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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Marine Research Vessel Refit, Maintenance, Equipment and Support Services Framework

National Oceanography Centre · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 23 Sept 2026, 06:26.

Opportunity overview

The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is looking to establish an open framework for the refit, maintenance, equipping and sustainment of its operational research vessels, including RRS James Cook and RRS Discovery, together with associated marine assets and scientific systems, across their working life. The support sought is expected to include the following broad areas, which are indicative and not exhaustive. Refit and docking support across the classification cycle, including the intermediate and special survey work falling due within it, broadly covering hull, structural and coating work, propulsion and steering intervention, tailshaft and rudder work, and the repair and renewal identified through survey. Both wet berth and dry dock coverage will be needed over the life of the framework, and the structure will be designed to accommodate suppliers offering either or both. General marine engineering and support capability, required both during refit periods and on an ongoing basis outside them, in the United Kingdom and overseas, broadly covering marine mechanical and electrical engineering, fabrication, pipework and hydraulics, HVAC, cabling and systems installation, interior works, running maintenance, defect rectification, modification, and commissioning and mobilisation to port. Support for critical vessel systems, from original equipment manufacturers and their approved partners, broadly covering propulsion, engines and gearboxes, navigation and bridge systems, communications and information and operational technology, electrical distribution and generation, safety and lifesaving systems, and control, automation and energy management, together with the inspection, overhaul, upgrade and certification these systems require. Support for marine research and survey systems, including supply, installation, integration, calibration, servicing and upgrade, broadly covering multibeam and singlebeam echo sounders, sub bottom profilers and acoustic positioning, oceanographic and environmental sensors and sensor packages, water column and seabed sampling systems, deck handling and over the side deployment equipment, and the associated data acquisition, processing and control infrastructure. Technical and professional marine services, independent of the yards, broadly covering naval architecture, marine surveying, superintendency, class liaison, project and programme management and specialist engineering consultancy. Supply of maritime hardware on a supply only basis, broadly covering equipment, spares, components and consumables, including original equipment manufacturer and approved equivalent parts. Capability for decarbonisation and environmental retrofit is of interest across all of the above. The framework is expected to be divided into lots. The lot structure, the number of suppliers appointed to each lot and the call off mechanisms will be confirmed following preliminary market engagement. Suppliers will be able to apply for one or more lots, and geographic capability, together with dry dock or wet berth capability, will be recorded at framework stage. NOC will be the sole contracting authority. The framework is expected to be established as an open framework under the Procurement Act 2023, with a duration of up to eight years, and will be reopened to new suppliers at points set out in the framework documents. Work will be ordered by call off contract on a task by task basis, covering both programmed and unplanned requirements, at yards, ports and NOC sites in the United Kingdom and overseas. Call off routes are expected to include direct award and further competition among the suppliers appointed to the relevant lot, with the applicable route set out in the framework at the outset. The estimated total value of the framework is estimated to be worth between £65,000,000 & £100,000,000 excluding VAT over its full duration. No guarantee of volume or value is given to any supplier appointed to the framework.

Classification

  • CPV34512000 — Ships and similar vessels for the transport of persons or goods
  • CPV34513000 — Fishing, emergency and other special vessels
  • CPV34930000 — Marine equipment
  • CPV38290000 — Surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic and hydrological instruments and appliances
  • CPV50240000 — Repair, maintenance and associated services related to marine and other equipment
  • CPV50500000 — Repair and maintenance services for pumps, valves, taps and metal containers and machinery
  • CPV51145000 — Installation services of marine engines
  • CPV51200000 — Installation services of equipment for measuring, checking, testing and navigating
  • CPV71300000 — Engineering services
  • CPV98360000 — Marine services

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
2026PRNOC-1217
Main Procurement Category
services
Above Threshold
Yes
Status
planned

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Additional Procurement Categories

goods

Techniques

Has Framework Agreement
Yes

Communication

Future Notice Date
15 Jan 2027, 23:59

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
planned

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Starts
1 Aug 2027, 01:00
Ends
31 Jul 2035, 00:59

