---
title: "UKRI-4464 BAS - Pillow Style Cargo Flex Fuel Bladders"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04fde0"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04fde0"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04fde0.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04fde0.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION"
published: "2025-05-01"
---

# UKRI-4464 BAS - Pillow Style Cargo Flex Fuel Bladders

Buyer: UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04fde0

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04fde0)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04fde0.json)

## Summary

UK Research & Innovation is initiating a procurement process for the provision of pillow-style cargo flex fuel bladders required by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The procurement stage is currently in planning, with the engagement milestone due by 8th May 2025. This contract requires the delivery of 73 fuel bladders over a five-year period, starting in June 2025. The tender is valued at approximately £556,380 and is categorised under goods, with specific industry classifications related to tanks, reservoirs, containers, and pressure vessels. BAS plans to use these bladders for logistics operations across unprepared snow terrains, providing substantial logistical and cost benefits over alternative methods.

This tender presents significant opportunities, particularly for businesses specialised in the manufacture or supply of fuel storage solutions. Such enterprises that can demonstrate eco-friendly and efficient logistical strategies are well-positioned to benefit. The contract involves delivering innovative solutions that support the unique challenges of Antarctic operations, potentially opening doors to further collaborations with governmental and scientific research bodies upon successful fulfilment. Interested companies are encouraged to participate in the preliminary market engagement to better align their proposals with the specific needs of this large-scale, adventurous endeavour.

## Notice

BAS operates tractor traverse to large science projects covering 3,000 to 4,000 miles of unprepared snow. Typically, Tractor Traverse will transport 250.000 litres of fuel along with heavy equipment, supported by high molecular weight polyethylene sheets. The fuel bladders in question are pillow style. BAS has an on-going requirement for this type of fuel bladder. Tractor traverse platform is capable of transporting a significant quantity of fuel in fuel bladders and science cargo, most of which is supported by high molecular weight polyethylene sheets. A significant benefit of this system is that this traverse system, can transport heavy individual components that cannot otherwise be deployed. It is likely that BAS will require 73 fuel bladders over a five-year period with the first 4 units being required before the end of August 2025 Deploying fuel bladders represents a significant saving over transporting fuel via air, also bladders represent a significant cost saving in terms of fuel efficiency during towing. These bladders being lighter than their stainless counterparts. Bladders must be available for BAS shipping arrangements commencing in Autumn (August) each year. Regarding possible environmental impact to storing and hauling fuel over the Antarctic continent a rigorous full-scale test must be carried out onany new unproven system by a third party at no expence to BAS. To view this notice, please click here: https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=946346925

### Planning Information

If you are interested in attending, please message via the portal your interest via the portal referencing the UKRI reference number on the below link, no later than 25/04/2025.
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/HN7AXWE734

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018473-2025 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 May 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 9 May 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 2 Jun 2025 - 2 Jun 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £556,379 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION |
| Additional buyers | Missing |
| Locality | SWINDON |
| Post town | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN2 1FL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Rodbourne Cheney |
| Westminster constituency | Swindon North |
| Delivery location | TLH12 Cambridgeshire CC |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

### Codes

- 44610000 - Tanks, reservoirs, containers and pressure vessels
- 44611410 - Oil-storage tanks

## Release History

- 1 May 2025 at 13:53 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018473-2025
- 7 Apr 2025 at 09:48 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013315-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018473-2025
  1st May 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013315-2025
  7th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=946346925
- https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/HN7AXWE734
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04fde0. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04fde0.json.