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Supply of MGO Fuel to the RRS Discovery - Halifax Oct 2026

National Oceanography Centre

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

22 Sep 2026 at 16:01

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

22 Sep 2026 at 15:56

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The National Oceanography Centre procured marine gas oil (MGO) for its research vessel RRS Discovery. The requirement covers delivery of approximately 230 metric tonnes to the vessel at the Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, by bunker barge or road tanker. The fuel must meet ISO 8217:2024/2017 grade DMA, with sulphur content no higher than 0.10% by mass for the North American Emission Control Area, a flash point of at least 60°C, and suitable cold-flow performance. Water, ash and sediment must also comply with the applicable standard. The supply includes representative samples and fuel-quality documentation, including a Certificate of Analysis, Safety Data Sheet and compliant Bunker Delivery Note. This is a goods requirement for marine fuel bunkering at an overseas commercial port.

This completed procurement used a direct award route under the commodity provisions of the Procurement Act 2023, following a competitive quotation exercise among suppliers able to deliver at Halifax. The requirement was evaluated on the basis of the Most Advantageous Tender using a common specification and quantity, with a firm fixed price secured at quotation. The contract was awarded to STANDARD FUEL OILS LIMITED on 22 September 2026 for £390,000 gross. The contract period runs from 2 October 2026 to 9 October 2026, with delivery required on 4 October 2026 ahead of the vessel’s departure. A standstill period ends on 1 October 2026, and contract signature is scheduled for 2 October 2026. One completed lot was awarded, with the supplier required to hold the relevant local fuel-supplier registration.

This award demonstrates demand from the National Oceanography Centre for compliant marine distillate fuel supplied directly to a research vessel at an overseas port. Suppliers well placed for similar work would need access to MGO stock and reliable barge or road-tanker delivery capacity at Halifax, together with the ability to coordinate berth access, vessel schedules, agents and port operations. Credibility depends on consistent compliance with ISO 8217 grade DMA, MARPOL Annex VI sulphur controls and SOLAS flash-point requirements, including suitable cold-flow properties for the operating area. Suppliers would also need robust bunkering controls, fuel sampling arrangements, testing and traceability, and the ability to provide complete regulatory and safety documentation at delivery. Experience managing time-critical marine-fuel logistics and quantity verification would be important.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Supply of MGO Fuel to the RRS Discovery - Halifax Oct 2026

Notice Description

Supply of Marine Gas Oil (MGO) to a National Oceanography Centre research vessel. Delivery D-01: RRS Discovery (IMO No. 9588029), Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Estimated quantity 230 metric tonnes. Required on the estimated delivery date 04.08.206. All quantities are estimates. The final invoiced quantity will be confirmed by the Bunker Delivery Note for the delivery and by the actual density recorded on the Certificate of Analysis at 15 degrees Celsius. Delivery is by bunker barge or road tank wagon to the vessel at its stated berth. Fuel must comply with ISO 8217:2024/2017 grade DMA. Sulphur content must not exceed 0.10 per cent by mass, as required within the North American Emission Control Area under MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14. Flash point must be not less than 60 degrees Celsius, in line with SOLAS. Cold flow properties must be suitable for the vessel's operating area and season. Water content, ash, and total sediment must be within the limits set by ISO 8217 for the grade supplied. The supplier must be registered on the local fuel oil suppliers register maintained by the relevant authority for the port of delivery, in accordance with MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 18.9. At the time of bunkering the supplier must provide the fuel specification, representative fuel samples drawn in accordance with MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 18.8.1 and the sampling guidelines at MEPC.182(59), a Technical Data Sheet with Certificate of Analysis, and a Safety Data Sheet to the Chief Engineer. A Bunker Delivery Note must be provided in the MARPOL Annex VI Appendix V format, stating quantity in metric tonnes, carrying the supplier's signed declaration that the fuel meets the fuel quality requirements of MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 18, together with the sulphur content statement and the flash point statement.

Procurement Information

MGO is a commodity. It is traded on international commodity markets and priced by reference to published market indices for the grade at the relevant port, with bunker suppliers quoting on a short term basis reflecting the market at the point of enquiry. Price and availability are driven by market conditions rather than by the terms of any tender, which means requiring suppliers to tender in the usual manner is unnecessary, not appropriate, and would not drive the best outcome for the contracting authority. MGO is a standardised product defined by ISO 8217/2024/2017, a published international technical standard for marine distillate fuels. The specification for this requirement is set entirely by that market standard and by regulatory compliance obligations, being MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14 for sulphur content within the North American Emission Control Area and SOLAS flash point requirements, rather than by any buyer preference or bespoke requirement. Any supplier able to deliver ISO 8217 grade DMA fuel to the vessel at the port of delivery is capable of fulfilling the contract, and the product itself is not meaningfully differentiable between compliant suppliers. The requirement was competed through a competitive quotation exercise among suppliers able to deliver to the vessel at the port and on the date required, priced on a common specification and quantity on a best and final basis. Award was made on the basis of the Most Advantageous Tender. A firm fixed price has been secured at the point of quotation and the supplier's offer is irrevocable until the last day of the delivery window. The fuel is required for the operational bunkering of RRS Discovery at the Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia on 4 October 2026, ahead of a scheduled departure, making this a time-critical requirement against a fixed delivery date. The port of delivery is outside the United Kingdom and the pool of suppliers capable of delivering to the vessel is limited to those holding stock and delivery capacity at that port within the required window. For these reasons the procurement qualifies for direct award under the commodities justification at paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to the Procurement Act 2023: the goods are purchased on a commodity market, the specification is determined by an established market standard, and the authority has nonetheless conducted a competitive process to secure best value.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0777d9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089791-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

09 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy

CPV Codes

09100000 - Fuels

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£390,000 £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
2 Oct 2026 - 9 Oct 2026 30 days
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
National Oceanography Centre
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SOUTHAMPTON
Postcode
SO14 3ZH
Postcode Area
Southampton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ32 Southampton
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Southampton
Electoral Ward
Bargate
Westminster Constituency
Southampton Itchen

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Standard Fuel Oils Ltd

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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