Supply of (HVO) fuel to RRS Discovery August 2026

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            "name": "National Oceanography Centre",
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                "locality": "Southampton",
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            "id": "GB-COH-07555993",
            "name": "STANDARD FUEL OILS LIMITED",
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                "id": "07555993"
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                "locality": "Liverpool",
                "postalCode": "L33 7XS",
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            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "info@standardfueloils.co.uk"
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                "url": "http://standardfueloils.co.uk",
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    "buyer": {
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        "name": "National Oceanography Centre"
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    "tender": {
        "id": "2026PRNOC-1230",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Supply of (HVO) fuel to RRS Discovery August 2026",
        "description": "Supply of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel to RRS Discovery (IMO No. 9588029), berthed at Southampton, UK. Estimated Quantity required: 210,000 litres. The quantity is an estimate; the final invoiced quantity will be confirmed by the Bunker Delivery Note and the actual density at the point of delivery. Delivery: By road tanker wagon (RTW), to be completed by 16th August 2026. Fuel must comply with the EN 15940 standard and must be derived from used cooking oil (UCO) feedstock only, with no palm oil, palm oil sludge, POME, or animal fats. Sulphur content must comply with MARPOL Annex VI and the applicable MCA requirements, with a maximum sulphur content of less than 5 mg/kg (5 ppm). Fuel must have a flash point of not less than 60 degrees Celsius, in line with SOLAS. The supplier must provide, at the time of bunkering, a copy of the fuel specification, fuel samples, and a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to the Chief Engineer. A Bunker Delivery Note (BDN) must be provided in the MARPOL Annex VI format, stating quantity in metric tonnes, carrying the supplier's signed declaration that the fuel meets the fuel quality requirements of MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 18. The following sustainability documentation is required: proof of sustainability of the biofuel component, certified under either ISCC or RFAS Heat-Power-Marine (RSB is not required), a biofuel delivery statement, and the greenhouse gas emissions data (carbon intensity or emission factor) for the fuel.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "HVO fuel is a standardised commodity product defined by EN 15940, a published European technical standard for paraffinic diesel fuels. The specification for this requirement is set entirely by that market standard and by regulatory compliance obligations (MARPOL Annex VI and MCA sulphur content requirements), rather than by any buyer preference or bespoke requirement. Any supplier able to deliver EN 15940-compliant HVO with the required sustainability certification (ISCC or RFAS Heat-Power-Marine) is capable of fulfilling the contract, and the product itself is not meaningfully differentiable between compliant suppliers. The requirement was competed through a competitive quote exercise conducted among multiple suppliers, with award made on the basis of best price received. The fuel is required for the operational bunkering of RRS Discovery at Southampton ahead of a scheduled departure, making this a time-critical requirement against a fixed delivery date of 17 July 2026. For these reasons, the procurement qualifies for direct award under the commodities exemption: the goods are traded on a commodity market, the specification is determined by an established market standard, and the authority has nonetheless conducted a competitive process to secure best value.",
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        "documents": [
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                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
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                "description": "Not published"
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        "riskDetails": "Price volatility: HVO is a commodity fuel subject to market price fluctuation. Although a firm fixed price has been agreed at the point of quotation, wider market movements could affect supplier willingness to honour pricing if there is a material delay between award and delivery. Delivery logistics: Delivery is by road tanker wagon (RTW) to a working port. Risks include road transport delays, port access restrictions, and vehicle availability at short notice, any of which could jeopardise delivery against the required date of 16th August 2026. Quantity variance: The quantity delivered may differ from the quantity ordered due to the operational fuelling process and density variance at the point of delivery. The final invoiced quantity will be confirmed by the Bunker Delivery Note, and the purchase order value may require amendment to reflect the actual delivered volume. Specification non-compliance: There is a risk that fuel delivered does not meet the EN 15940 standard, the sustainability certification requirements (ISCC or RFAS Heat-Power-Marine), or the sulphur content threshold on arrival. This would require rejection of the delivery and sourcing from an alternative supplier, with potential impact on vessel departure. Documentation failure: The requirement for sustainability certification, the Safety Data Sheet, fuel samples, the Bunker Delivery Note with the MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 18 declaration, and greenhouse gas emissions data creates a risk that incomplete documentation is provided at the time of bunkering, which could affect regulatory compliance and internal reporting obligations under the Procurement Act 2023.",
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    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "pending",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 349314,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
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            "contractPeriod": {
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                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
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                    "datePublished": "2026-07-31T15:03:56+01:00",
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                    "dueDate": "2026-08-14T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
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