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Research Vessel Charter - Antarctic

UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

18 Sep 2026 at 11:37

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

18 Sep 2026 at 09:36

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Plymouth procured specialist Antarctic research vessel charter services for the Antarctic Canyon Experiment (ACE), a scientific programme involving two expeditions to the Ross Sea, Antarctica. The requirement covers a vessel with crew, polar icebreaking capability, onboard wet and dry laboratories, hydrographic surveying, seabed mapping, oceanographic and geophysical equipment, sediment sampling, and deployment and recovery of scientific instruments. The vessel will support the installation and later recovery of long-term monitoring infrastructure, including operations at depths of up to 3,500 metres. The work is classified as vessel hire with crew and is delivered in the Ross Sea. The University of Plymouth is the buying organisation, and the selected supplier is Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS), based in Italy.

This procurement has been awarded through a direct award and the process is complete. The University used the single-supplier technical-reasons route because it determined that only RV Laura Bassi could meet the combined vessel, scientific, operational and scheduling requirements, with no reasonable alternative. OGS was selected on 15 September 2026 for EUR 542,000 gross. The contract period runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 November 2027, with a scheduled contract signature by 1 October 2026. A standstill period ends on 29 September 2026. The requirement is above the relevant threshold and was structured as one completed lot. Evaluation was based on the technical justification for a particular vessel rather than a competitive price-and-quality tender. The contract supports access to the Ross Sea for two Antarctic field seasons, in January-February 2027 and January-February 2028.

This requirement indicates demand for highly specialised polar research vessel capability rather than conventional marine charter. A credible future competitor would need a Polar Class 5 icebreaker with Polar Code certification, dynamic positioning and the ability to operate safely in Antarctic waters. It would also need multibeam echo sounders, sub-bottom profilers, ADCP equipment, hydrographic and oceanographic survey systems, and facilities for seabed mapping, sediment coring and sampling. Dedicated wet and dry laboratories, including externally vented fume hoods, are required for scientific preparation. Significant deck space, cargo capacity and deployment infrastructure must support moorings, sediment traps, coring equipment and autonomous vehicles. Experienced technical personnel able to construct, deploy and recover complex instruments are also central to the requirement, alongside reliable access to the Ross Sea during the relevant operating seasons.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Research Vessel Charter - Antarctic

Notice Description

The University of Plymouth requires the provision of specialist Antarctic research vessel charter services for the Antarctic Canyon Experiment (ACE), including vessel, crew, polar icebreaking capability, onboard scientific laboratories, hydrographic surveying, seabed mapping, deployment and recovery of oceanographic and geophysical equipment, sediment sampling, and associated technical support services in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. The contract supports two scientific expeditions for the deployment and subsequent recovery of long-term monitoring infrastructure.

Procurement Information

The below justification set out in Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 applies to this Direct Award; Single Supplier (6) The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract-- (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. The University of Plymouth requires the charter of a specialist Antarctic research vessel to deliver the Antarctic Canyon Experiment (ACE), a European-funded research project involving two complex Antarctic field seasons 12 months apart in the Ross Sea. The project requires the deployment and recovery of scientific instrumentation at depths of up to 3,500 metres, together with seabed mapping, sediment coring, oceanographic surveying, and long-term monitoring activities. The University has identified that only RV Laura Bassi can meet the combined technical, operational and scheduling requirements of the project. The requirement is not for a standard vessel charter but for a fully integrated polar research platform with: Polar Class 5 icebreaker capability and Polar Code certification. Dynamic positioning for precise station keeping during scientific operations. Specialist oceanographic and geophysical systems, including multibeam echo sounders, sub-bottom profilers and ADCP equipment. Dedicated wet and dry laboratory facilities, including externally vented fume hoods required for the safe preparation of scientific reagents. Significant deck space, cargo capacity and deployment infrastructure for moorings, sediment traps, coring equipment and autonomous vehicles. Experienced onboard technical personnel able to support the construction, deployment and recovery of complex scientific equipment. The project also requires access to the Ross Sea in January-February 2027 and again in January-February 2028 to recover equipment deployed during the first expedition. Due to the short Antarctic operating season and the fixed schedules of national Antarctic programmes, availability is a critical technical requirement. R/V Laura Bassi has confirmed availability for both field seasons and already operates within the Ross Sea as part of the Italian National Antarctic Programme. RV Laura Bassi is considered to be the only vessel currently available that can meet the University's combined technical, operational and scheduling requirements. The vessel has the capability to operate safely within the Ross Sea during the required Antarctic field seasons in January-February 2027 and January-February 2028 and can commit to supporting both expeditions. In addition, it provides the required combination of Polar Class 5 icebreaking capability, specialist scientific infrastructure, dedicated laboratory facilities, deployment and recovery equipment, and experienced technical support personnel necessary to deliver the Antarctic Canyon Experiment (ACE). Funding relevant to this notice benefits from European Research Council (ERC) grant funding under Project 101169829 - Antarctic Canyon Experiment (ACE)

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077500
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088597-2026
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

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60651000 - Hire of vessels with crew

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£542,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
15 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 30 Nov 2027 1-2 years
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 PLYMOUTH
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PLYMOUTH, DEVON
Postcode
PL4 8AA
Postcode Area
Plymouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK41 Plymouth
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Plymouth
Electoral Ward
Drake
Westminster Constituency
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale - OGS

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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