---
title: "Supply of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel to RRS James Cook"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06b1d1"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06b1d1"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b1d1.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b1d1.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE"
published: "2026-06-10"
---

# Supply of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel to RRS James Cook

Buyer: NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06b1d1

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## Summary

The National Oceanography Centre, based in Southampton, UK, has completed a procurement process for the supply of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel to the RRS James Cook. This tender falls under the goods industry category, specifically fuels, and is crucial for the vessel's operations. The procurement was managed through a direct award method due to the commodity nature of the HVO fuel, which adheres to the EN 15940 standard, ensuring compliance with both EU and MCA regulations. The contract, valued at £870,000, requires the delivery of 350 metric tons of HVO fuel by 25 June 2026, with the process now in the award stage after the selection of Crown Oil Ltd as the supplier.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in the supply and transport of standardised fuels, specifically those compliant with international environmental standards. Companies like Crown Oil Ltd, which are capable of providing certified sustainable fuel, may find a suitable market in such government-led contracts. The tender highlights the competitive elements in commodity trading, where suppliers must ensure best pricing and adherence to strict delivery timelines. The successful supplier will not only benefit from a substantial contract but also enhance their reputation in the governmental fuel procurement sector, potentially opening doors to future opportunities within the public sector.

## Notice

Supply of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel to RRS James Cook (IMO No. 9338242), berthed at Southampton, UK. Quantity required: 350 metric tons (approximately 437,000 litres). Delivery: By road tanker wagon (RTW), to be completed by 25 June 2026. Fuel must comply with EN 15940 standard and must not contain palm oil or palm oil sludge. Sulphur content must comply with the latest EU and MCA regulations, with a maximum sulphur content of less than 5% by volume. Fuel must have a flash point in excess of 60 degrees Celsius. The supplier must provide, at the time of bunkering, a copy of the fuel specification, fuel samples, and a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) to the Chief Engineer. A Bunker Delivery Note (BDN) must be provided stating quantity in metric tons and the specific flashpoint value if below 70degC, or confirmation that the flashpoint has been measured at or above 70degC. The following sustainability documentation is required: proof of sustainability of the biofuel component (certified by ISCC/RSB), a biofuel delivery statement, and the Emission Factor (CF) value for the Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (Fuel grade) in t-CO2/t-Fuel.

### Procurement Information

HVO fuel is a standardised commodity product defined by EN 15940, a published European technical standard for paraffinic diesel fuels. The specification for this requirement is set entirely by that market standard and by regulatory compliance obligations (EU and MCA sulphur content regulations), rather than by any buyer preference or bespoke requirement. Any supplier able to deliver EN 15940-compliant HVO with the required sustainability certifications (ISCC/RSB) is capable of fulfilling the contract, and the product itself is not meaningfully differentiable between compliant suppliers. The requirement was competed through a competitive quote exercise conducted among multiple suppliers, with award made on the basis of best price received. The fuel is required for the operational bunkering of RRS James Cook at Southampton ahead of a scheduled departure, making this a time-critical requirement against a fixed delivery date of 25 June 2026. For these reasons, the procurement qualifies for direct award under the commodities exemption: the goods are traded on a commodity market, the specification is determined by an established market standard, and the authority has nonetheless conducted a competitive process to secure best value.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054746-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award 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 | 10 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 9 Jun 2026 |
| Contract period | 23 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £870,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## 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 | CROWN OIL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 09 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy

### Codes

- 09100000 - Fuels

## Release History

- 10 Jun 2026 at 12:38 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054746-2026
- 10 Jun 2026 at 12:24 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054737-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054746-2026
  10th June 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054737-2026
  10th June 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.crownoil.co.uk
- https://noc.ac.uk/
- 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-06b1d1. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b1d1.json.