Official UK procurement notice
The Subsea Soundscape (S3) Program Procurement
Authority: Celtic Sea Power Limited (Public body)
Sectors: Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) (38)Research & Development (R&D) (73) Delivery: UK
Published estimate£303,000£363,600 inc. VAT · 1 value update
Submissions closed 31 Mar 2025
Contract term 3 mostarts 21 Apr 2025
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe purpose of this Procurement is to procure for at-sea mooring units, equipped with state-of-the-art broadband acoustic recorders, pop-up acoustic retrieval systems and tag detection capabilities, and delivered to a workshop in Pembrokeshire, Wales, that will be deployed with CTD environmental sampling at service intervals to maximise data capture. S3 will deploy up to 21 remote systems across the Celtic Sea, each consisting of an acoustic release, a fish tag detector, a hydrophone, and a cetacean click-train logger. Where feasible, preference will be given to integrated solutions that combine multiple components-such as fish tag detection and acoustic release-into a single unit to enhance efficiency and deployment simplicity. The total budget of the Contract is £303,000
CPV: Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) · Research and development services and related consultancy services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1Lot 1AwardedPublished value£303,000
- Value
- £303,000 exc. VAT · £363,600 inc. VAT
38000000 Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)73000000 Research and development services and related consultancy services
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).
How bids were scored
- Hydrophone and integrated recorder x 23 — Essential Requirements: • Minimum sampling frequency of 192 kS/s, capable of maintaining a 50% duty cycle for at least 4 months. • Memory: Includable SD cards. Removable/swappable in field conditions. • Power Supply: Removable/swappable in field conditions. • Software: Real-time re/deployment software operable in field conditions. • Housing: Watertight/pressure-tight housing rated to 150 meters (maximum depth). • Hydrophone integrated into recorder body, ensuring consistent angle positioning. • Mounting brackets for attachment to underwater mooring or sub surface line Added Value: • Ability to collect data at the specified rates for 6 months. • Preferred rechargeable power system (batteries). • Multiple Channels: Enable "low" frequency and "high" frequency sampling on differing duty cycles. • Variable Gain functionality for enhanced adaptability.
- CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) Sensor x 1 — Essential Requirements: • Depth Rating: Operational to depths of up to 150 meters. • Wifi compatibility: Wireless data retrieval in field conditions. Components: • Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth sensor. • Protection during deployment and retrieval. • Transit Case Added Value: • Lead Times: Short lead times for delivery of 1 unit will be a high scoring variable. This will be assessed via the evaluation matrix. This consists of various questions with a pass/failure or scored criteria.
- Cetacean Click Train Recorder x 21 — Essential Requirements: • Functionality: Optimized for cetacean acoustic monitoring • Manufacturers to provide compatible analysis software to ensure collected data can be processed. • Depth Rating: Operational to a minimum depth of 150 meters. • Battery Life: Capable of operating for a minimum of 6 months with at least a 50% duty cycle. Added Value: • Lead Times: Short lead times for delivery of 21 units will be a high scoring variable. This will be assessed via the valuation matrix. This consists of various questions with a pass/failure or scored criteria.
- Fish Tag Detector x 21 — Essential Requirements: • Capabilities: Able to detect 69 kHz acoustic tags. • Depth Rating: Operational to a minimum depth of 150 meters. • Battery Life: Minimum operational duration of 6 months. • Power Management: Programmable power levels to optimize performance and extend battery life. Added Value: • Integration Preference: Suppliers who can offer an integrated fish tag detector and acoustic release system, where feasible, will be awarded higher scores for design efficiency and deployment simplicity. • Lead Times: Short lead times for delivery of 21 units will be a high scoring variable. This will be assessed via the evaluation matrix. This consists of various questions with a pass/failure or scored criteria.
- Acoustic Release Device x 21 — Essential Requirements: • Depth Rating: Capable of functioning to depths of up to 150 meters. • Additional Features: Must be compatible with a manual tracking receiver. • A line canister suitable to store a minimum of 200 m of recovery line suitable to lift the deployed equipment back to surface and vessel deck. Mooring weight is around 120 kg plus another ~ 30 kg sensors = 150 kg actual dry weight ( x 3 for safety factor = ~ 500 kg breaking strength for the recovery line). Added Value: • Battery life: A minimum battery life of 6 months, but preference for 9 months or more. • Integrated failsafe mechanism / timed release • Lead Times: Short lead times for delivery of 21 units will be a high scoring variable. This will be assessed via the evaluation matrix. This consists of various questions with a pass/failure or scored criteria.
- Manual Tracking Receiver & Transponder / smart hydrophone (1x/1x) — Essential Requirements: • Functionality: Equipped with GPS positioning for precise localization of acoustic release devices, detect health statistics, and monitor/decode transmitters and will trigger the acoustic release system. Added Value: • Lead Times: Short lead times for delivery of 1 unit will be a high scoring variable. This will be assessed via the evaluation matrix. This consists of various questions with a pass/failure or scored criteria.
- Key Dates — Provide an outline of how the Bidder will deliver the Scope of Work to the required schedule. Added Value: Lead Times: Short lead times for delivery of will be a high-scoring variable. Please provide a Gantt chart for the project schedule and a list of key dates for assessment.
- Health and Safety — Bidders will be required to confirm that they can comply in full with the health and safety obligations under the Contract, including the Services Specification
Conditions of participation2
- Economic & financial standing
During the duration of the contract and for a period of six years afterwards the Supplier shall maintain in force the following insurance policies with reputable insurance companies: (a) public liability insurance for not less than £5 million per claim with more…
no limit on the number of such claims; and (b) product liability insurance for not less than £1 million for claims arising from any single event and not less than £1 million in aggregate for all claims arising in a year; and (c) a comprehensive policy of insurance to cover the liability of the Supplier in respect of any act or omission for which it may become liable to indemnify the Customer for arising out of or in connection with these Conditions. On taking out and on renewing each policy, the Supplier shall promptly send a copy of the receipt for the premium to the Customer. On the Customer's written request, the Supplier shall provide the Customer with copies of the insurance policy certificates and details of the cover provided. - Technical & professional abilityFor the Technical Criteria, in the form of a proposal which meets each of the Requirements set out in paragraph 3 in the ITT
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
- Cancelled
- 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
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 7 Apr 2025, 15:51 BST
- Last source update
- 7 Apr 2025, 15:51 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end — 7 Apr 2025, 23:59 BST
- Authority reference
The Subsea Soundscape (S3) program Procurement- Latest notice
- Procurement termination notice (UK12)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e8a6Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
- As described in the ITT
How it was run
Official noticeRun through: portal not identified
- Submission deadline
- 31 Mar 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 24 Mar 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release
Bidders and Key Sub-Contractors must register on the Central Digital Platform (www.gov.uk/find-tender ↗) and upload their organisational information. This must be done before the Tender Response Deadline.
Timeline
6 published dates · Europe/London- Tender notice published28 Feb 2025, 13:39 GMT
- Clarification questions by24 Mar 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Submission deadline31 Mar 2025, 12:00 BST
- Latest notice published7 Apr 2025, 15:51 BST
- Award decision expected by7 Apr 2025, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts21 Apr 2025, 00:00 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics — not a forecastAwards 1
| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| supplier not published | — | 7 Apr 2025 | CancelledThis Termination Notice in regard to UK Notice 4: Publication reference: 2025/S 000-007529 Tender Notice for The Subsea Soundscape (S3) Programme Procurement and following an evaluation of tenders received , the contracting authority has decided not to award the contract, the contracting authority has made the decision not to award the public contract on Monday 7th April 20225 as none of the bidders meet the six technical requirements set out in the ITT and due to concerns re interoperability there is no alternative but to terminate the existing procurement. |
Notice history
7 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 28 Feb 2025- Procurement termination notice published7 Apr 2025, 15:51 BSTUK12
- Published value updated7 Apr 2025, 15:51 BSTwas £303,000
- Status changed to complete7 Apr 2025, 15:51 BST
- Procurement method changed7 Apr 2025, 15:51 BST
- Deadline withdrawn7 Apr 2025, 15:51 BST
- Buyer details updated7 Apr 2025, 15:51 BST
- Tender notice published28 Feb 2025, 13:39 GMTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (7)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications The Subsea Soundscape (S3) Open Procurement ITT Schedule 1
- Conflict of interest declarationNot published
- Bidding documents and specifications Supply of Goods Agreement
- Bidding documents and specifications The Subsea Soundscape (S3) Open Procurement- Schedule 1
- Bidding documents and specifications The Subsea Soundscape Project (S3) Open Procedure ITT
Notices published for this procedure
- Procurement termination notice Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender