Provision of Autonomous Underwater Glider Platforms

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Description

The National Oceanography Centre has awarded a contract for the supply of three autonomous underwater glider platforms, comprising two deep‑rated gliders and one shallow‑water glider, together with associated scientific payloads, ancillary equipment, delivery, testing, and acceptance. This contract has been awarded by way of direct award in accordance with Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, relying on the justification set out in Schedule 5, paragraph 7. The contract concerns the supply of goods by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, and partial replacement of, autonomous underwater glider platforms already in operational use by the National Oceanography Centre. A change of supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods that are different from, or incompatible with, existing platforms and supporting infrastructure, including command and control systems, data handling processes, maintenance arrangements, and trained operational capability. Such incompatibility would give rise to disproportionate technical difficulties in operation and maintenance, increased operational risk, and additional cost and time to implement and validate alternative systems. The conditions set out in Schedule 5, paragraph 7 are therefore satisfied. The contract covers the manufacture and supply of fully configured buoyancy‑driven autonomous underwater gliders intended for deployment in support of oceanographic research and operational programmes. The platforms are required to support both deep‑water and shallow‑water operations and to enable the collection of core oceanographic measurements using integrated scientific sensors. The awarded contract includes delivery of the equipment to the National Oceanography Centre's facilities in Southampton, United Kingdom, together with agreed arrangements for testing and acceptance prior to handover. The contract also includes applicable warranty obligations commencing from formal acceptance. The goods supplied under this contract are compatible with the National Oceanography Centre's existing operational infrastructure, command and control systems, data handling arrangements, and maintenance processes, ensuring continuity of operations and minimising technical and operational risk.

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