Award

Provision of Lead for Fixed Ballast, RRS Sir David Attenborough

  • UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)

UK6: Contract award notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-075478

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05d1f0 (view related notices)

Published 20 November 2025, 9:26am



Scope

Reference

UKRI-5276

Description

RRS Sir David Attenborough is an Ice class research ship that operates in the polar regions for UKRI research activities. The ship is very heavy towards the bow due to the ice strengthening. To correct the Ballast the ship requires 477 tonnes of lead ballast in the aft of the ship. The lead is to be inserted in man handleable blocks into a specially designed void space within the aft peak ballast tank.

The lead requires to be protected to prevent noise and vibration transmitting through the hull that would interfere with the acoustic equipment and create vibration.


Contract 1. UKRI-5276 Provision of Lead for Fixed Ballast, RRS Sir David Attenborough

Supplier

Contract value

  • £1,933,519 excluding VAT
  • £2,320,222.80 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

18 November 2025

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

20 November 2025

Standstill period

  • End: 2 December 2025
  • 8 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

3 December 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 4 December 2025 to 30 September 2026
  • 9 months, 28 days

Main procurement category

Goods

CPV classifications

  • 14712000 - Lead

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Information about tenders

  • 1 tender received
  • 1 tender assessed in the final stage:
    • 1 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
    • 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
  • 1 supplier awarded contracts
  • 0 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)

Procedure

Procedure type

Open procedure


Supplier

Calder Industrial Materials Ltd

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMLP-3629-BMLQ

C/O Calder Industrial Materials

Chester

CH1 4EX

United Kingdom

Region: UKD63 - Cheshire West and Chester

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 1. UKRI-5276 Provision of Lead for Fixed Ballast, RRS Sir David Attenborough


Contracting authority

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDQJ-7126-JDHG

Polaris House

Swindon, Wiltshire

SN2 1FL

United Kingdom

Contact name: Kate Richardson

Telephone: 01793 442000

Email: nercprocurement@ukri.org

Website: https://www.ukri.org/

Region: UKK14 - Swindon

Organisation type: Public authority - central government