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Provision of Long-Range Optical Fibre Sensing Prototype and Consultancy Support Services

National Oceanography Centre

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

30 Jul 2026 at 16:51

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The National Oceanography Centre procured a long-range optical fibre sensing prototype and associated consultancy support for marine research. The requirement covers specialist technical support, mobilisation, consumables, freight and deployment services for taking in-cable measurements within subsea fibre optic infrastructure in the Shetland Islands. The prototype is intended to collect scientific data from a subsea fibre optic cable and validate measurements from Ocean Bottom Seismometer deployments, supporting research into fibre optic sensing for ocean observation and monitoring. This is primarily a goods requirement involving detection and analysis apparatus (CPV 38430000), combined with specialist consultancy and field deployment services. The buyer is based in Southampton, while delivery and technical activity are centred on the Shetland Islands.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to FOSINA following a direct procedure described as below threshold and without competition. It comprised one lot, with the tender marked complete and the award active. The contract was signed on 20 July 2026 and runs from 20 July 2026 to 31 March 2028. Its value is EUR 52,010 excluding tax, or EUR 62,412 including tax. The recorded outcome confirms that the selected supplier is responsible for the prototype, consultancy support and associated mobilisation, consumables, freight and deployment services. The procedure was conducted under the stated UK legal basis and was not above the applicable threshold. The procurement used direct award rather than an open or competitive tender process.

This procurement indicates demand from the National Oceanography Centre for specialist suppliers able to combine optical fibre sensing technology with marine research support. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need to provide or develop long-range sensing prototypes, support measurements within subsea fibre optic cables, and translate the resulting data into scientifically useful outputs. Practical capability is also important: the requirement involved mobilisation, consumables, freight and deployment, so suppliers would need to coordinate equipment and field operations in a remote island environment. Relevant experience in validating fibre-based measurements against Ocean Bottom Seismometer data, ocean observation, seismology or related subsea monitoring would strengthen a supplier’s position when this buyer next sources comparable work.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Long-Range Optical Fibre Sensing Prototype and Consultancy Support Services

Notice Description

The National Oceanography Centre has awarded a contract to Fosina for the provision of a long-range optical fibre sensing prototype and associated consultancy support. The contract includes specialist technical support, mobilisation activities, consumables, freight and deployment services required to undertake in-cable measurements within a fibre optic cable in the Shetland Islands. The prototype capability will be used to collect scientific data from subsea fibre optic infrastructure and to validate measurements obtained from Ocean Bottom Seismometer (OBS) deployments. The work supports a marine research programme investigating the use of fibre optic sensing technology for ocean observation and monitoring and must be completed within a defined project timeframe aligned to planned research activities.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d81c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072397-2026
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
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

CPV Codes

38430000 - Detection and analysis apparatus

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£52,010 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
20 Jul 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 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
National Oceanography Centre
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SOUTHAMPTON
Postcode
SO14 3ZH
Postcode Area
Southampton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ32 Southampton
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Southampton
Electoral Ward
Bargate
Westminster Constituency
Southampton Itchen

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

FOSINA

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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