Research Vessel Charter - Antarctic

The below justification set out in Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 applies to this Direct Award; Single Supplier (6) The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract— (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. The University of Plymouth requires the charter of a specialist Antarctic research vessel to deliver the Antarctic Canyon Experiment (ACE), a European-funded research project involving two complex Antarctic field seasons 12 months apart in the Ross Sea. The project requires the deployment and recovery of scientific instrumentation at depths of up to 3,500 metres, together with seabed mapping, sediment coring, oceanographic surveying, and long-term monitoring activities. The University has identified that only RV Laura Bassi can meet the combined technical, operational and scheduling requirements of the project. The requirement is not for a standard vessel charter but for a fully integrated polar research platform with: Polar Class 5 icebreaker capability and Polar Code certification. Dynamic positioning for precise station keeping during scientific operations. Specialist oceanographic and geophysical systems, including multibeam echo sounders, sub-bottom profilers and ADCP equipment. Dedicated wet and dry laboratory facilities, including externally vented fume hoods required for the safe preparation of scientific reagents. Significant deck space, cargo capacity and deployment infrastructure for moorings, sediment traps, coring equipment and autonomous vehicles. Experienced onboard technical personnel able to support the construction, deployment and recovery of complex scientific equipment. The project also requires access to the Ross Sea in January-February 2027 and again in January-February 2028 to recover equipment deployed during the first expedition. Due to the short Antarctic operating season and the fixed schedules of national Antarctic programmes, availability is a critical technical requirement. R/V Laura Bassi has confirmed availability for both field seasons and already operates within the Ross Sea as part of the Italian National Antarctic Programme. RV Laura Bassi is considered to be the only vessel currently available that can meet the University's combined technical, operational and scheduling requirements. The vessel has the capability to operate safely within the Ross Sea during the required Antarctic field seasons in January-February 2027 and January-February 2028 and can commit to supporting both expeditions. In addition, it provides the required combination of Polar Class 5 icebreaking capability, specialist scientific infrastructure, dedicated laboratory facilities, deployment and recovery equipment, and experienced technical support personnel necessary to deliver the Antarctic Canyon Experiment (ACE). Funding relevant to this notice benefits from European Research Council (ERC) grant funding under Project 101169829 - Antarctic Canyon Experiment (ACE)