---
title: "Provision of Autonomous Underwater Glider Platforms"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-065b32"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-065b32"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065b32.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065b32.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE"
published: "2026-03-28"
---

# Provision of Autonomous Underwater Glider Platforms

Buyer: NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-065b32

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## Summary

The National Oceanography Centre has successfully awarded a contract for the provision of autonomous underwater glider platforms, reinforcing its capacity for oceanographic research and operational activities. The contract entails the delivery of buoyancy-driven underwater gliders, alongside requisite scientific payloads and ancillary equipment, all intended for deep-water and shallow-water operations. Based in Southampton, United Kingdom, the National Oceanography Centre ensures that these new assets integrate seamlessly with their current operational and data handling infrastructure. This procurement, classified under the industry category of unmanned underwater vehicles (CPV code 35512400), was executed through a direct award process, leveraging Schedule 5, paragraph 7 of the Procurement Act 2023. Key contractual dates include the start of the contract on 31 March 2026 and its completion by 30 March 2028, with the contract having been signed on 25 March 2026.

This procurement process provides significant opportunities for suppliers specialising in advanced oceanographic technology and underwater robotics, particularly those capable of delivering customised and integrated solutions. Businesses that are well-suited to compete in such tenders typically possess strong technical expertise in unmanned underwater vehicle development and can offer compatible systems that ensure ease of integration with existing infrastructures. The direct award methodology was chosen to maintain continuity and operational efficiency, thereby offering minimal disruptions to the ongoing research and operational objectives of the centre. Companies looking to engage with public sector clients in this specialised field could see substantial business growth by ensuring they have the capability to deliver innovative technology that aligns with the precise needs of such institutions.

## Notice

The National Oceanography Centre has awarded a contract for the provision of autonomous underwater glider platforms to support oceanographic research and operational activities. The contract covers the supply of fully configured buoyancy-driven underwater gliders, together with associated scientific payloads, ancillary equipment, delivery, and acceptance arrangements. The platforms will be used to support both deep-water and shallow-water operations and are intended to integrate with the National Oceanography Centre's existing operational and data handling infrastructure.

### Procurement Information

Additional or repeat goods, services or works - extension or partial replacement This direct award is made in reliance on Schedule 5, paragraph 7 of the Procurement Act 2023. The proposed contract concerns the supply of goods by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, and partial replacement of, existing autonomous underwater glider platforms currently operated by the National Oceanography Centre. The existing platforms are integrated into established operational, command and control, data handling, maintenance, and training arrangements. A change of supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods that are different from, and incompatible with, the existing platforms and supporting infrastructure. This incompatibility would require significant changes to operational systems, software, data processing workflows, spares, tooling, and staff training. The resulting differences would give rise to disproportionate technical difficulties in operation and maintenance, including increased operational risk, loss of continuity in research capability, and additional cost and time to implement and validate alternative systems. These impacts would be beyond what could reasonably be justified for the scope and value of this requirement. The direct award is therefore necessary to ensure continuity of operations, compatibility with existing systems, and the effective delivery of NOC's research and operational objectives, in accordance with the conditions set out in Schedule 5, paragraph 7.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028793-2026 |
| 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 | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 28 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 24 Feb 2026 |
| Contract period | 30 Mar 2026 - 30 Mar 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £1,005,848 |
| Contracts value | £1,005,848 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE |
| Locality | SOUTHAMPTON |
| Post town | Southampton |
| Postcode | SO14 3ZH |
| 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 | Bargate |
| Westminster constituency | Southampton Itchen |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | TELEDYNE INSTRUMENTS INC. D/B/A TELEDYNE WEBB RESEARCH |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

### Codes

- 35512400 - Unmanned underwater vehicles

## Release History

- 28 Mar 2026 at 09:35 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028793-2026
- 26 Feb 2026 at 15:08 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017459-2026
- 24 Feb 2026 at 14:51 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016536-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028793-2026
  28th March 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017459-2026
  26th February 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016536-2026
  24th February 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://noc.ac.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.teledynemarine.com/brands/webb-research

## 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-065b32. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065b32.json.