---
title: "UKRI-6324 Use of GSGSSI Fisheries Protection Vessel"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0773b9"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0773b9"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0773b9.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0773b9.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION"
published: "2026-09-16"
---

# UKRI-6324 Use of GSGSSI Fisheries Protection Vessel

Buyer: UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0773b9

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## Summary

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) procured use of the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwhich Islands’ Fisheries Protection Vessel to support Antarctic logistics. This is a maritime services requirement covering the hire of a sea-going vessel with crew, rather than the purchase of a vessel. Delivery and operations are in Antarctica. The contract is intended to provide the vessel capability needed for UKRI’s Antarctic logistics activities. The procurement is categorised as services and was arranged as a single lot. It may suit vessel operators, maritime service providers and organisations with access to suitably crewed vessels capable of operating in Antarctic conditions and supporting logistics activity in remote environments. The requirement is specific to the use of the named fisheries protection vessel and its associated crew.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a direct award on 16 September 2026. UKRI selected the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwhich Islands, whose award is active. The awarded value is £175,000 gross. The contract period runs from 30 September 2026 to 31 October 2030, with signature scheduled for 29 September 2026. The work is above the relevant threshold. UKRI stated that competition was absent for technical reasons because the supplier’s vessel was the only one suitable for its requirements. The award covers the single lot and the evaluation outcome reflects the technical suitability of that specific vessel and service. The procurement used the legal basis recorded as 2023/54.

This award shows demand for a specialist, crewed vessel to support Antarctic logistics over a multi-year period. A competing supplier would need access to a sea-going vessel with the operational capability, crew and endurance required for remote Antarctic work, together with suitable maritime management and logistics experience. Credibility would depend on demonstrating that its vessel can meet UKRI’s technical requirements, operate safely in Antarctic conditions and support fisheries-protection or comparable government logistics activity. The direct award rationale indicates that technical suitability was decisive, so a future competitor would need distinctive vessel capability rather than a generic marine charter offer. The requirement was recorded as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs, although the selected supplier is a large public-service organisation.

## Notice

UKRI is establishing this contract to allow use of the GSGSSI Fisheries Protection Vessel, to aid in Antarctic Logistics.

### Procurement Information

Competition is absent due to technical reasoning, the vessel offered by this Supplier is the only one suitable for our requirements.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087902-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 16 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 16 Sep 2026 |
| Contract period | 30 Sep 2026 - 31 Oct 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £175,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION |
| Locality | SWINDON, WILTSHIRE |
| Postcode area | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN2 1FL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Rodbourne Cheney |
| Westminster constituency | Swindon North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwhich Islands |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 60651100 - Hire of sea-going vessels with crew

## Release History

- 16 Sep 2026 at 15:47 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087902-2026
- 16 Sep 2026 at 15:44 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087897-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087902-2026
  16th September 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087897-2026
  16th September 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.ukri.org/

## 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-0773b9. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0773b9.json.