---
title: "NSSL Continuation of satellite airtime service to BFMC Cutters and CPVs"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0587dd"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0587dd"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0587dd.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0587dd.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "HOME OFFICE"
published: "2025-08-14"
---

# NSSL Continuation of satellite airtime service to BFMC Cutters and CPVs

Buyer: HOME OFFICE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0587dd

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## Summary

The procurement process conducted by the Home Office involves the direct award of a contract for the continuation of satellite airtime services to BFMC Cutters and CPVs, with NSSL Global as the supplier. This contract, essential for ensuring uninterrupted maritime operations, falls under the industry category of ship-operating services. Key dates include the award date on 14 August 2025, with the contract period running from 1 September 2025 to 31 March 2026. The procurement method is direct, below the competition threshold, and justified by technical constraints and urgency. The contract, valued at £20,000, ensures compliance with maritime regulations and supports Border Force priorities, headquartered in London.

This tender presents a business growth opportunity for suppliers with expertise in satellite communications, particularly those authorised to work with Inmarsat technology. SMEs well-versed in maritime operations and compliance requirements are ideally positioned to compete in future contract opportunities, as the Home Office intends to run an open competition for a new three-year airtime contract. By participating in this procurement process, businesses can establish their reputation within the public sector and gain access to critical service areas that contribute to the safety and functionality of maritime fleets.

## Notice

Each cutter's GMDSS suite is dependent on subscription-based satellite airtime to function. The currently installed equipment is fully integrated into the vessels' systems and operates exclusively on the Inmarsat network, for which NSSL Global is the current and original supplier. These systems were installed during vessel construction under a Crown Commercial Service (CCS) contract previously held by HMRC and subsequently novated to the Home Office. The same standardised systems and supplier (NSSL Global) were used when the Cutter Patrol Vessels (CPVs) were later procured. As a result, NSSL Global remains the only provider capable of ensuring continued, uninterrupted service on the existing Inmarsat-based GMDSS equipment across the MARDIR fleet. While MARDIR intends to run an open competition to establish a new three-year airtime contract, a gap in service during this transition would render vessels non-compliant with international maritime regulations and unable to deploy, directly impacting Border Force maritime operations and Government priorities. Given the critical nature of the GMDSS capability and the technical constraint that airtime can only be provided by an authorised Inmarsat agent, a direct award to NSSL Global until 31 March 2026 is essential to: * Maintain legal compliance with SOLAS GMDSS carriage requirements; * Ensure the safety and operability of the cutter and CPV fleets; * Avoid operational disruption during the period required to run a compliant procurement. This direct award is therefore justified on the grounds of extreme urgency and technical compatibility, where changing suppliers in the interim would result in unacceptable safety, compliance, and operational risks.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048744-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 14 Aug 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 21 Jul 2025 |
| Contract period | 31 Aug 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £20,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | HOME OFFICE |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 4DF |
| 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | NSSL GLOBAL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

### Codes

- 63726600 - Ship-operating services

## Release History

- 14 Aug 2025 at 12:09 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048744-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048744-2025
  14th August 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- 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-0587dd. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0587dd.json.