--- title: "Naval Architecture Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f3ef" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f3ef" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f3ef.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f3ef.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "Northern Lighthouse Board" published: "2026-09-07" --- # Naval Architecture Services Buyer: Northern Lighthouse Board Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f3ef [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f3ef) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f3ef.json) ## Summary The Northern Lighthouse Board intends to procure naval architecture services for the Vessel Replacement Programme, focused on a new SOLAS Class VII civil helicopter support and aids to navigation cargo vessel. The appointed naval architect will develop the vessel’s concept design and a sufficiently mature technical specification for prospective shipbuilders to price the detailed design and construction on a fixed-price basis. The vessel will be UK-registered, with Leith as its chosen port of registry and Oban as its primary operating port. Its design must support operation from ports throughout the UK and Ireland without restricting international operations, with certification suitable for those activities. This is an engineering design services requirement, rather than a shipbuilding contract. This procurement is at the planning stage: the buyer has announced its intention to procure and has not issued an invitation to tender. The expected route is a single-lot open procedure. Northern Lighthouse Board expects to undertake preliminary market engagement, with questionnaires issued during the week commencing 14 September 2026 and completed responses requested by 25 September 2026. The engagement will inform the specification, procurement route, commercial model, contract terms, delivery model, pricing structures and social value outcomes. A subsequent procurement notice is expected on 2 October 2026. The indicative contract period is 24 December 2026 to 24 December 2031, with extensions potentially continuing to 24 December 2033 or until vessel delivery. Estimated value is £1.9 million excluding VAT, or £2.28 million including VAT. The planned work will suit established naval architecture and marine engineering consultancies able to design commercial support vessels and translate operational requirements into a concept design and technical specification. Relevant capability includes understanding SOLAS Class VII requirements, vessel certification, aids to navigation operations, helicopter support functions, cargo operations and the constraints of UK and Irish port operations. Suppliers should be able to develop documentation detailed enough for shipbuilders to submit fixed-price tenders for detailed design and construction, and to provide continuing technical support through the vessel replacement programme. Organisations considering this work should be prepared to explain their capability and capacity, preferred delivery and contracting models, pricing approach, key contractual considerations and achievable social value outcomes during the planned market engagement. ## Notice NLB requires a Naval Architect to develop the concept design of a new SOLAS Class VII civil helicopter support and aids to navigation service (cargo) vessel. The vessel will be registered in the UK, with its chosen Port of Registry as Leith, but with Oban serving as its primary operating port. However, the design shall enable operation from a range of ports throughout the UK and Ireland and shall not restrict international operations. The vessel shall be designed and certificated accordingly to permit such operations. The appointed Naval Architect shall develop a concept technical specification to a level of maturity that enables prospective shipbuilders to submit fixed-price tenders for the detailed design and construction of the vessel. The initial contract term will likely be 5 years, or until vessel delivery. The contract will have extension options to provision ongoing support to the vessel replacement programme as required by NLB. ### Planning Information NLB intends to undertake preliminary market engagement with organisations that may have the capability and capacity to provide naval architecture services in support of Vessel Replacement Programme (VRP) Pharos. Interested organisations are invited to request a copy of the Market Engagement Questionnaire as soon as possible by emailing procurement@nlb.org.uk. The questionnaire will be issued by email during the week commencing 14 September 2026. The questionnaire seeks market views on areas including supplier capability and capacity, potential contracting and pricing structures, delivery models, key contractual considerations, and achievable social value outcomes. The information gathered will be used to inform NLB's development of the specification, procurement route, commercial model and contractual arrangements. Participation in the preliminary market engagement will not constitute a commitment to participate in any subsequent procurement and will not confer any advantage in a future competition. Completed questionnaires should be returned to procurement@nlb.org.uk no later than Friday 25 September 2026. Please note that NLB reserves the right to extend the preliminary market engagement timetable at its discretion. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084623-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 7 Sep 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 2 Oct 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 24 Dec 2026 - 24 Dec 2031 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,900,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | Northern Lighthouse Board | | Locality | EDINBURGH | | Postcode area | Edinburgh | | Postcode | EH2 3DA | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland | | ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh | | Local authority | City of Edinburgh | | Electoral ward | City Centre | | Westminster constituency | Edinburgh North and Leith | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services ### Codes - 71320000 - Engineering design services ## Release History - 7 Sep 2026 at 17:24 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084623-2026 - 7 Sep 2026 at 16:54 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084609-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084623-2026 7th September 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084609-2026 7th September 2026 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - 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-06f3ef. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f3ef.json.