AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
UK Research & Innovation awarded CATHELCO LIMITED a direct, below-threshold contract to extend the DRAGGONE ultrasonic hull-protection system on RRS Sir David Attenborough, including sea inlets and spaces open to the sea.
Published outcomeThe published contract record is active, was signed on 5 October 2026, and runs to 31 December 2026.
Market significanceThis is a specialist marine biofouling-control purchase supporting protection against the transfer of invasive species in sensitive areas including Antarctica.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
CATHELCO LIMITED
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · 101350 GBP · Verified supplier; active award and contract
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Award 1 names Cathelco Ltd as supplier; supplier verification provides legal name CATHELCO LIMITED, company number 00562740, matched by exact name. Contract 1, linked to award 1, has value amount GBP 101,350.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Notice type
99% confidenceContract details notice on Find a Tender
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Document 096938-2026 is described as a "Contract details notice on Find a Tender" and carries award and contract tags.
Procurement status
97% confidenceComplete
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Tender status is "complete"; the published process display status is "awarded".
Award status
98% confidenceActive
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Award 1 status is "active".
Contract status
98% confidenceActive
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Contract 1 status is "active".
Contract signature
99% confidenceSigned on 5 October 2026
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Contract 1 lists dateSigned as 2026-10-05.
VALUES
Published values explained
Contract value excluding VAT
99% confidenceGBP 101,350
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Contract 1 value.amount is 101350 and currency is GBP.
Contract value including VAT
99% confidenceGBP 121,620
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Contract 1 value.amountGross is 121620.
Value allocation
97% confidenceThe published contract value is linked to award 1 and lot 1.
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Contract 1 references awardID 1; award 1 relates to lot 1.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Contract signed
99% confidence5 October 2026
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Contract 1 dateSigned is 2026-10-05.
Contract start
99% confidence5 October 2026
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Contract 1 period.startDate is 2026-10-05.
Contract end
99% confidence31 December 2026
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Contract 1 period.endDate is 2026-12-31T23:59:59Z.
Notice published
99% confidence14 October 2026
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Document 096938-2026 datePublished is 2026-10-14.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceExtension of the installed DRAGGONE ultrasonic protection system on RRS Sir David Attenborough.
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Tender description states that the project extends the system currently installed on the vessel.
Operational coverage
99% confidenceSea inlets and spaces open to the sea not covered by the existing system.
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Tender description expressly identifies these additional areas.
Intended outcome
98% confidenceReduce microbiological animal and algae build-up on the hull and help prevent transfer of invasive species into and out of protected zones.
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Tender description states these functions and refers to protected zones such as Antarctica.
Procurement category
98% confidenceGoods
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Award 1 mainProcurementCategory is "goods".
CPV classification
97% confidence38900000 — Miscellaneous evaluation or testing instruments
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Award item 1 contains this CPV classification.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procurement method
99% confidenceDirect
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Tender procurementMethod is "direct".
Procedure detail
99% confidenceBelow threshold - without competition
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Tender procurementMethodDetails states "Below threshold - without competition".
Competition information
99% confidenceNo competition was conducted under the stated procedure.
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The procedure is explicitly described as below threshold and without competition.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Term
99% confidence5 October 2026 to 31 December 2026
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Contract 1 period start and end dates.
Duration
92% confidenceApproximately 88 days
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Calculated from the explicit 5 October 2026 start and 31 December 2026 end dates.
Above-threshold status
99% confidenceNo
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Contract 1 aboveThreshold is false.
Extension or renewal provisions
99% confidenceUnknown
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Information not supplied in the published notice data.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Purchase context
98% confidenceThe requirement extends an existing vessel-installed system rather than describing a wholly new installation.
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Tender description calls the project an extension to the system currently installed on RRS Sir David Attenborough.
Route-to-market context
99% confidenceThe buyer used a direct, below-threshold procedure without competition.
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Published procurement method and method detail state direct and below threshold without competition.
Commercial scale
99% confidenceThe published contract value is GBP 101,350 excluding VAT (GBP 121,620 including VAT).
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Contract value fields state amount 101350 and amountGross 121620 in GBP.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Supplier identity
99% confidenceVerified
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Supplier verification completed with an exact-name match to CATHELCO LIMITED (company number 00562740).
Award date
99% confidenceNot published
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Award 1 has no award_date value.
Lot detail
99% confidenceLot 1 has no published title, description or separate lot value.
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Lot 1 title, description and value fields are null.
Evaluation detail
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice.
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No evaluation scores, rationale, bidder list or pricing breakdown is provided.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- No award decision date is published.
- Lot 1 has no published title, description or individual value.
- Information on bid responses, evaluation, award rationale and pricing breakdown is not supplied in the published notice.
- No extension or renewal terms are published; the estimated post-end-date horizon is not a procurement forecast.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
UKRICATHELCO LIMITEDDRAGGONERRS Sir David Attenboroughultrasonic protectionmarine biofoulingFind a Tenderpublic procurement
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who won the UKRI DRAGGONE ultrasonic protection contract?
CATHELCO LIMITED, verified as company number 00562740, won award 1.
What is the value of the contract?
The contract value is GBP 101,350 excluding VAT and GBP 121,620 including VAT.
When does the contract run?
The published contract period runs from 5 October 2026 to 31 December 2026.
How was the contract procured?
UKRI used a direct, below-threshold procedure without competition.
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.