Scope
Reference
CS-26-123
Description
About the Office for National Statistics (ONS)
ONS is the UK's largest independent producer of official statistics and is the National Statistical Institute for the UK. Formally, it is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-Ministerial Department established by the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. It is responsible for collecting and publishing statistics related to the economy, population, and society at national, regional and local levels. ONS plays a leading role in national and international good practice in the production of official statistics.
Introduction
The Office for National Statistics has a requirement for the Provision of UK Shipping Data. This data will be used to publish statistics on the provision of shipping services and UK-based traders, involved in the shipping industry. These aggregated statistics feed into the calculation of Balance of Payments transactions; supply aggregate UK trade in shipping services to Eurostat in accordance with Balance of Payments Regulations; Publish aggregate trade in goods statistics on the import/export of ships; and carry out research and quality assurance work within Government to inform trade policy. The ONS requires the provision of data, preferably monthly but as a minimum quarterly. This should include historic data as well as data for the latest time periods. The data required can be broken into four categories:
1. Sale and Purchase of UK Owned Ships
2. Bareboat Chartering Arrangements where one Party is a UK Entity
3. Services Purchased in UK Ports by Non-UK Ships
4. Sea Freight Data
See annex for more detail.
The types of organisations that should consider contacting us:
Organisations who can provide all the data we require.
What can a contract with ONS offer?
An opportunity to work with a world class statistics organisation, to create better and more timely statistics to be used by all for the benefit of the public good. There is a possibility for this work to be funded if all requirements are met by the provider.
How to register
When you have expressed an interest, please submit a return to Ellie.stafford@ons.gov.uk with the following information to allow ONS to have an understanding of what your company can offer. Please include as a minimum:
• Organisation Name
• Contact details
• Brief description of primary activity of organisation
• Type of data you can provide and support available
Any future tenders will be conducted through ONS's 'DPS Data SaSiE'. If you would like to sign up for this in readiness to receive any future tender packs, please search for the DPS title on the e-tendering portal and 'opt in'. This will take you through to the associated documentation for your organisation to apply.
Additional Information
This Exercise is NOT a pre-qualification or selection exercise and is NOT part of any pre-qualification or selection process that may apply to any future potential procurement. It is intended to act as an awareness and information gathering exercise offering an opportunity for suppliers to advise the extent to which they potentially can provide some or all the services that ONS may require, in order to help ONS with its future intentions.
Annex
1. Sale and Purchase of UK Owned Ships The successful Supplier must provide:
• List of ships where registered / legal ownership has transferred between a UK and a non-UK owner.
• An indicator as to whether the ship is a new-build or second-hand in the transactions above.
• Indicator specifying whether the transaction above is the sale of a UK ship or the purchase of a non-UK ship.
• The country of the non-UK counterpart in the transactions above.
• Value paid in these transactions - using actual sale/purchase values where available and estimates based on market value otherwise.
2. Bareboat Chartering Arrangements where one Party is a UK Entity The successful Supplier must provide:
• List of ships under these chartering arrangements.
• The country of the non-UK bareboat charterer the ship was chartered to, if chartered from a UK registered / legal owner, estimated based on a set of clearly defined assumptions if unknown.
• The country of the non-UK registered / legal owner the ship was chartered from, if chartered by a UK bareboat charterer, estimated based on a set of clearly defined assumptions if unknown.
• The value of the ship under the chartering arrangement using either actual reported values where available or estimates using market values were not available.
3. Services Purchased in UK Ports by Non-UK Ships The successful Supplier must provide:
• Port / Harbour Dues on Vessels (including conservancy charges)
• Wharfage / Port Dues on Cargo
• Passenger Dues
• Berthing and Mooring Dues
• Stevedoring / Cargo Handling
• Pilotage / Towage
• Warehousing / Storage Dues
• Agency Fees / Commissions • Other Services (e.g., Water, Waste, Security etc.)
4. Sea Freight Data The successful Supplier must provide:
• Sea freight revenues earned on all goods imported into the UK by non-UK operated ships (commercial operator).
• Sea freight revenues earned on all goods transported around the UK coast by non-UK operated ships (commercial operator).
• The country of the non-UK commercial operators earning the freight revenues.
Total value (estimated)
- £360,000 excluding VAT
- £432,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028
- Possible extension to 31 March 2029
- 3 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72300000 - Data services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Engagement
Engagement deadline
6 February 2026
Engagement process description
How to register
When you have expressed an interest, please submit a return to Ellie.stafford@ons.gov.uk with the following information to allow ONS to have an understanding of what your company can offer. Please include as a minimum:
• Organisation Name
• Contact details
• Brief description of primary activity of organisation
• Type of data you can provide and support available
Any future tenders will be conducted through ONS's 'DPS Data SaSiE'. If you would like to sign up for this in readiness to receive any future tender packs, please search for the DPS title on the e-tendering portal and 'opt in'. This will take you through to the associated documentation for your organisation to apply.
Additional Information
This Exercise is NOT a pre-qualification or selection exercise and is NOT part of any pre-qualification or selection process that may apply to any future potential procurement. It is intended to act as an awareness and information gathering exercise offering an opportunity for suppliers to advise the extent to which they potentially can provide some or all the services that ONS may require, in order to help ONS with its future intentions.
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Contracting authority
Office for National Statistics
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMZG-4913-JQXG
Government Buildings, Cardiff Road
Newport
NP10 8XG
United Kingdom
Email: CommercialTeam@ons.gov.uk
Region: UKL21 - Monmouthshire and Newport
Organisation type: Public authority - central government