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DfI TRAM - Supply and Delivery of Spare and Replacement Parts and Specialist Engineering Services for Voith Schneider Propulsion Systems

Department for Infrastructure

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

08 Sep 2026 at 12:00

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

20 Jul 2026 at 15:18

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

19 Jul 2026 at 10:22

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Infrastructure is responsible for operating the Strangford Lough Ferry Service using two large passenger vessels, MV Portaferry II and MV Strangford II. The procurement covered the supply and delivery of spare and replacement parts, support, and specialist engineering services for the vessels’ Voith Schneider propulsion systems. The work supports annual machinery inspections by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and compliance with the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, helping the ferry service meet the requirements for passenger ship safety certification and lawful operation. This is a specialist marine engineering and vessel-maintenance requirement, combining equipment supply with technical support and inspection-related services. Delivery and work relate to the Strangford Lough Ferry Service in Northern Ireland.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded and signed. The Department used a direct award because it determined that technical reasons meant only Voith Turbo Limited could supply the required specialist parts and services, with no reasonable alternatives. Voith Turbo Limited was awarded the single lot. The award was made on 19 July 2026 for £702,000 excluding VAT, or £842,400 including VAT. The award period runs from 31 July 2026 to 30 July 2029. The contract was signed on 4 September 2026 and is active from 7 September 2026 to 6 September 2029. The procurement is for goods, with engineering and inspection services also included, and is above the relevant threshold.

This requirement demonstrates demand for suppliers with manufacturer-level expertise in Voith Schneider propulsion systems used on large passenger vessels. A credible competitor for any future requirement would need to supply genuine or technically suitable spare and replacement parts, provide specialist engineering support, and understand planned maintenance for marine propulsion equipment. Experience of supporting vessels subject to Maritime and Coastguard Agency inspection and passenger ship safety certification would be directly relevant. Suppliers would also need the technical capacity to help maintain compliance with manufacturer maintenance schedules and support continued ferry operations. The procurement indicates that the buyer values a single specialist provider able to combine parts supply, technical knowledge and responsive engineering support for two operational passenger vessels.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

DfI TRAM - Supply and Delivery of Spare and Replacement Parts and Specialist Engineering Services for Voith Schneider Propulsion Systems

Notice Description

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI), Public Transport Operations, is directly responsible for the operation of Strangford Lough Ferry Service utilising two large passenger vessels: MV Portaferry II and MV Strangford II. Both vessels are owned by the Department and must undergo an annual inspection by Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) prior to the issuing of a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (PSSC) - required for the ferry service to be legally operated. Part of this inspection focuses on the vessel machinery and compliance with manufacturer maintenance schedule. It is the Department's intention to award a 3-year contract for the supply of spare and replacement parts (including the provision of support) for the Voith Propulsion Systems in the vessels at a total cost of up to PS702k.

Procurement Information

Section 41 and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 provides justification of a Direct Award when the following conditions are met in relation to the public contract - (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. Both vessels must undergo an annual inspection by Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) prior to the issuing of a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (PSSC) - required for the ferry service to be legally operated. Part of this inspection focuses on the vessel machinery and compliance with manufacturer maintenance schedule. Due to the specialist parts and services required for the maintenance of Voith Propulsion Systems in the vessel, Voith Turbo Limited are the only Supplier to ensure the vessels meet requirements necessary to ensure continued passenger ship operation in accordance with legislation as set by MCA.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ce57
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084822-2026
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
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

34520000 - Boats

71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£702,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£702,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20264 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
7 Sep 2026 - 6 Sep 2029 3-4 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
Department for Infrastructure
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT7 2JA
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Voith Turbo Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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