---
title: "Support Services for UK Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Device"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-cdc13d94-ac68-4c9a-8046-30e96d17f9fa"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-cdc13d94-ac68-4c9a-8046-30e96d17f9fa"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-cdc13d94-ac68-4c9a-8046-30e96d17f9fa.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-cdc13d94-ac68-4c9a-8046-30e96d17f9fa.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEFRA"
published: "2023-11-29"
---

# Support Services for UK Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Device

Buyer: DEFRA  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-cdc13d94-ac68-4c9a-8046-30e96d17f9fa

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## Summary

DEFRA, the Department of Food, Environment and Rural Affairs in London, United Kingdom, has completed a tender process for the contract titled "Support Services for UK Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Device". The procurement method used was a direct single tender action (below threshold). The contract value amounts to 110,319.55 GBP, with a contract period starting on July 9, 2023, and ending on July 8, 2025. The tender period ended on July 8, 2023. The industry category for this procurement is information technology services.

This tender presents an opportunity for SMEs to provide support services for the UK Vessel Monitoring System. Businesses in the information technology services sector, particularly those experienced in delivering bespoke network applications, would be well-suited to compete in this tender. The contract period extending until 2025 offers a stable opportunity for growth and collaboration with DEFRA, catering to the specific needs of UK administered commercial fishing vessels over 12m in length operating in EU and other 3rd countries' waters.

## Notice

The UK is required to collect position information from UK administered commercial fishing vessels over 12m in length, and where said vessels are fishing in EU states and other 3rd countries' waters, forward those position reports to those states. This condition has been in place since 1998 when predecessor regulations came into force for over 15m vessels, and it is required that said vessels send position reports from a UK approved transponder. In 2011-12 the ageing transponders on the UK fleet, as well as equipping 12-15m vessels in line with emerging requirements under 1224/2009. The refresh was carried out under an open tender awarded to Applied Satellite Technologies. This contract (RMP6270) was largely for equipping but also provided the required support arrangements only available from the equipping company. When this contract expired in June 2017 the UK fishing authorities could not operate without this support, which was not free from the supplier. Therefore, a single supplier support only contract was put in place. The transponders are proprietorial in that AST Marine Science Ltd are the suppliers of the terminal, the bespoke firmware and the proprietorial network applications that receive and forward the position reports. It would not be feasible for a 3rd party to take control of these services.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9b5e6bb5-305c-40cc-8fa0-68a3c06129cd |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Not specified |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Single tender action (below threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 29 Nov 2023 |
| Submission deadline | 8 Jul 2023 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 4 Jul 2023 |
| Contract period | 8 Jul 2023 - 8 Jul 2025 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £110,319 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £73,546 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEFRA |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 3JR |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | TLI London |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | THE AST GROUP |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 72222300 - Information technology services

## Release History

- 29 Nov 2023 at 10:58 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9b5e6bb5-305c-40cc-8fa0-68a3c06129cd

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9b5e6bb5-305c-40cc-8fa0-68a3c06129cd
  29th November 2023 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/77a7bb66-79e0-4715-9bdd-0cd9610db120
  Short Form Contract - VMS Device Support v3 - FULL SIGNED - 06072023_Redacted

## Provenance

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