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Halley Research Station Air Movements

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

16 Oct 2026 at 15:28

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

16 Oct 2026 at 13:42

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) appointed a supplier to provide air transport services for the British Antarctic Survey’s Halley Research Station during the 2026/2027 season. The work concerns air movements supporting operations at the research station in Antarctica. The requirement is for a specialist service in a remote and demanding polar environment, rather than general passenger or freight aviation. The buying organisation is UKRI, acting for the British Antarctic Survey. The procurement is categorised as services, with air transport as the specified activity. The destination is Antarctica; the information identifies Halley Research Station but does not give a more precise delivery location or describe the flights, cargo, aircraft or operating schedule in further detail.

The procurement is complete and the award was made to WHITE DESERT LTD. UKRI used a direct award, citing the absence of competition for technical reasons. The published award value is £1,197,511.32. The award date was 15 October 2026. The contract period runs from 2 November 2026 to 22 March 2027, with a planned signature date of 29 October 2026. The procurement was arranged as one lot, covering the Halley Research Station air-movements requirement. The award is recorded as pending, and the data gives no evaluation criteria beyond the stated technical-reasons basis for selecting a single supplier.

For suppliers considering comparable future requirements from UKRI and the British Antarctic Survey, this award demonstrates demand for specialist air transport serving a remote Antarctic research station, on a seasonal basis. A credible competitor would need to show that it can safely and reliably deliver air movements in the Antarctic operating environment and meet the research station’s operational needs. The direct award rationale indicates that technical considerations were decisive and that the buyer considered competition absent for those reasons; relevant operational capability and evidence of suitability for this specific environment would therefore be central to competing credibly. The selected supplier is a small enterprise, showing that the work was awarded to an SME, though the available information does not identify specific aircraft, accreditations, staffing levels or technical standards.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Halley Research Station Air Movements

Notice Description

UKRI is seeking to appoint a supplier for the provision of Halley Research Station Air Movements to the British Antarctic Survey for Season 2026/2027.

Procurement Information

Competition absent for technical reasoning.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07898f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098085-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60400000 - Air transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,197,511 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
15 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 22 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

White Desert 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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