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Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract details notice
Published 17 Sept 2025, 09:58 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Autonomous Underwater Research Vehicles

Official notice

Authority: Cardiff University (Education)

Direct awardSME suitable
Sectors: Transport Equipment & Vehicles (34)Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) (38) Delivery: Wales (UKL22)
Awarded value£605,094published award · exc. VAT
Awarded 16 Sept 2025no call for competition
Awarded to Planet Ocean Ltd

What is being bought

Published requirement description

This project proposes to enhance UK capabilities for polar sea-bed survey, specifically filling an important gap in assets currently occupied by costly infrastructure and resource-heavy robotic systems.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1AwardedSME
Delivery: WalesEligibility: SME eligible
34513550 Survey vessels38296000 Surveying instruments

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Direct award
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
17 Sept 2025, 09:58 BST
Last source update
14 Oct 2025, 10:15 BST
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-065038
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Delivery area
Wales (UKL22)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-059bf1 Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Prototypes Development
Published justification

Against the criteria set out in Market Conditions, only one supplier is able to offer something that meet all requirements, technologically and financially. In addition to this, there are numerous developments and prototyping which must take place to make the existing units fit for the research purpose, in the number required, and within the budget given by UKRI-NERC. These prototypes must at minimum be Antarctic sea-floor environment accessible, and form part of a low-cost, low-logistics deep water AUV swarm.

Review and risk notes
Risks

Failure to deliver

Failure of components

Adjusting designs

Further R&D

Any Other

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

29 Sept 2025 → 14 Oct 2025 · 2 dates
  1. Standstill ends386 days ago
    29 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
  2. Notice published372 days ago
    14 Oct 2025, 10:15 BST

Notice history

4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 17 Sept 2025
  1. Transparency notice published
    17 Sept 2025, 09:58 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    18 Sept 2025, 16:18 BST
    UK6
  3. Contract signature expected
    1 Oct 2025, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
  4. Contract details notice published
    14 Oct 2025, 10:15 BST
    UK7

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £605,0941 award exc. VAT
Contracts signed 1latest 3 Oct 2025
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Planet Ocean LtdSME2 Oct 2025 – 31 Mar 2026£605,09416 Sept 2025Awarded

Contracts

  • Autonomous Underwater Research Vehicle · Planet Ocean LtdSME

    Signed
    3 Oct 2025
    Value
    £605,095
    Period
    6 Oct 2025 – 31 Dec 2026
    Status
    active
    1 agreed KPI: Timely Delivery
    • Timely Delivery

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Cardiff University

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central governmentWelsh devolved regulations apply GB-PPON: PHVT-4343-HWYR Procurement Services, Cardiff, Wales, CF24 4HQContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Planet Ocean LimitedAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PBMT-3252-TZBN Unit 16, Camberley Business Centre, Bracebridge, Camberley, South East, GU15 3DPContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender