Official UK procurement notice
ID 6221637 - AFBI - Supply, Delivery, Software Support and Warranty of Integrated Freshwater Data Buoys and Monitoring Hardware
Authority: Agri-Food and Biosciences InstitutePublic Procurement Organisation (Central government)·On behalf of: CPD
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionAFBI requires the supply and delivery of 5 data buoys with associated sensor packages, and 7 stand-alone Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Loggers. Both the integrated data buoys and the temperature DO loggers will require appropriate software and technical support for an initial contract period of three years as a minimum. This contract will be divided into 2 separate Lots for the provision of the Data Buoys and the Loggers, as detailed below. Please note that ALL instrumentation supplied under Lot 1 must be able to operate (maintain autonomous power) for minimum of three months and reliably telemeter data from any location in Lough Neagh (Note; GSM network cover is poor in many areas of Lough Neagh).
Lot 1 - Supply, Delivery, Support and Maintenance of 5 Data Buoys and Associated Instruments, comprising of Part A - Two (2) Fully Instrumented Data Buoys with a comprehensive sensor package.
Part A will be purchased upon Contract Award, delivery of Part A to AFBI's Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems Branch, Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5PX must be completed by 31/03/26.
Part B - Three (3) Basic Instrumented Data Buoys, without plankton and nutrient sensors.
It is anticipated that Part B will be ordered during the 2026/2027 Financial Year
Lot 2 - Supply, Delivery and Software
Support of Seven (7) stand-alone Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Loggers
Lot 2 will be purchased on Contract Award, delivery to AFBI's Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems Branch, Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5PX must be completed by 31/03/26
Suppliers are permitted to tender for either or both Lots. Both Lots will be evaluated and awarded separately. Suppliers must provide all instruments and meet all requirements as listed in the detailed requirements of this Specification document for the Lot(s) they are awarded, for the duration of the contract period. Please refer to the Specification document for full details.
CPV: Buoy maintenance services · Buoy marking services · Buoy positioning services · Environmental services · Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) · Map-making services · Marine equipment · Marine research services · Marine services · Marine survey services · Marine-base support services · Marker buoys · +10 more
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value (£629,620 together) · same conditions of participation on every lotLot #1Supply, Delivery, Support and Maintenance of 5 Data Buoys and Associated InstrumentsAwardedRenewalPublished value£494,050
Lot 1 – Supply, Delivery, Support and Maintenance of 5 Data Buoys and Associated Instruments, comprising of;
Part A - Two (2) Fully Instrumented Data Buoys with a comprehensive sensor package, as detailed below
Part B - Three (3) Basic Instrumented Data Buoys, without plankton and nutrient sensors
Part A will be purchased upon Contract Award, it is anticipated Part B will be ordered during the 2026/2027 Financial Year
- Economic & financial standing
N/A
- Technical & professional ability
As per Tender documentation.
Lot #2Supply, Delivery and Software Support of Seven (7) stand-alone Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) LoggersAwardedRenewalPublished value£135,570
Lot 2 – Supply, Delivery and Software Support of Seven (7) stand-alone Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Loggers
Lot 2 will be purchased on Contract Award
- Economic & financial standing
N/A
- Technical & professional ability
As per Tender documentation.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- Economic & financial standing
N/A
- Technical & professional ability
As per Tender documentation.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 16 Dec 2025, 16:34 GMT
- Last source update
- 3 Mar 2026, 14:38 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 23 Jan 2026
- Authority reference
6221637- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-083535- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f722Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
For further details on invoicing procedures please see : www.finance-ni.gov.uk/ar ↗ ticles/account-ni-good-invoicing-practice
Contract Value
The estimated value figure indicated in the Scope Section represents an overall estimated contract value. This value reflects the potential scale of the contract and takes into account potential optional extension periods and the uptake of potential optional services as detailed in the tender documents. This figure does not however take into account the application of indexation or increases to charges due to increases in the Real Living Wage. Neither CPD nor the contracting Authority can provide any guarantee as to the level of business under this contract. The Contracting Authority does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender. Suppliers remain responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by them or by any third party acting under instructions from the Supplier in connection with taking part in this procurement process regardless of whether such costs arise as a consequence, directly or indirectly of any amendments made to the procurement documents by the Contracting Authority at any time. No legally binding contract shall arise (and a Supplier shall have no legitimate expectation that a contract will be entered into) until such time as entry into the Contract has been confirmed by the Contracting Authority.
