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Antarctic expedition logistics and operational support services

University of Exeter

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

03 Sep 2026 at 16:00

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

03 Sep 2026 at 15:55

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Exeter procured logistics and operational support for an Antarctic expedition focused on a research project. The requirement covers flights into and out of Antarctica, freight for scientific equipment, board and lodging for the expedition, and associated services. The work is delivered in Antarctica and falls within supporting and auxiliary transport and travel services. The buyer is the University of Exeter, a UK public authority based in Exeter. The requirement is a single service package, covering the operational arrangements needed to move people and scientific equipment to the expedition location and support them with accommodation and related logistics during the expedition.

The procurement is complete and a supplier has been selected. The University of Exeter used a direct award under the single-supplier technical-reasons rationale, because Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions LLC offers exclusive access, logistics and fuel in the particular Antarctic region that is the focus of the research project. The award date was 3 September 2026. The selected supplier is Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions LLC, with an awarded value of £375,000 gross. The contract period is 21 September 2026 to 31 January 2027. The award was above the relevant threshold. The requirement was one lot, marked as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, although the selected supplier is recorded as a large organisation.

This procurement indicates demand for a supplier able to support a research expedition in a remote Antarctic operating environment. A credible future competitor would need to arrange flights to and from Antarctica, transport scientific equipment, provide board and lodging for the expedition, and coordinate associated operational logistics. The award rationale shows that access to the specific Antarctic region, together with established logistics and fuel capability there, was central to supplier selection. Businesses would therefore need more than general travel or freight experience: they would need dependable polar access, expedition-support capability and the operational capacity to manage transport, accommodation, equipment freight and fuel-related arrangements as one service.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Antarctic expedition logistics and operational support services

Notice Description

Provision of logistics and operational support services for an Antarctic expedition, including: Flights in and out of Antarctica, scientific equipment freight, board and lodgings for the duration of the expedition and other associated services.

Procurement Information

Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions is a commercial operator in Antarctica offering exclusive access, logistics and fuel to a particular region in Antarctica, which is the focus of a research project.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f193
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083596-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

CPV Codes

63000000 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£375,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
21 Sep 2026 - 31 Jan 2027 1-6 months
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
University of Exeter
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EXETER
Postcode
EX4 4QJ
Postcode Area
Exeter
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Exeter
Electoral Ward
Duryard and St James
Westminster Constituency
Exeter

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions LLC

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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