Find a TenderPast planning noticePreliminary market engagement notice
Published 12 Sept 2025, 11:25 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Cable Management System- Shore to Ship Power, Oban Base

Official notice

Authority: Northern Lighthouse Board (Central government)

WorksAbove threshold
Planned pipeline value£600,000pipeline notice, not a live tender
Tender notice expected Date not publishedfrom the planned procurement notice
Contract term 4 moends 31 Mar 2026 · starts 1 Dec 2025

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Historically, vessels at Oban Base have relied solely on onboard diesel generators while berthed, leading to continued fuel use and associated emissions. There has been no shore power provision in place.

The procurement of a cable management system is a strategic requirement, aligned with NLB’s long-term sustainability objectives and operational shift toward cleaner technologies. It is driven by the introduction of NLV Pole Star, a new hybrid-powered vessel constructed by Gondán Shipbuilders in Spain. Pole Star features state-of-the-art hybrid systems designed to significantly reduce environmental impact. To fully realise its capabilities, the vessel requires a compatible shore power connection when alongside.

At this stage, we expect the contract scope to cover the supply, delivery, installation support, commissioning, and maintenance of a shore-to-ship cable management system at Oban Base, however this is to be confirmed. This includes all associated equipment, software (if applicable), training for NLB and vessel crews, and ongoing support services.

We are inviting expressions of interest from suppliers who can provide mobile cable management systems that meet the key operational, technical, and environmental requirements of the Shore to Ship Project at Oban Base. The selected solution should adhere to the following essential project constraints:

Flexibility and Mobility: The system must be fully mobile, allowing for easy deployment and removal, with minimal impact on the base's operations when not in use.

Compatibility with Tidal Movements: The solution must be capable of operating effectively across the full tidal range at Oban Base, with the ability to accommodate fluctuations in water level while maintaining safe and stable cable connections.

Safety and Compliance: The system must comply with relevant safety standards, including IEC PAS 80005-3, ensuring safe operation during cable connection and disconnection processes. The design should incorporate features that prevent damage to cables and ensure the integrity of the connection under dynamic marine conditions.

Minimal Infrastructure Impact: The solution should require minimal or no modifications to existing infrastructure at Oban Base, particularly avoiding the need for significant deck strengthening or large-scale civil works.

Environmental Suitability: The system must be able to withstand harsh marine environments, with corrosion-resistant materials and the ability to operate effectively in a range of weather and sea conditions.

Operational Simplicity: The system should be user-friendly, requiring minimal training for both shore and ship personnel. It should also involve straightforward maintenance procedures to ensure long-term reliability and ease of operation.

We invite suppliers who can meet these criteria to engage with us. Please contact us to express your interest and to discuss how your solution can support the successful delivery of this important project.

For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:

nlb.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Edinbu… ↗

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:

nlb.delta-esourcing.com/respond/A3UXK468NS ↗

CPV: Marine equipment · Marine installations · Marine-base support services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1Planned 4 mo

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Works
Notice status
Past planning notice
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
12 Sept 2025, 11:25 BST
Last source update
12 Sept 2025, 11:25 BST
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-056101
Latest notice
Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
Classification (CPV)
Marine equipmentMarine installationsMarine-base support services
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-059936 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

12 Sept 2025 → 1 Dec 2025 · 3 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    12 Sept 2025, 11:25 BST
  2. Market engagement390 days ago
    30 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST

    If you can support this project with viable solutions, or have expertise in developing or enhancing mobile cable management technology that meets the outlined operational and technical requirements, we invite you to get in touch. Your feedback, technical insights, and proposals are valuable as we explore potential solutions and move towards the procurement phase.

  3. Contract starts329 days ago
    1 Dec 2025

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    12 Sept 2025, 11:25 BST
    UK2

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Pipeline notice
Awards (0)
No award published
Contracts (0)
No contract published
Bid statistics
No aggregate bid statistics published

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Northern Lighthouse Board

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PMGV-7529-QWXG 84 George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH2 3DAContact name, email, phone

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure