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The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has entered into a contract following an open procedure conducted under section 20(2)(a) of the Procurement Act 2023. The competition allowed any interested and qualified supplier to submit a tender, and the process was carried out in full compliance with the Act and associated Regulations. All tender documentation, including the specification, was made available through the MyTenders portal.
Evaluation was undertaken in accordance with the published Invitation to Tender methodology. This included compliance checks against mandatory requirements and pass/fail criteria, scoring of qualitative and technical responses against weighted criteria, pricing evaluation using the stated formula, and overall ranking based on combined quality and price scores to identify the most economically advantageous tender. Due diligence checks were completed prior to award, and a mandatory standstill period was observed before contract signature.
Under this contract, the supplier will provide a pool of broadband ocean-bottom seismometer (OBS) systems for deep-ocean research, together with one complete deck communications and seabed-ranging system, plus commissioning support, documentation and warranties. These systems will support geohazard monitoring, seismic and acoustic studies, and wider marine science. Delivery is required by 31 March 2026 to enable mobilisation for Spring 2026 expeditions. The OBS pool will be deployed worldwide, including depths of at least 6,000 m, across a broad temperature range, and must support long-duration deployments on varied seabed conditions for both passive and active seismic studies.
The contract includes:
Warranties and servicing:
The supplier will warrant electronic and datalogger components, sensors and mechanical elements for at least 12 months and provide any manufacturer-advised servicing or calibrations for the seismometer within the first five years of ownership. Future compatible firmware, software and data processing updates are also included.
Logistics and timetable:
All equipment, consumables and documentation will be delivered no later than 31 March 2026 to enable pre-cruise testing, training and mobilisation for the Spring 2026 expedition window. Delivery includes all logistics necessary to place the equipment into NOC's custody, ready for commissioning activities.
| Supplier | Identifier | Award Value | Lots Won | Cross-References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GURALP SYSTEMS LIMITED | 02199239 | £360,000 | 1 lot Lot 1 | - |
This procurement was divided into 1 lots, each awarded separately. 2 bids were received in total.
| Lot | Value | Bids Received | Awarded To | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 Oct 2025 – Mar 2027 | £360,000 £370,833 initial term | 2 | active |
Weightings from the notice.
Government spending data: This supplier has received £94,165 in 38 payments (over £25k) from UKRI (2023-01-16 to 2023-06-29). View full payment history →
Changes the buyer published to this notice after it first appeared.
Due to e-sender restrictions a description for the prior market engagement was not posted and the incorrect choice of "No" to has market testing taken place was not selected. This has been corrected and the relevant description posted.
It was also automatically noted that this relates to a Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) it does not and the change has been made.