AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) awarded a £49,125 marine-research services requirement to University of Portsmouth for desk-based research on marine-organism wash-ups around UK shores.
Published outcomeThe notice records an active award dated 19 October 2026, with a stated service period from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Market significanceThis is a small, direct below-threshold research award supporting Cefas's Coastal and marine health programme.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
University of Portsmouth
99% confidenceAward ocds-b5fd17-e3452ab9-3662-486d-b060-b0b0fcb6e309-1 · 49125 GBP · Active award
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The award names University of Portsmouth as supplier and records a value of £49,125.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Notice stage
99% confidenceAwarded
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Process display status is "awarded"; source notice type is "Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder".
Award status
98% confidenceActive award
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Award ocds-b5fd17-e3452ab9-3662-486d-b060-b0b0fcb6e309-1 has status "active".
Award decision date
98% confidence19 October 2026
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Award date: 2026-10-19T00:00:00+01:00.
Contract status
97% confidenceA contract signature or execution date is not supplied.
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The supplied award and tender data provide an award status and contract-period dates, but no signature or execution field.
VALUES
Published values explained
Award value
99% confidence£49,125
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Award value is 49125 GBP; tender value is also 49125 GBP.
Value allocation
97% confidenceThe full published award value is associated with the single named supplier.
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One award names one supplier, University of Portsmouth, and records £49,125.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Award date
98% confidence19 October 2026
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Award date: 2026-10-19T00:00:00+01:00.
Award notice publication
99% confidence21 October 2026
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Award notice datePublished: 2026-10-21T10:56:34+01:00.
Stated contract start
98% confidence1 November 2026
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Contract period startDate: 2026-11-01T00:00:00Z.
Stated contract end
98% confidence31 March 2027
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Contract period endDate: 2027-03-31T23:59:59+01:00.
Tender response deadline
98% confidence16 October 2026, 12:00 BST
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Tender period endDate: 2026-10-16T12:00:00+01:00.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceDesk-based research into previous wash-ups of marine organisms on beaches around the United Kingdom.
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Tender description states that the requirement is to provide desk-based research into previous marine-organism wash-ups on UK beaches.
Intended output
98% confidenceImproved understanding and collated information on species or groups reported to wash up on UK shores.
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Tender description specifies improved understanding and collated information on relevant species or groups.
Programme context
97% confidenceCoastal and marine health programme.
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Tender description says the work is part of the Coastal and marine health programme.
Classification
99% confidenceCPV 73112000 — Marine research services.
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Primary classification: CPV 73112000, "Marine research services".
Lots
98% confidenceNo lots are published.
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The supplied lots array is empty and no award lot IDs are provided.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procurement method
99% confidenceDirect procurement
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Process and tender procurementMethod are "direct".
Method detail
99% confidenceSingle tender action (below threshold)
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procurementMethodDetails is "Single tender action (below threshold)".
Competition information
99% confidenceBid numbers, evaluation results and scoring are not supplied.
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No bidder-count, bid, score or evaluation information appears in the supplied notice data.
SME and VCSE suitability flags
96% confidenceMarked suitable for SMEs and VCSEs.
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Tender suitability fields show sme: true and vcse: true.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Stated service period
98% confidence1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027
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Award contractPeriod gives startDate 2026-11-01 and endDate 2027-03-31.
Extension or renewal terms
99% confidenceNot supplied.
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No extension or renewal terms are present in the supplied award or tender data.
Delivery coverage
91% confidenceThe notice lists United Kingdom and several broader or overseas delivery entries; the precise operational delivery geography is unclear.
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Tender deliveryAddresses include United Kingdom, Europe, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, British Oversea Territories, Rest of the World and postcode SK9 4AX.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Commercial structure
99% confidenceA single-supplier, direct below-threshold award valued at £49,125.
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One active award identifies University of Portsmouth, with procurement method detail "Single tender action (below threshold)" and a value of £49,125.
Supplier opportunity signal
96% confidenceThe requirement is specialised desk-based marine research focused on evidence collation and UK wash-up records.
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The scope describes desk-based research and collation of information on marine-organism wash-ups around UK shores.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Award versus concluded contract
98% confidenceThe source supports an active award and a stated contract period, but does not explicitly evidence a signed or executed contract.
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Award status is active; no contract signature or execution data is supplied.
Supplier verification limitation
98% confidenceUniversity of Portsmouth is reported from the source notice; supplier verification was not applicable and no verified company identifier was supplied.
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supplier_identity_status is "not_applicable"; verified company fields are null.
Geography clarity
93% confidenceDelivery geography is broad and internally non-specific, so the exact place of performance cannot be determined from the notice.
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Delivery addresses list multiple territories and a standalone postcode alongside United Kingdom.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- Information not supplied in the published notice: contract signature or execution date, bid count, evaluation criteria, scores, pricing breakdown, detailed deliverables, individual milestones and extension terms.
- No lots or lot-level allocation are published.
- The source provides no verified company number or verified legal name for the supplier; its name is reported as published in the award notice.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
CefasUniversity of Portsmouthmarine wash-ups researchmarine research servicesContracts FinderCoastal and marine health programme
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who won the Cefas marine wash-ups research award?
University of Portsmouth is the supplier named in the active award.
What is the published value of the award?
The published award value is £49,125.
When is the stated contract period?
The notice states 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Was this competitively tendered?
The notice records a direct procurement using a single tender action below threshold. It does not publish bid or evaluation details.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.