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
34512000
Description
Ships and similar vessels for the transport of persons or goods
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
34513000
Description
Fishing, emergency and other special vessels
Entry 3
Scheme
CPV
Id
34930000
Description
Marine equipment
Entry 4
Scheme
CPV
Id
38290000
Description
Surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic and hydrological instruments and appliances
Entry 5
Scheme
CPV
Id
50240000
Description
Repair, maintenance and associated services related to marine and other equipment
Entry 6
Scheme
CPV
Id
50500000
Description
Repair and maintenance services for pumps, valves, taps and metal containers and machinery
Entry 7
Scheme
CPV
Id
51145000
Description
Installation services of marine engines
Entry 8
Scheme
CPV
Id
51200000
Description
Installation services of equipment for measuring, checking, testing and navigating
Entry 9
Scheme
CPV
Id
71300000
Description
Engineering services
Entry 10
Scheme
CPV
Id
98360000
Description
Marine services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UK
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Planning and budget

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Description
Purpose and scope of the engagement: NOC is undertaking preliminary market engagement ahead of establishing this framework. The purpose is to allow the market to shape it before any tender documents are prepared. Engagement will cover all aspects of the requirement set out above, including the grouping of services and the lot structure, the number of suppliers to be appointed to each lot, call off mechanisms, the recording of geographic and dry dock or wet berth capability, and the practical operation of an open framework over an eight year term. Nothing is fixed and supplier input may change any of it. How to express interest Suppliers wishing to take part should complete the registration form below: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/xaKC8NASbR The form records supplier contact details and asks which engagement activities are relevant to your organisation. NOC will use it to issue invitations, questionnaires and further information. Registration remains open throughout the engagement period, although suppliers registering later may not be able to take part in activities already held. Engagement activities The activities that follow will depend on the responses received. They may include any of the following: - a further market engagement questionnaire - a general supplier day or briefing event - targeted one to one meetings with NOC - supplier presentations or demonstrations of relevant services, technology or capability - site visits, shipyard visits, workshop visits or operational demonstrations - written feedback on proposed service groupings or scope - collaborative or technical workshops Participation is voluntary and suppliers may take part in some, all or none of these activities. Locations and dates: Dates, formats and attendance arrangements are not yet fixed. NOC currently expects preliminary market engagement to conclude by December 2026 and will update the market if that period changes. Events may be held at NOC premises in Southampton or Liverpool, online, or at supplier, yard or workshop premises where a visit or demonstration is involved. Dates, venues and joining arrangements will be confirmed directly to registered suppliers. Clarification questions: Clarification questions should be sent by email to tenders@noc.ac.uk, quoting reference 2026PRNOC-1217 in the subject line. NOC will not respond individually where a question and its answer are of general application. Those will be issued to all registered suppliers with the identity of the questioner withheld. General: Participation is not a condition of taking part in any future procurement, and taking part or not taking part will neither advantage nor disadvantage any supplier. Information provided during engagement is indicative only and does not commit NOC to any particular scope, structure, value or timetable, or to proceeding with the procurement. Costs incurred by suppliers in taking part will not be reimbursed. One thing worth deciding before publication: whether general clarification responses go only to registered suppliers, as drafted, or are published more widely. Restricting them to the form registration list is defensible, but it does mean a supplier who reads the notice and does not register will not see them.
Due
1 Dec 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled

Documents

Entry 1
Id
088885-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Published
18 Sept 2026, 16:32
Format
text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
National Oceanography Centre
Id
GB-COH-11444362

Identifier

Scheme
GB-COH
Id
11444362

Additional Identifiers

Entry 1
Scheme
GB-CHC
Id
1185265
Entry 2
Scheme
GB-SC
Id
SC049896
Entry 3
Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PYLV-3456-PMCQ

Address

Street Address
National Oceanography Centre
Locality
Southampton
Postal Code
SO14 3ZH
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKJ32

Contact

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - sub-central government

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Southampton · UKJ32 · SO14 3ZH · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UK · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

2 VERSIONS
  1. 078599-2026Pipeline notice on Find a Tender ·
  2. 088885-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·