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UKRI-6395 Microstructure Equipped Underwater Glider

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

22 Sep 2026 at 10:03

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

22 Sep 2026 at 10:00

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) procured one microstructure-equipped underwater glider for scientific research. The requirement is for a specialist marine research vehicle fitted with microstructure measurement equipment, rather than a general vessel or standard laboratory instrument. The glider is classified as a good and is intended for delivery and use in the United Kingdom. UKRI is the central government research organisation buying the equipment, with the requirement associated with its scientific research activities. The scope is a single equipment requirement, covering the glider and the equipment needed for it to operate within UKRI’s research environment. This is relevant to manufacturers and specialist suppliers of underwater gliders, autonomous marine platforms, oceanographic equipment and integrated scientific sensing systems.

The procurement has reached the award stage: Teledyne Instruments Inc. trading as Teledyne Webb Research was selected as supplier for the single lot. The award was made on 22 September 2026 for USD 424,640 gross. The contract period is from 6 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, with contract signature scheduled for 5 October 2026 and the standstill period ending on 2 October 2026. UKRI used a direct award rather than a competitive tender. Its stated rationale is that competition is absent for technical reasons: the new equipment must interface with existing control systems, tools and processes, and this equipment is considered the only one capable of meeting those requirements. The award includes an option allowing alterations to the equipment if requirements change before delivery.

This award demonstrates demand from UKRI for high-specification autonomous underwater gliders equipped for scientific measurement. Suppliers seeking to compete when a comparable requirement returns would need capability in underwater vehicle manufacture or supply, microstructure instrumentation and integration of sensors with established control systems, tools and operational processes. Credibility would depend on showing that the proposed equipment can work within an existing research infrastructure, rather than simply offering an equivalent vehicle in isolation. Relevant businesses include specialist oceanographic equipment manufacturers, autonomous marine technology firms, scientific instrument integrators and suppliers able to support configuration changes before delivery. The requirement is technically specialised and suited to organisations with established engineering capacity, dependable equipment integration and experience supplying research-grade marine systems.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UKRI-6395 Microstructure Equipped Underwater Glider

Notice Description

UKRI is looking to procure an underwater glider with equipped microstructure, for use in scientific research.

Procurement Information

Competition is absent for technical reasoning. The new equipment must interface with existing control systems, tools and processes. This equipment is the only one capable of meeting those requirements.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077713
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089452-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34721000 - Gliders

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£424,640 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
22 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
6 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 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
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON, WILTSHIRE
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Teledyne Instruments Inc. d/b/a Teledyne Webb Research

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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