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Deep Scientific Diving and ARMS Recovery Services in the Maldives and Seychelles

UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Oct 2026 at 15:02

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Plymouth plans to procure specialist marine research support to recover 36 Autonomous Reef Monitoring Systems (ARMS) from the seabed in the Maldives and Seychelles. These plastic settlement-panel units are used to measure marine biodiversity. The work involves recovering three units at each of three depths—about 40, 60 and 90 metres—at each research site: three sites in the Maldives and one in the Seychelles. Each unit will weigh about 20kg and will have been deployed for around 36 months. A containment enclosure must be fitted before each unit is brought to the surface, so biological specimens are not lost, and transferred to the support vessel for the University’s team to process and analyse. Services include the recovery operation and its supporting personnel, equipment and logistics. This is specialist scientific diving and marine recovery work.

This is at the planning stage: the University is conducting preliminary market engagement to understand suppliers’ capability, delivery approaches and possible technical solutions, before a formal tender expected later. The market engagement exercise is intended for established organisations; the buyer’s expected date for expressions of interest is 18 November 2026. Recovery operations are anticipated between January and February 2030. One combined requirement covers the Maldives and Seychelles, with no division into separate lots indicated. The buyer anticipates that the recovery may use mixed-gas technical diving, potentially with closed-circuit rebreather systems, and is also exploring alternatives that avoid diver intervention. The contract period is shown as starting in January 2027 and running to March 2030, with a possible extension to September 2030. No procurement procedure or evaluation basis is set out at this stage.

The work is suited to established marine contractors with demonstrable experience and capability in deep scientific diving, technical recovery or comparable subsea operations. Suppliers should be able to plan and execute work at depths up to about 90 metres, protect biological samples during lifting, and support operations across the Maldives and Seychelles. The buyer is open to technical approaches that do not rely on divers, so capable remotely operated or other subsea solutions may be relevant alongside mixed-gas diving and closed-circuit rebreather expertise. A future tender is expected to require detailed risk assessments and method statements describing the proposed approach. Organisations must be prepared to secure permits and approvals in the relevant jurisdictions, maintain appropriate safety management documentation and insurance, and provide the necessary personnel, diving equipment, gas systems, vessels where applicable, and operational support. Individual divers and informal consortia are not sought for this market-engagement exercise.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Deep Scientific Diving and ARMS Recovery Services in the Maldives and Seychelles

Notice Description

The University of Plymouth invites expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced organisations for the provision of specialist services to support the delivery of two marine research projects in the Republic of Maldives and the Seychelles. The projects involve the recovery of Autonomous Reef Monitoring Systems (ARMS) from depths of approximately 40m, 60m, and 90m. The ARMS units will have been deployed for approximately 36 months prior to recovery and each unit will weigh approximately 20kg. ARMS units are stacked plastic settlement panels used to measure marine biodiversity. The units will be deployed on the seabed using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and left in situ for the duration of the monitoring period. Upon recovery, a bespoke containment enclosure must be fitted to each ARMS unit to prevent the loss of biological specimens. The enclosed unit will then be carefully recovered to the surface and transferred to the support vessel for processing and analysis by the University's scientific team. Three ARMS units will be deployed at each depth (40m, 60m, and 90m) at each site. In the Maldives, three sites will be monitored, resulting in a total of 27 deployed ARMS units. In the Seychelles, one site will be monitored, resulting in a further nine units. The total requirement therefore covers the recovery of 36 ARMS units across both projects. The University anticipates that recovery operations may require mixed-gas technical diving, potentially utilising Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) systems. However, the University is also interested in exploring alternative technical solutions that do not rely on diver intervention. Recovery operations are anticipated to take place between January and February 2030. The successful contractor would be expected to: Obtain all necessary permits and approvals required to undertake the work within the relevant jurisdictions. Produce and maintain all required safety management documentation. Hold appropriate insurance coverage. Supply all personnel, diving equipment, gas systems, vessels (where applicable), and associated operational support. Deliver the recovery operations in accordance with applicable legislation, standards, and industry best practice. The University is seeking interest from established organisations with suitable experience and capability. Expressions of interest from individual divers or informal consortia are not sought at this stage. If you seek to express interest please email megan.worth@plymouth.ac.uk confirming you are able to meet the expectations. Any future procurement process will require bidders to submit detailed Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS) outlining their proposed methodology, whether diver-based or an alternative technical solution. This Preliminary Market Engagement exercise is intended to understand market capability, potential delivery approaches, and indicative solutions. A formal tender opportunity is expected to follow in due course.

Planning Information

The University is seeking interest from established organisations with suitable experience and capability. Expressions of interest from individual divers or informal consortia are not sought at this stage. If you seek to express interest please email megan.worth@plymouth.ac.uk confirming you are able to meet the expectations.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0794d4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/103319-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

37 - Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

37412240 - Diving instruments or accessories

63725000 - Salvage and refloating services

63725100 - Vessel-salvaging services

98361000 - Aquatic marine services

98363000 - Diving services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Oct 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
18 Nov 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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