Scope
Reference
18374
Description
Maritime security is a key enabler to UK, Crown Dependency, and British Overseas Territories Security. Border Security Command (BSC) is seeking to procure a maritime situational awareness system that meets the requirements of the Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC) and the Border Security Command Maritime - Channel Operations team. The maritime environment is important both internationally and domestically, impacting the resilience of the UK and our global influence. It is a critical sector for prosperity and security. To deliver maritime security, the UK needs full persistent surveillance capability with the ability to detect non-cooperative-reporting vessels throughout the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), including British Overseas Territories (BOT).
Please note, two separate market engagement events have been held for this requirement previously. Please refer to the engagment section for links to the previous notices.
A decision has been made to join the two requirements Land-Based ISR and Common Operating Picture and JMSC Mobile Maritime Domain Awareness Service into one single procurement (Coastal Maritime ISR Service).
This procurement will strengthen the UK's response to clandestine entry and wider maritime security by delivering a scalable, managed service that provides enhanced domain awareness and supports operational decision-making. The solution will autonomously detect, track, and identify small boats and non-cooperative vessels at range, fusing data from land-based and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) sources with existing platforms. It will integrate AIS, radar, and EO/IR sensors to deliver Tracks as a Service (TKaaS) in near real-time via API to the Royal Navy Maritime Domain Awareness Programme (MDAP) and connect to the Home Office TAK server for a common operating picture accessible to key decision-makers and first responders. A supplier portal will provide camera feeds, alternative track displays, and alerts, ensuring flexibility to meet short-notice operational requirements across the UK, Crown Dependencies, and British Overseas Territories.
Suppliers will be responsible for owning, siting, installing, securing, and operating any hardware in the UK or overseas to provide maritime tracks from selected areas to Border Security Command. The current operational tempo assumes a requirement for 24/7/365 service availability. Suppliers will need to ensure the system is supported with sufficient personnel and process to resolve any issues promptly.
The Supplier solution must :
Respond to asking and provide persistent maritime surveillance of an Area of Interest (AOI) within the UK marine area (and UK Overseas/Dependent Territories). Provide active surveillance feeds across multiple concurrent AOIs around the UK coast delivering tracks as a service. Provide services that will enable/assist in the detection of both cooperative and non‑cooperative‑reporting vessels typically within UK Territorial Waters (TTWs). The solution primarily covers the UK, territorial waters, and BOTs when required. This solution will need to respond to any emerging areas of interest both in the UK and BOT.
Additionally, the service is to provide autonomous domain awareness in a designated high‑priority maritime corridor within UK waters, as directed, to Border Security Command.
The solution must achieve full operational capability within six months of contract award. An interim capability may be acceptable, provided it delivers a minimum viable product agreed with the Home Office, with additional functionality introduced incrementally. The system will utilise a network of existing and additional sensors to autonomously detect, track, classify, and identify small boats at range. Sensor data must be fused with information from existing platforms and presented to end‑users via a web interface and integrated with the Home Office TAK server to provide a common operating picture. Fusion nodes should enable near real‑time decision‑making, creating a cohesive and interoperable system that enhances situational awareness and operational flexibility.
The expected duration of this contract is between three and five years, including any extension periods, with an estimated total value of up to approximately £100 million for the full five‑year term.
The value of the contract includes flexibility to allow for any known areas of interest during the contract term that wasn't known at the start of the contract.
Total value (estimated)
- £100,000,000 excluding VAT
- £120,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2027 to 29 March 2030
- Possible extension to 26 March 2032
- 4 years, 11 months, 26 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72310000 - Data-processing services
- 72222300 - Information technology services
- 35700000 - Military electronic systems
- 35710000 - Command, control, communication and computer systems
- 35720000 - Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance
- 48627000 - Real-time operating system software package
- 72300000 - Data services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Engagement
Engagement deadline
30 January 2026
Engagement process description
The content of this PIN, including the nature of works, services and estimated value, may be subject to change.
This is a subsequent market engagement, following the two previous market engagement events held in June 2025 (Joint Maritime Security Centre Mobile Maritime Domain Awareness Service) and July 2025 (Land Based ISR and Common Operating Picture Managed Service).
Please note that there have been three previous market engagement notices published in relation to these requirements: two under the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR2015) and one under the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23). This clarification is provided to avoid any confusion for suppliers regarding prior communications. The notices can be accessed via the following links:
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013491-2025
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038665-2025
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035519-2025
Market Engagement Approach:
The Authority will not be holding a formal market engagement event; however, we will share details of the requirements to gather feedback from suppliers.
The purpose of this exercise is to understand the level of interest, capacity, and capability within the market to meet the Authority's requirements. We also aim to identify the most cost-effective delivery approach, including any alternative or innovative solutions.
To achieve this, the Authority will provide information to suppliers and invite voluntary feedback. This may include a questionnaire to capture market views and, where appropriate, follow-up discussions with selected suppliers to explore responses in more detail. Please note that due to time constraints, the Authority may not be able to meet with all suppliers who respond.
This activity is for information-gathering purposes only and will not influence any future selection or tender process.
This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is not a call for competition. Suppliers will need to express interest in any future tender opportunity once a formal notice is published.
This PIN relates solely to this market engagement exercise. It is not a pre-qualification questionnaire and does not form part of any selection process.
How to Express Interest:
1. Suppliers must be registered on the Home Office e-Sourcing Portal: https://homeoffice.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html. Registration requires a valid DUNS (Dun and Bradstreet) number for the organisation that would enter into a contract if invited.
2. Once registered, suppliers who believe they can provide the required services should email: ProcurementJMSC@homeoffice.gov.uk by 30 January 2026, using the subject line: Coastal Maritime ISR Service - Expression of Interest.
The email should include your organisation's name, one contact name, email address, and telephone number (matching the details used for portal registration).
Following these steps, invitations to access further details will be issued via the portal, subject to signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).
The anticipated procurement route will be a further competition under the Crown Commercial Service Space Enabled and Geospatial Services RM6235 Dynamic Purchasing System: https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6235. Potential bidders will need to be registered on this DPS when the Authority begins shortlisting/tendering. The indicative timeline for this is May 2026.
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Contracting authority
Home Office
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWGC-6513-PQLZ
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government