---
title: "Provision of Aerial Surveillance for HMCG"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-054718"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-054718"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-054718.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-054718.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY"
published: "2026-05-11"
---

# Provision of Aerial Surveillance for HMCG

Buyer: MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-054718

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## Summary

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), a central government public authority located in Southampton, UK, is planning a procurement process for the "Provision of Aerial Surveillance for HM Coastguard (HMCG)." This process is currently in the planning stage, with a focus on market engagement activities. Key dates include an upcoming market engagement stage in June 2026 following the review of stakeholder feedback gathered in January 2026. The procurement aims to secure assets for intelligence, search, surveillance, and reconnaissance to support specialised search and rescue operations. The contract is expected to begin on 1 March 2029 and end on 28 February 2034, offering services that are above the financial threshold typically requiring formal procurement procedures.

This procurement represents a significant opportunity for businesses in the surveillance and air-sea rescue sectors, particularly those offering innovative and adaptable technologies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are especially encouraged to participate, as the MCA seeks to broaden competition and is open to varied technological approaches that can deliver maritime situational awareness. Businesses with capabilities in intelligence gathering, real-time data analysis, or collaboration with regulatory bodies to overcome barriers will likely find this tender particularly suitable for growth opportunities. The solution-agnostic approach and the intent to eliminate unnecessary barriers provide a favourable bidding environment for diverse business types.

## Notice

HM Coastguard (HMCG) helicopters and planes, provided under the UKSAR2G contract, have a primary role to provide search and rescue. However, they undertake a range of other missions in support of wider Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) objectives, and those of other government departments. In addition, HMCG require an Aerial Surveillance service to provide near real time situational awareness in support of specialised SAR operations. Therefore, the MCA is planning to undertake a procurement for this additional Aerial Surveillance service. The MCA will procure for intelligence, search, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets that can supply the information required. This service will not require national coverage. Potentially, during high-risk times, an HMCG surveillance asset could be operating for a full 24-hour period extending into consecutive days and sometimes weeks. Respondents should bear in mind that the MCA will take a solution agnostic approach to the procurement and is open to different technological approaches, providing they can demonstrably meet the requirement to provide persistent maritime situational awareness in areas of need.

### Planning Information

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are grateful for all responses to the Market Consultation Questionnaire in January 2026. 
We are currently looking to refine the current Single Statement of User Need (SSUN) shared alongside the questionnaire in response to this feedback and would like to gain a better understanding of the information provided as part of the requirements review. Another Market Engagement stage is planned for June 2026, following this review. 
Areas, the MCA would like further information on include: 
a) Build on the findings of the previous market engagement and seek clarity on key areas to inform further development of the SSUN, including removing any unnecessary barriers to keep participation in the competition as broad as possible. 
b) Seek further information on cost drivers to determine a final cost envelope. 
c) To understand where the MCA may be able to provide support in discussions with regulatory bodies, to overcome regulatory barriers. 
d) To understand whether collaboration between market participants may be necessary to meet the MCA’s requirements and establish how the MCA can facilitate. 
e) To understand whether there is non-airborne technology available that would support delivery of this requirement. 
If you wish to participate in this consultation, and have not previously engaged with the Authority, you are required to create an account on Jaggaer if you do not already have one. 
The portal can be accessed using the following link: 
https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/ 
Once you have accessed the e-procurement portal, please navigate to pqq_758 - Provision of Aerial Surveillance for HMCG - Registration of New Interest, to register an interest. Once registered you will be sent further information. 
If you have previously answered the Market Questionnaire, information will be sent via the Jaggaer portal, and no additional action is necessary. 
Any correspondence must be submitted via Jaggaer and not directly to different areas of the MCA.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042914-2026 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 11 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 11 Sep 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Mar 2029 - 28 Feb 2034 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY |
| Locality | SOUTHAMPTON |
| Post town | Southampton |
| Postcode | SO15 1EG |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| ITL 3 | TLJ32 Southampton |
| Local authority | Southampton |
| Electoral ward | Banister & Polygon |
| Westminster constituency | Southampton Itchen |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 60443100 - Air-sea rescue services
- 79714000 - Surveillance services

## Release History

- 11 May 2026 at 10:56 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042914-2026
- 15 Jan 2026 at 16:54 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003647-2026
- 12 Sep 2025 at 11:14 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056149-2025
- 7 Jul 2025 at 07:39 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037616-2025
- 11 Jun 2025 at 16:37 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031695-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042914-2026
  11th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003647-2026
  15th January 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056149-2025
  12th September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037616-2025
  7th July 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031695-2025
  11th June 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/
- 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-054718. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-054718.json.