirement is expected to include: A 24-month offshore digital aerial survey campaign commencing March 2027 Monthly surveys across multiple Project Development Areas (PDAs) (including buffer) Data acquisition via aerial still imagery and/or digital video Identification and analysis of: Ornithology abundance and distribution Marine mammals and other megafauna abundance and distribution Other related services that may be required include: Flight heights acquired through LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) Flight heights acquired through photogrammetry

Planning Information

The Crown Estate intends to undertake a structured programme of preliminary market engagement to inform the design of the forthcoming procurement for a Digital Aerial Survey (DAS) supplier as part of Leasing Round 6. The scope of this engagement will cover technical delivery requirements (including survey methodology, aircraft and data acquisition approaches), commercial arrangements (including pricing models and contract duration), and legal considerations (including liability and third‑party reliance on survey data). Feedback is sought from suppliers with relevant experience and capability in offshore aerial survey and environmental monitoring. Engagement will be conducted through a combination of: A written Market Engagement Questionnaire (MEQ) issued to interested suppliers Optional 1:1 supplier engagement sessions (virtual, via Microsoft Teams) to explore responses in further detail The anticipated engagement period is May to June 2026, with 1:1 sessions expected to take place during this period at mutually agreed times. No in-person events are currently planned. Suppliers wishing to participate should submit an expression of interest by contacting:

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a5f0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050208-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

76 - Services related to the oil and gas industry

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

71354000 - Map-making services

71355000 - Surveying services

71356000 - Technical services

76520000 - Offshore services

90700000 - Environmental services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
5 Jun 20261 day to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
26 Oct 2026 - 30 Oct 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
THE CROWN ESTATE
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
SW1Y 4AH
Post Town
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
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

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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