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Natural England Dive Unit: Provision of dive vessel for Isles of Scilly kelp survey 2027

Natural England

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

27 Aug 2026 at 07:42

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Natural England is procuring a crewed dive vessel to support scientific diving operations for a kelp forest survey. The work will examine kelp forest communities within the Isles of Scilly Complex Special Area of Conservation. The requirement is for a suitably coded vessel and crew capable of supporting the survey team’s diving activities at sea. This is a vessel-hire service with crew, rather than a contract to carry out the ecological survey itself. Delivery is in the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom. The buying organisation is Natural England, a central government public authority. Businesses should therefore be involved in marine vessel hire, commercial diving support or offshore survey logistics, with access to an appropriately coded vessel and crew for operations around the Isles of Scilly.

The process has reached tender: Natural England invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. There is one lot, and the quotation must meet the requirements in the Request for Quotation. Responses must be sent by email by 12 noon on 18 September 2026. The contract period runs from 15 June to 31 July 2027, with the vessel required for eight survey days during that period. The estimated value is £18,000 excluding VAT, or £21,600 including VAT. Natural England has reserved an option for additional purchases. The lot is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The award criteria are set out in full in the Request for Quotation, which also contains the detailed technical and commercial requirements.

This opportunity suits marine operators that hire sea-going vessels with crew and can support scientific diving operations. Suppliers need to provide a suitably coded vessel and crew for work associated with a kelp survey in a protected marine area. Relevant strengths include experience operating vessels safely around the Isles of Scilly, supporting dive teams, and providing reliable offshore logistics for scheduled survey activity. The requirement is limited to vessel and crew provision, so it is most relevant to businesses with an existing vessel operation rather than ecological consultancies seeking to deliver the survey findings. Small and medium-sized enterprises are explicitly considered suitable. The attached Request for Quotation sets the detailed vessel, crew, technical, operational and commercial requirements against which suppliers will be assessed.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Natural England Dive Unit: Provision of dive vessel for Isles of Scilly kelp survey 2027

Notice Description

Natural England plan to undertake scientific dive surveys of kelp forest communities within the Isles of Scilly Complex Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in summer 2027. This tender relates solely to the provision of a suitably coded vessel and crew to support the scientific diving operations associated with this project.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: Vessel required for 8 survey days during available contract period

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ed14
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081554-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60651100 - Hire of sea-going vessels with crew

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£18,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£18,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
18 Sep 20261 day to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
15 Jun 2027 - 31 Jul 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Natural England
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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