--- title: "FMDG Persistent Oceanographic Data Collect" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05fb72" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05fb72" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05fb72.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05fb72.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2026-06-22" --- # FMDG Persistent Oceanographic Data Collect Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05fb72 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05fb72) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05fb72.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence, based in Portsmouth, has entered the implementation stage for the "FMDG Persistent Oceanographic Data Collect" project, aiming to upgrade the Royal Navy's oceanographic capabilities. This contract, awarded on a direct basis, involves Teledyne Instruments Inc., the original equipment manufacturer, due to technical compatibility and integration requirements under the Procurement Act 2023. The procurement process ensures seamless interoperability and security adherence within the UK's underwater defence systems. The contract, valued initially at £8 million including VAT, commenced on 16th March 2026 and is set to conclude by 31st March 2028, with options to expand the scope and value up to £12 million including VAT. This procurement opportunity primarily benefits businesses involved in manufacturing and providing high-tech oceanographic equipment, particularly those focusing on defence and security applications. More specifically, firms capable of ensuring NATO-standard interoperability and encryption requirements for classified missions would be best suited for collaboration. The contract encourages innovation and provides support pathways for specialised SMEs within the defence sector to deliver state-of-the-art gliders and supporting systems, thereby enhancing their market presence and technical expertise on an international scale. ## Notice The Royal Navy intends to award a 2-year contract to Teledyne Instruments Inc. d/b/a Teledyne Webb Research for up to 15 gliders and supporting systems. ### Procurement Information The Royal Navy intends to award a 2-year contract to Teledyne Instruments Inc. d/b/a Teledyne Webb Research for up to 15 gliders and supporting systems. This approach is lawful under Schedule 5, paragraphs 6 and 7 of the Procurement Act 2023, as competition is absent for technical reasons and a change in supplier would result in incompatibility and disproportionate technical difficulties. Compatibility Context: Teledyne is the original equipment manufacturer and sole holder of proprietary design and integration protocols for the Royal Navy's existing glider fleet (nine Teledyne Slocum Gliders). These gliders are integrated into MOD's underwater battlespace architecture, including command-and-control systems and secure data exchange with strategic partners. Disproportionate Technical Difficulties: * Interoperability: Alternative gliders may fail to meet NATO-standard interoperability and encryption requirements, creating vulnerabilities in classified mission data exchange. * Safety Risks. Currently only Teledyne Gliders have a safety Case for Royal Navy Operations. New gliders will require new safety policy and permissions. * Operational Delays: Integration with existing systems would require extensive re-engineering and validation, delaying capability potentially up to 12-18 months. * Cost Impact: Additional costs for bespoke middleware, retraining, support, and duplicating spares inventory would exceed the contract value. Note: RN has a funded two year sole Teledyne Glider Support Contract. A different glider contract will require additional funds for support and interoperability provision. Not scoped currently. * Mission Continuity: Introducing a second platform would double logistic complexity and increase failure points during deployments. These difficulties are disproportionate because they would compromise safety, delay delivery, and impose costs far beyond the contract value, with no operational benefit. Teledyne remains the only supplier able to guarantee seamless interoperability, security compliance, and mission readiness into the Current RN Glider Fleet. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058725-2026 | | Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Direct | | Procurement method details | Direct award | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | SME | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 22 Jun 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 22 Dec 2025 | | Contract period | 16 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | £10,000,000 | | Contracts value | £10,000,000 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE | | Additional buyers | Missing | | Locality | PORTSMOUTH | | Post town | Portsmouth | | Postcode | PO2 8BY | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight | | ITL 3 | TLJ31 Portsmouth | | Local authority | Portsmouth | | Electoral ward | Nelson | | Westminster constituency | Portsmouth North | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | TELEDYNE WEBB RESEARCH, A BUSINESS UNIT OF TELEDYNE INSTRUMENTS | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation ### Codes - 34721000 - Gliders ## Release History - 22 Jun 2026 at 19:28 - Implementation - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058725-2026 - 16 Apr 2026 at 21:11 - AwardUpdate - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034922-2026 - 29 Mar 2026 at 18:20 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028810-2026 - 3 Feb 2026 at 23:45 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009716-2026 - 22 Dec 2025 at 12:20 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085354-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058725-2026 22nd June 2026 - Contract performance notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034922-2026 16th April 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028810-2026 29th March 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009716-2026 3rd February 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085354-2025 22nd December 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-14122 Contract For Transparency ## Notice URLs - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence - 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-05fb72. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05fb72.json.