---
title: "Autonomous Underwater Research Vehicles"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-059bf1"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-059bf1"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059bf1.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059bf1.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "CARDIFF UNIVERSITY"
published: "2025-10-14"
---

# Autonomous Underwater Research Vehicles

Buyer: CARDIFF UNIVERSITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-059bf1

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-059bf1)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059bf1.json)

## Summary

The procurement process led by Cardiff University involves the acquisition of Autonomous Underwater Research Vehicles, aimed at enhancing the UK's capabilities for polar sea-bed survey. This initiative addresses the need to fill an existing gap in survey assets that are currently reliant on costly infrastructures. The procurement falls within the industry category of goods related to surveying instruments and survey vessels. This process has reached the award stage, as of 14th October 2025, and it involves a contract with Planet Ocean Limited, an SME based in Camberley, United Kingdom. The project, governed by Welsh devolved regulations, specifically seeks to develop prototypes that can operate in Antarctic sea-floor environments, contributing to low-cost, low-logistics deep-water AUV swarms. The contract period stretches from 6th October 2025 to 31st December 2026, and the direct award procurement method has been justified by market conditions and specified research requirements. 

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for enterprises specialising in the development and supply of advanced surveying equipment and autonomous vehicle technology. Companies having expertise in prototyping and those capable of meeting the technological and financial requirements outlined by the UKRI-NERC will find themselves well-suited to compete in this domain. The emphasis on developing a robust network for Antarctic exploration can allow involved businesses to expand their innovation capabilities and cultivate a competitive edge in the evolving market for environmentally adaptable research infrastructures. By contributing to such cutting-edge projects, businesses can reinforce their positioning in the public procurement sector while advancing their involvement in critical environmental research endeavours.

## Notice

This project proposes to enhance UK capabilities for polar sea-bed survey, specifically filling an important gap in assets currently occupied by costly infrastructure and resource-heavy robotic systems.

### Procurement Information

Against the criteria set out in Market Conditions, only one supplier is able to offer something that meet all requirements, technologically and financially. In addition to this, there are numerous developments and prototyping which must take place to make the existing units fit for the research purpose, in the number required, and within the budget given by UKRI-NERC. These prototypes must at minimum be Antarctic sea-floor environment accessible, and form part of a low-cost, low-logistics deep water AUV swarm.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065038-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 14 Oct 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 15 Sep 2025 |
| Contract period | 5 Oct 2025 - 31 Dec 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £605,094 |
| Contracts value | £605,095 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | CARDIFF UNIVERSITY |
| Locality | CARDIFF |
| Post town | Cardiff |
| Postcode | CF24 4HQ |
| Country | Wales |
| ITL 1 | TLL Wales |
| ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales |
| ITL 3 | TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan |
| Local authority | Cardiff |
| Electoral ward | Cathays |
| Westminster constituency | Cardiff South and Penarth |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | PLANET OCEAN |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 34513550 - Survey vessels
- 38296000 - Surveying instruments

## Release History

- 14 Oct 2025 at 09:15 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065038-2025
- 18 Sep 2025 at 15:18 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057849-2025
- 17 Sep 2025 at 08:58 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057188-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065038-2025
  14th October 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057849-2025
  18th September 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057188-2025
  17th September 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/business/why-work-with-us/for-suppliers
- 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-059bf1. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059bf1.json.