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UKRI-6009 BAS HVO uplift in Harwich July 2026 by RRS Sir David Attenborough

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

31 Jul 2026 at 14:54

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

31 Jul 2026 at 14:18

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

23 Jul 2026 at 09:53

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research and Innovation bought hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel for uplift to the RRS Sir David Attenborough, supporting the British Antarctic Survey. The requirement concerns supplying fuel to a research vessel in Harwich, with the work falling within the wider category of petroleum products, fuel and other energy sources. This is a goods procurement rather than a service or construction contract. The buyer is UK Research and Innovation, a central government public authority. The operational setting is maritime fuel supply, involving delivery and uplift to a named vessel rather than general fuel provision across multiple sites. Businesses focused on marine bunkering, vessel refuelling, HVO or other specialist fuel distribution would recognise the requirement as relevant to their activities.

The procurement is complete and was awarded by direct award under the Procurement Act 2023 provisions for goods strictly necessary because of extreme and unavoidable urgency. There was one lot. UK Research and Innovation awarded the contract to Certas Energy UK Limited on 31 July 2026. The award value is £2,316,020 excluding VAT, or £2,779,224 including VAT, and is above the relevant threshold. The contract was signed on 31 July 2026 and runs from 31 July 2026 to 1 August 2026. The award and contract are recorded as active. The procurement was not evaluated through a competitive tender; the stated basis was the statutory urgency justification for making a direct award.

This award shows demand from UK Research and Innovation and the British Antarctic Survey for rapid, specialist HVO fuel supply to a research vessel. A credible future competitor would need dependable access to suitable HVO, robust fuel distribution and marine bunkering capability, and the operational capacity to support vessel uplift in Harwich. Experience coordinating time-critical deliveries, handling fuel safely and meeting the requirements of a central government or scientific customer would strengthen a supplier’s position. The requirement was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, so smaller fuel distributors or marine logistics firms could be relevant where they can demonstrate the necessary supply resilience, compliance and delivery capability. The urgency route also indicates that responsiveness and reliable fulfilment are important commercial attributes.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UKRI-6009 BAS HVO uplift in Harwich July 2026 by RRS Sir David Attenborough

Notice Description

This is a contract award for HVO uplift to the RRS Sir David Attenborough in Harwich July 2026, for the British Antarctic Survey

Procurement Information

Schedule 5, Paragraph 13 and Paragraph 14 of the Procurement Act 2023, the public contract concerns goods strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency, applies to the award of this contract.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d182
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072794-2026
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
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

09 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy

CPV Codes

09000000 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£2,316,020 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£2,316,020 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
31 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
31 Jul 2026 - 1 Aug 2026 30 days
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
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
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Postcode Area
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Certas Energy UK Limited

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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