---
title: "Ultrasonic Protection Draggone"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078762"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078762"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078762.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078762.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION"
published: "2026-10-14"
---

# Ultrasonic Protection Draggone

Buyer: UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078762

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## Summary

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) bought an extension to the DRAGGONE ultrasonic hull-protection system fitted to the research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough. The system prevents microbiological growth and algae from building up on the hull, helping to prevent invasive species being transferred into and out of protected zones such as Antarctica. The extension covers sea inlets and other spaces open to the sea that the existing installation does not protect. This is a specialist marine equipment requirement, rather than a general supply of testing instruments. The vessel is the stated setting for the work; no separate delivery location is identified.

The procurement is complete: UKRI awarded the single lot directly to Cathelco Ltd without competition, using a below-threshold procedure. The contract was signed on 5 October 2026 and runs from 5 October to 31 December 2026. Its value is £101,350 excluding VAT (£121,620 including VAT). The award is active and the contract is active. The published procurement data gives no separate award date or evaluation criteria; the route was a direct award without competition, so there was no competitive evaluation basis stated.

This award shows UKRI’s demand for specialist ultrasonic marine systems that protect vessel hulls and seawater openings from microbiological and algal growth, with the aim of limiting invasive-species transfer around protected environments. Suppliers seeking to compete for a similar requirement would need credible experience in marine biofouling protection and the technical ability to extend or integrate equipment with an existing shipboard installation, including coverage of sea inlets and spaces open to the sea. Familiarity with research-vessel operating conditions and the environmental purpose of preventing species transfer would be relevant to demonstrating fit. The incumbent supplier was a large company, indicating delivery by an established provider, although the procurement does not state formal capacity thresholds or required accreditations.

## Notice

This project is an extension to the system that is currently installed on RRS Sir David Attenborough. DRAGGONE is an ultrasonic system that prevents build up of microbiological animals and algae on the hull. This then prevents the transfer of invasive species in and out of protected zones like Antarctica. This system will extend the current one fitted to include sea inlets and spaces open to the sea that are not covered by the current system.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096938-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 14 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 5 Oct 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £101,350 |

## Status

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

## 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 | CATHELCO LIMITED |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 38900000 - Miscellaneous evaluation or testing instruments

## Release History

- 14 Oct 2026 at 12:01 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096938-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096938-2026
  14th October 2026 - Contract details 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-078762. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078762.json.