CETUS Trials and Evaluation

{
  "awards": [
    {
      "aboveThreshold": true,
      "contractPeriod": {
        "endDate": "2026-05-29T23:59:59+01:00",
        "maxExtentDate": "2028-05-31T23:59:59+01:00",
        "startDate": "2025-06-30T00:00:00+01:00"
      },
      "documents": [
        {
          "datePublished": "2025-04-15T11:32:57+01:00",
          "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
          "documentType": "awardNotice",
          "format": "text/html",
          "id": "015189-2025",
          "noticeType": "UK5",
          "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015189-2025"
        }
      ],
      "hasOptions": true,
      "hasRenewal": true,
      "id": "1",
      "items": [
        {
          "additionalClassifications": [
            {
              "description": "Test and evaluation",
              "id": "73430000",
              "scheme": "CPV"
            }
          ],
          "id": "1",
          "relatedLot": "1"
        }
      ],
      "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
      "milestones": [
        {
          "dueDate": "2025-06-02T23:59:59+01:00",
          "id": "1",
          "status": "scheduled",
          "type": "futureSignatureDate"
        }
      ],
      "options": {
        "description": "It is intended that this contract will be directly awarded in accordance with section 41 and Schedule 5 paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 to M Subs Ltd. The contract is intended to be let for one year with the option for extension of up to two years, allowing the Authority sufficient time to understand the system and its use."
      },
      "relatedLots": [
        "1"
      ],
      "renewal": {
        "description": "It is intended that this contract will be directly awarded in accordance with section 41 and Schedule 5 paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 to M Subs Ltd. The contract is intended to be let for one year with the option for extension of up to two years, allowing the Authority sufficient time to understand the system and its use."
      },
      "status": "pending",
      "suppliers": [
        {
          "id": "GB-COH-05874602",
          "name": "M Subs Ltd"
        }
      ],
      "value": {
        "amount": 10500000,
        "amountGross": 12600000,
        "currency": "GBP"
      }
    }
  ],
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PBHX-4625-LVPD",
    "name": "Submarine Delivery Agency"
  },
  "date": "2025-04-15T11:32:57+01:00",
  "id": "015189-2025",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-050312",
  "parties": [
    {
      "address": {
        "country": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Bristol",
        "postalCode": "BS34 8JH",
        "region": "UKK12",
        "streetAddress": "Abbey Wood"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "nicole.hoult101@mod.gov.uk"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "Public authority - central government",
            "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE"
          }
        ],
        "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/submarine-delivery-agency"
      },
      "id": "GB-PPON-PBHX-4625-LVPD",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PBHX-4625-LVPD",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "name": "Submarine Delivery Agency",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ]
    },
    {
      "address": {
        "country": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Plymouth",
        "postalCode": "PL6 7FH",
        "region": "UKK41",
        "streetAddress": "42 Sisna Park Road"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "brett@msubs.com"
      },
      "details": {
        "scale": "sme",
        "url": "https://www.msubs.com/",
        "vcse": false
      },
      "id": "GB-COH-05874602",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "05874602",
        "scheme": "GB-COH"
      },
      "name": "M Subs Ltd",
      "roles": [
        "supplier"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "tag": [
    "award",
    "contract"
  ],
  "tender": {
    "description": "To undertake Trials and Evaluation (T\u0026E) to de-risk underwater autonomy and demonstrate military utility through payload tests. CETUS will be the UK\u2019s largest military Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), which is a new experimental vessel, originally intended to be Navy operated however now planned as Commercially operated within a GOCONO model. CETUS will support the Navy operation with deep maintenance and payload operation.",
    "documents": [
      {
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
        "id": "conflictOfInterest"
      }
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-050312",
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "scheme": "UKPGA",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
    },
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "status": "complete",
        "suitability": {
          "sme": true
        }
      }
    ],
    "procurementMethod": "direct",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
    "procurementMethodRationale": "The SDA require Trials and Evaluation (T\u0026E) to be undertaken using the CETUS vessel that is currently being developed by M Subs. T\u0026E is required to de-risk underwater autonomy and demonstrate military utility through payload testing.  As the sole designer and manufacturer of CETUS, M Subs hold all technical and proprietary knowledge of the vessel\u2019s form and function, and as such are uniquely positioned to safely operate the vessel in the execution of trials.\nInitial trials are a repeat of S201 trials XLAUV trials previously performed by M Subs on a smaller vessel within Project Manta), which M Subs delivered through the DASA Open call (competitive) contracting. Knowledge of these trials is advantageous in allowing these activities to be repeated consistently and efficiently. \nWhile there are alternative commercial operators of AUVs, none currently hold the necessary system knowledge to operate this unique system appropriately. Choosing an alternative supplier risks delay, increased cost, or higher system risks (e.g. of system damage) while this knowledge is gained. This would impede development of this capability, which the Authority has a military imperative to advance.\nOnce the initial trials have been undertaken there will be greater scope for the Authority to compete longer term operation of the system once it is better understood by all parties allowing a meaningful competition to be undertaken. Separate to the operation of CETUS, the Authority intends to competitively seek different payloads from the open market in the coming years, allowing a broad range of suppliers to participate in advancing military capability within this project.",
    "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
      {
        "id": "defenceSecurityOperational"
      }
    ],
    "specialRegime": [
      "defenceSecurity"
    ],
    "status": "complete",
    "title": "CETUS Trials and Evaluation"
  }
}