---
title: "Supply of (HVO) fuel to RRS Discovery"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06c262"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06c262"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c262.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c262.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE"
published: "2026-07-15"
---

# Supply of (HVO) fuel to RRS Discovery

Buyer: NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06c262

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## Summary

The National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, United Kingdom, has completed a procurement process for the supply of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel for the RRS Discovery, with delivery scheduled between 16th and 24th July 2026. This procurement falls under the category of fuels and follows a direct award methodology justified by market standards and time constraints. The contract was awarded to Standard Fuel Oils Limited, and involves delivering approximately 360,000 litres of fuel that meet specific environmental and safety standards. The procurement, conducted under a direct award process classified as a commodity purchase, emphasises compliance with EN 15940 standards and various sustainability certifications.

This procurement presents opportunities for fuel suppliers who can meet stringent regulatory compliance requirements and offer competitive pricing. Businesses capable of delivering EN 15940-compliant HVO fuel with the needed certifications such as ISCC or RFAS Heat-Power-Marine should find this contract appealing. Large-scale suppliers like Standard Fuel Oils Limited, particularly those experienced in navigating the logistical challenges of port delivery, will see clear growth opportunities due to the immediate operational requirements and market expectations for environmentally-friendly maritime fuel solutions.

## Notice

Supply of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel to RRS Discovery (IMO No. 9588029), berthed at Southampton, UK. Estimated Quantity required: 360,000 litres (approximately 281 metric tonnes). The quantity is an estimate; the final invoiced quantity will be confirmed by the Bunker Delivery Note and the actual density at the point of delivery. Delivery: By road tanker wagon (RTW) Fuel must comply with the EN 15940 standard and must be derived from used cooking oil (UCO) feedstock only, with no palm oil, palm oil sludge, POME, or animal fats. Sulphur content must comply with MARPOL Annex VI and the applicable MCA requirements, with a maximum sulphur content of less than 5 mg/kg (5 ppm). Fuel must have a flash point of not less than 60 degrees Celsius, in line with SOLAS. The supplier must provide, at the time of bunkering, a copy of the fuel specification, fuel samples, and a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to the Chief Engineer. A Bunker Delivery Note (BDN) must be provided in the MARPOL Annex VI format, stating quantity in metric tonnes, carrying the supplier's signed declaration that the fuel meets the fuel quality requirements of MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 18. The following sustainability documentation is required: proof of sustainability of the biofuel component, certified under either ISCC or RFAS Heat-Power-Marine (RSB is not required), a biofuel delivery statement, and the greenhouse gas emissions data (carbon intensity or emission factor) for the 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 justification in paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to the Procurement Act 2023 applies where a contract is for goods purchased on a commodity market. It does not require that the contracting authority buy the goods on a commodity market or transact through a commodity exchange. It requires only that the contract is for goods of a kind purchased on a commodity market, which this contract pertains to. 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 Discovery at Southampton ahead of a scheduled departure, making this a time-critical requirement. For these reasons, the procurement qualifies for direct award under the commodities justification: 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/066792-2026 |
| 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 | 15 Jul 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 1 Jul 2026 |
| Contract period | 14 Jul 2026 - 24 Jul 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £538,524 |
| Contracts value | £538,524 |

## 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 | STANDARD FUEL OILS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 09100000 - Fuels

## Release History

- 15 Jul 2026 at 12:47 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066792-2026
- 2 Jul 2026 at 12:42 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062266-2026
- 2 Jul 2026 at 12:36 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062261-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066792-2026
  15th July 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062266-2026
  2nd July 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062261-2026
  2nd July 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://standardfueloils.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-06c262. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c262.json.