Ship Refit Contract RRS Discovery & RRS James Cook

The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) intends to procure a contract for the refit, maintenance, and upgrade of the research vessels RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook. The estimated annual value of the contract is £1.5 million. The contract is essential to ensure both vessels remain fit for purpose, compliant with Classification Society and Flag State regulations, and capable of supporting world-class scientific operations.

The proposed contract will be a fixed-period agreement with a single supplier for all refit works, maintenance, and upgrades required to maintain operational capability.

Depending on the outcome of soft market testing and market feedback, NOC may extract the immediate Discovery refit window (March-April 2026) from the main contract and accelerate this element using the accelerated open procedure under section 20(2)(a) of the Procurement Act 2023, with time limits set proportionately in accordance with section 54 (Time limits). The remainder of the contract will be procured using the standard open procedure as set out in section 20(2)(a). Any decision to split or accelerate the procurement will be made proportionately and in compliance with the Act.