Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

VideoRay Defender Subs

Sellafield Ltd

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

18 Sep 2026 at 10:44

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

17 Sep 2026 at 13:50

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Sellafield Limited procured two VideoRay Defender remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) for nuclear-site operations: one with a standard 300-metre depth-rated float and one with a taller, extra-capacity float. The supply also includes shipping cases, a Mission Specialist Workhorse Controller and VideoRay control software. An optional Storm Camera and connecting cable are included in the described requirement. The equipment is intended to clean the walls of an internal transfer bay and recover items from a pond floor, supporting a Ministry of Defence project. Delivery is in the United Kingdom. The procurement is for goods, classified under industrial robots. Each item must meet Quality Grade 03 requirements and be supplied with a Certificate of Conformance. Neutral tethering and a storage reel are excluded from the quoted supply.

The procurement is complete and was awarded on 18 September 2026 to Atlantas Marine. Sellafield Limited used a direct award on the basis of technical reasons and a single supplier. The award value is £194,694 excluding VAT, or £233,632.80 including VAT. The contract period runs from 2 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, with signature scheduled for 2 October 2026. There was one completed lot, assessed as suitable for SMEs. Atlantas Marine is the selected supplier. The buyer’s rationale states that VideoRay is the sole manufacturer, Atlantas Marine holds distribution rights and provides technical support, and existing site tooling, spares and operational experience support continuity. The stated requirement is a one-off purchase that is not intended to be repeated.

This outcome indicates a highly specialised requirement for suppliers able to provide VideoRay Defender ROVs, compatible float systems, control equipment and associated accessories for underwater inspection, cleaning and retrieval in a demanding industrial environment. A credible competitor for comparable work would need manufacturer authorisation or equivalent distribution rights, strong technical support arrangements and the ability to supply equipment with the specified configuration and certification. Relevant experience includes deploying remotely operated vehicles in nuclear or similarly controlled sites, supporting established tooling and maintaining spares for sustained operation. The buyer also values compatibility with equipment already used at Sellafield, continuity of capability and feedback between the distributor and manufacturer. The direct award and stated sole-source position make this a narrow specialist market.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

VideoRay Defender Subs

Notice Description

2 VideoRay Defender subs (one with Standard Float, one with Extra Capacity Float) and a Controller For the supply of the following items: * Quantity one VideoRay Defender sub with the standard 300m depth rated float block and shipping case (73421) * Quantity one VideoRay Defender sub (70844) with the Tall Float Block (72317) longer bolts with caps (73236) and shipping case designed to accommodate the taller Float (73658). * Quantity one Mission Specialist Workhorse Controller (73423) with VideoRay Control software (78624) A neutral tether and storage reel are not included in this quote. Optional Storm Camera * Quantity one Storm Camera (SIP-CAM-BASE) and MSS Connecting cable (SIP-CONN-MSS-0.6) Each delivery complies with Quality Grade 03 and supplied with Certificate of Conformance.

Procurement Information

2 Video Ray Defender subs are needed to clean the walls of a internal transfer bay and to collect items on the pond floor to enable a MoD project to be implemented. VideoRay ROVs have been used on the Sellafield site for over a decade, as a result there has been a range of tooling designed and manufactured specifically for the VideoRay Defender which provides an operational capability for new deployments. To replicate that same capability on another platform would potentially require significant rework to provide a comparable capability. In addition to this, there are a significant level of spares material mastered and held within stores to support sustained operation of the Defender. VideoRay are the sole manufacturer of the equipment. Atlantas Marine have the distribution rights for VideoRay whilst also providing technical support and feedback to and from the Manufacturer. There are no other known suppliers of VideoRay products other than Atlantas Marine. The Video Ray Defender subs are a one odd procurement and they are not intended to be purchased again.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077472
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088539-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

42 - Industrial machinery

CPV Codes

42997300 - Industrial robots

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£194,694 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
18 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
2 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Sellafield Ltd
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WARRINGTON
Postcode
WA3 6GR
Postcode Area
Warrington
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD61 Warrington
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Warrington
Electoral Ward
Birchwood
Westminster Constituency
Warrington North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Atlantas Marine Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...