--- title: "Open Framework for Boat Recognised Organisations" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0656c7" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0656c7" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0656c7.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0656c7.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "SUBMARINE DELIVERY AGENCY" published: "2026-02-18" --- # Open Framework for Boat Recognised Organisations Buyer: SUBMARINE DELIVERY AGENCY Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0656c7 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0656c7) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0656c7.json) ## Summary The Submarine Delivery Agency, part of the Ministry of Defence located in Abbeywood, United Kingdom, has initiated an open procurement process entitled "Open Framework for Boat Recognised Organisations". Within the industry category of certification services, this tender is currently in the active stage, with an enquiry period closing on 4th March 2026 and final submissions due by 17th March 2026. The framework, valued at approximately £135,000 over four years, will support a diverse range of tasks including boat survey training, technical audits, and certification services, with operations commencing from 1st April 2026. The procurement process is conducted via open competition under the legal mandate of the Procurement Act 2023, aimed at attracting technically capable suppliers acknowledged by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Ministry of Defence's Naval Authority. This procurement process offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in safety regulation, boat certification, and technical support related to naval operations. The framework is particularly welcoming to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), which can provide evidence of certification under Regime 1B and meet the Ministry of Defence Naval Authority's standards. Participating businesses will have the potential to influence development of codes, implementation standards, and training—critical components for maintaining compliance and safety in MOD Shipping. Companies recognised as Certifying Authorities will find opportunities for growth through recurring tendering opportunities as the framework periodically reopens, allowing them to bid for task requests and potentially extend the commercial arrangement beyond four years, depending on compliance with the PA23 regulations. ## Notice It is the Naval Authority's role to provide safety certification for all MOD Shipping, which includes over 2500 boats less than 24 metres in length. To do this, Naval Authorities develop and maintain safety rules and standards to formally recognise organisations to perform certification activities on their behalf. These recognised organisations, under their similar civil delegation from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, must maintain a current knowledge of all aspects of boat safety and civil rules and regulations. There is an essential need for the Naval Authority to have a commercial arrangement with Recognised Organisations (RO) to provide feedback and experience on certification, implementation of standards, development of codes, tailoring thereof and training etc. The Authority seeks to implement an Open Framework with Ministry of Defence Naval Boat Recognised Organisations. An Open Framework is defined as a scheme of successive frameworks that allows for the periodic reopening of supplier lists under substantially the same terms. This contrasts with traditional 'closed' frameworks where after a single process suppliers are attached to a framework for its full duration. This Open Framework will operate as the main delivery mechanism for the Naval Boat Recognised Organisations, highlighting the qualified suppliers available to perform the services required and allow the opportunity for new entrants to join when the Framework is reopened. It is estimated this Framework will span over four core years, with the option to re-open after the first two years (with options to extend). The estimated value of this framework has been identified as being below threshold of PS135,000 over four years which will cover individual tasks. This figure is indicative, not a commitment to spend, and is subject to amendment prior to the publishing of the Invitation to Participate Notice and associated Documentation. Individual requirements will be sought by using a tasking request form with each task defining the Requirement, Deliverables, Acceptance Criteria and Timing. Deliverables may include, but not necessarily limited to, technical reports, survey findings, presentations, training and certification. Tasking requests against this Open Framework will seek to cover work of the type listed below, but subject to variation. a) Provision of civil and naval Safety Regulation advice. b) Development of MoD Boat Safety Rules and Standards. c) Provision of boat survey training. d) Technical support. e) Boat Survey & Certification; and f) Technical audit. To help industry and MOD understand availability within the market to meet this requirement, MOD has outlined a set of applicable standards to be met enabling acceptance on this Open Framework. Participants shall be required to provide evidence in support for agreement by the Naval Authority. The Authority has the right to request this evidence at any time in the duration of the Open Framework Agreement to ensure Standards are maintained. ### Lot Information Lot 1 Renewal: There is the potentional to extend to Open Framework for a further 4 years, should the Authority wish to enact this and if this should comply with the PA23 regulations. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014631-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 18 Feb 2026 | | Submission deadline | 17 Mar 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Dec 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £108,000 | | Lots value | £108,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | SUBMARINE DELIVERY AGENCY | | Locality | ABBEYWOOD | | Post town | Bristol | | Postcode | BS34 8JH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England | | ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire | | Local authority | South Gloucestershire | | Electoral ward | Stoke Park & Cheswick | | Westminster constituency | Filton and Bradley Stoke | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 79132000 - Certification services - 79132100 - Electronic signature certification services ## Release History - 18 Feb 2026 at 10:38 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014631-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014631-2026 18th February 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60786 - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/submarine-delivery-agency - 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-0656c7. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0656c7.json.