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UK5 - Transparency Notice

Submarine Delivery Agency

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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27 Jul 2026 at 13:34

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Submarine Delivery Agency procured continued access to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software and associated technical support for HM Ships and Submarines. The service enables hydrodynamic performance assessments, structural safety analysis, root-cause investigations and engineering assurance. It supports safety certification delegated by the Defence Maritime Regulator, operational decisions and investigations such as the hull damage assessment for HMS Northumberland. The requirement covers an annual Fine Marine CFD licence and advanced technical support delivered for the Naval Authority and Technology Group’s high-powered computer facility. Services are delivered for United Kingdom naval and submarine activities, with the buyer based at MoD Abbey Wood in Bristol. The procurement is classified as defence services under CPV 75220000 and is subject to a defence and security regime.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a direct award to Cadence Design Systems Limited. The award value is £199,166 excluding VAT, or £286,800 including VAT. The contract period runs from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029, with two priced one-year options. The award was justified on technical and defence-security grounds: Cadence was identified as the only supplier of the software already underpinning the capability, and changing systems would require compliance testing, new safety validation and fleet-wide model construction and validation. The planned contract signature date was 18 December 2026. One lot was used. The requirement was evaluated through the direct-award justification rather than a competitive tender, and Cadence Design Systems Limited was selected as supplier.

This procurement shows a specialist defence engineering software requirement where continuity, validated performance and safety assurance are decisive. Suppliers seeking to compete for comparable work would need proven computational fluid dynamics capability for marine applications, including hydrodynamic performance and structural safety analysis for naval ships and submarines. Credibility would also depend on supporting military safety criteria, integrating with high-performance computing facilities, and providing responsive technical expertise for investigations, operational decisions and engineering assurance. Experience of maintaining an established modelling and analysis capability across a fleet would be particularly important, as would the ability to evidence software testing, validation and controlled transition arrangements. The buyer’s use of a direct award indicates that technical uniqueness and defence-security considerations were central to supplier selection.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UK5 - Transparency Notice

Notice Description

The Naval Authority provides Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) assessments for HM Ships and Submarines; this supports the safety certification delegated by the Defence Maritime Regulator (DMR). The CFD analysis helps assess hydrodynamic performance and structural safety, this was used recently to investigate the hull damage on HMS Northumberland which contributed to the MoD Board of Inquiry and the safety assessments of other Type 23 frigates. Cadence Design Systems Limited is the only supplier of this software. This software has been used for over 6 years and underpins current capability to move to an alternative software would require a) it to be compliant with the software test plan, b) be able to deliver on the military safety criteria the MoD uses and c) construction, & validation of a model of every RN Ship in the fleet. This whole transition would take at least 2years to complete and have to run both software side by side until all aspects of the transition were approved. This is unviable and therefore MOD's requirement is to continue to use the CFD software. The resulting contract with Cadence Design Systems Limited, will be for the continued use of the current system, for annual Fine Marine CFD licence and 150 hours per year of advanced technical support. The continued use of CFD is essential for HM Ships and Submarines safety; Hydrodynamic analyses and ongoing defence investigation and assurance work. When Ship or Submarine hydrodynamic assessments are required CFD enables rapid root cause analysis and timely support to capability solutions, operational and safety decisions. CFD is not just a technical tool it is a mission critical capability which underpins the Royal Navy fleet safety, operational readiness, engineering assurance and defence decision making. Without the software, the MoD would face reduced confidence in HM Ships and Submarine safety, slower investigations and increased operational risk.

Procurement Information

The intent is for the contract to be awarded under the Procurement Act 2023 regulations with the justification sought for a Direct Award Contract to Cadence Design Systems Limited. The CFD assessments are performed using the Naval Authority and Technology Group (NATG) high powered computer facility (Cluster). Recently the Cluster has been used to determine the loads on HMS Northumberland that caused the hull to buckle and consequential scrapping of the ship. This work feeds directly into the MoD Board of Inquiry and safety assessment for the other Type 23 frigates. The CFD assessments for HM Ships and Submarines support the safety certification delegated by the Defence Maritime Regulator (DMR).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d447
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070782-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

CPV Codes

75220000 - Defence services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£199,166 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Submarine Delivery Agency
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8JH
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Cadence Design Systems 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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