- Risks
Exclusions
If at any time during the procurement, or post award, it comes to the attention of the Contracting Authority (CA) or CPD, by whatever means, that a Supplier has become ‘excluded’ or ‘excludable’ as per Sec 57 of the PA 2023, the CA, after compliance with its obligations under the PA 23, reserves the right to exclude said Supplier from the procurement procedure or terminate any contract they have been awarded.
The Contracting Authority expressly reserves the rights:
(I). not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice;
(II). to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering Competition;
(III). to award (a) contract(s) in respect of any part(s) of the [services] covered by this notice; and
(IV). to award contract(s) in stages.
and in no circumstances will the Authority be liable for any costs incurred by candidates.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 16 Jan 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 9 Jan 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Tenders must be submitted electronically via the relevant Call for Tender (CfT) opportunity on eTendersNI, website details immediately below.
Paper submissions will not be accepted or considered and will be rejected by the Contracting Authority / Buyer.
The tender documents are available with unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: URL etendersni.gov.uk/epps ↗
Timeline
16 Dec 2025 → 3 Mar 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published304 days ago16 Dec 2025, 16:34 GMT
- Clarification questions by280 days ago9 Jan 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Submission deadline273 days ago16 Jan 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by266 days ago23 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Assessment summaries sent264 days ago26 Jan 2026
- Contract starts257 days ago2 Feb 2026
- Standstill ends254 days ago4 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Latest notice published227 days ago3 Mar 2026, 14:38 GMT
Notice history
5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 16 Dec 2025- Tender notice published16 Dec 2025, 16:34 GMTUK4
- Contract award notice published26 Jan 2026, 12:25 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete26 Jan 2026, 12:25 GMT
- Contract signature expected5 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published3 Mar 2026, 14:38 GMTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Supply, Delivery, Support and Maintenance of 5 Data Buoys and Associated Instruments1 award | |||
| TechWorks Marine LimitedSME6 Feb 2026 – 5 Feb 2029 · up to 5 Feb 2031Extensions: Two optional extension periods of up to 12 months each. | £1,026,084 | 26 Jan 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Supply, Delivery and Software Support of Seven (7) stand-alone Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Loggers1 award | |||
| RS Aqua LtdSME +1 morejoint award6 Feb 2026 – 5 Feb 2029 · up to 5 Feb 2033Extensions: Four optional warranty extension periods of up to 12 months each are available. | £80,875 | 26 Jan 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Lot 1 - Supply, Delivery, Support and Maintenance of 5 Data Buoys and Associated Instruments · TechWorks Marine LimitedSME
- Signed
- 5 Feb 2026
- Value
- £1,026,084
- Period
- 6 Feb 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Two optional extension periods of up to 12 months each.
- Options
- The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid; This Contract provides the right to additional purchases while the contract is valid, as outlined in the Specification Document. These will be dependent on the Buyer's decision to proceed with them, based on business need and budget allocation. - The contract provides the Buyer with the option to purchase additional, spare Multi-Parameter Sondes at the price tendered in the pricing schedule during the contract period. - The Buyer reserves the right to buy more storage if required through the life of the contract including extensions if applicable. Suppliers must provide for additional storage which will be purchased in increments of 10GB as required.
No agreed KPIs: The value of this contract is below the relevant threshold of £5 million including VAT and as such the reporting and publication of KPIs is not mandated.
Lot 2 - Supply, Delivery and Software Support of Seven (7) stand-alone Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Loggers · RS Aqua LtdSME +1 more
- Signed
- 5 Feb 2026
- Value
- £80,875
- Period
- 6 Feb 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Four optional warranty extension periods of up to 12 months each are available.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Supply, Delivery, Support and Maintenance of 5 Data Buoys and Associated Instruments | 2final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Supply, Delivery and Software Support of Seven (7) stand-alone Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Loggers | 3final-stage tenders | 3 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
3 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- CPDBeneficiary authority
- CPD - Supplies & Services DivisionProcess contact pointProcuring entityConstruction and Procurement Delivery - Supplies and Services Division, is a Centre of Procurement Expertise and provides acentral procurement function for central government in Northern Ireland
Bidders & participating suppliers
3 commercial parties on the notice- R.S. AQUA LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- R.S. AQUA LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- TechWorks Marine LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender