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Naval Architecture Services

Northern Lighthouse Board

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

07 Sep 2026 at 17:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

07 Sep 2026 at 16:54

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Northern Lighthouse Board intends to procure naval architecture services for the Vessel Replacement Programme, focused on a new SOLAS Class VII civil helicopter support and aids to navigation cargo vessel. The appointed naval architect will develop the vessel’s concept design and a sufficiently mature technical specification for prospective shipbuilders to price the detailed design and construction on a fixed-price basis. The vessel will be UK-registered, with Leith as its chosen port of registry and Oban as its primary operating port. Its design must support operation from ports throughout the UK and Ireland without restricting international operations, with certification suitable for those activities. This is an engineering design services requirement, rather than a shipbuilding contract.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the buyer has announced its intention to procure and has not issued an invitation to tender. The expected route is a single-lot open procedure. Northern Lighthouse Board expects to undertake preliminary market engagement, with questionnaires issued during the week commencing 14 September 2026 and completed responses requested by 25 September 2026. The engagement will inform the specification, procurement route, commercial model, contract terms, delivery model, pricing structures and social value outcomes. A subsequent procurement notice is expected on 2 October 2026. The indicative contract period is 24 December 2026 to 24 December 2031, with extensions potentially continuing to 24 December 2033 or until vessel delivery. Estimated value is £1.9 million excluding VAT, or £2.28 million including VAT.

The planned work will suit established naval architecture and marine engineering consultancies able to design commercial support vessels and translate operational requirements into a concept design and technical specification. Relevant capability includes understanding SOLAS Class VII requirements, vessel certification, aids to navigation operations, helicopter support functions, cargo operations and the constraints of UK and Irish port operations. Suppliers should be able to develop documentation detailed enough for shipbuilders to submit fixed-price tenders for detailed design and construction, and to provide continuing technical support through the vessel replacement programme. Organisations considering this work should be prepared to explain their capability and capacity, preferred delivery and contracting models, pricing approach, key contractual considerations and achievable social value outcomes during the planned market engagement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Naval Architecture Services

Notice Description

NLB requires a Naval Architect to develop the concept design of a new SOLAS Class VII civil helicopter support and aids to navigation service (cargo) vessel. The vessel will be registered in the UK, with its chosen Port of Registry as Leith, but with Oban serving as its primary operating port. However, the design shall enable operation from a range of ports throughout the UK and Ireland and shall not restrict international operations. The vessel shall be designed and certificated accordingly to permit such operations. The appointed Naval Architect shall develop a concept technical specification to a level of maturity that enables prospective shipbuilders to submit fixed-price tenders for the detailed design and construction of the vessel. The initial contract term will likely be 5 years, or until vessel delivery. The contract will have extension options to provision ongoing support to the vessel replacement programme as required by NLB.

Planning Information

NLB intends to undertake preliminary market engagement with organisations that may have the capability and capacity to provide naval architecture services in support of Vessel Replacement Programme (VRP) Pharos. Interested organisations are invited to request a copy of the Market Engagement Questionnaire as soon as possible by emailing procurement@nlb.org.uk. The questionnaire will be issued by email during the week commencing 14 September 2026. The questionnaire seeks market views on areas including supplier capability and capacity, potential contracting and pricing structures, delivery models, key contractual considerations, and achievable social value outcomes. The information gathered will be used to inform NLB's development of the specification, procurement route, commercial model and contractual arrangements. Participation in the preliminary market engagement will not constitute a commitment to participate in any subsequent procurement and will not confer any advantage in a future competition. Completed questionnaires should be returned to procurement@nlb.org.uk no later than Friday 25 September 2026. Please note that NLB reserves the right to extend the preliminary market engagement timetable at its discretion.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f3ef
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084623-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71320000 - Engineering design services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,900,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Oct 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
24 Dec 2026 - 24 Dec 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Northern Lighthouse Board
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH2 3DA
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh North and Leith

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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