← Back to opportunities

NSSL  Continuation of satellite airtime service to BFMC Cutters and CPVs

Home Office

Buyer Contact Info

Buyer Name: Home Office

Buyer Address: 2 Marsham Street, London, UKI32, SW1P 4DF, United Kingdom

Contact Email: name@homeoffice.gov.uk

Status
complete
Procedure
direct
Value
20000.0 GBP
Published
14 Aug 2025, 12:09
Deadline
n/a
Contract Start
31 Aug 2025, 23:00
Contract End
31 Mar 2026, 22:59
Category
n/a
CPV
63726600 - Ship-operating services
Region
n/a
Awarded To
NSSL Global
Official Source
Open Find a Tender

Description

Each cutter’s GMDSS suite is dependent on subscription-based satellite airtime to function. The currently installed equipment is fully integrated into the vessels’ systems and operates exclusively on the Inmarsat network, for which NSSL Global is the current and original supplier. These systems were installed during vessel construction under a Crown Commercial Service (CCS) contract previously held by HMRC and subsequently novated to the Home Office. The same standardised systems and supplier (NSSL Global) were used when the Cutter Patrol Vessels (CPVs) were later procured. As a result, NSSL Global remains the only provider capable of ensuring continued, uninterrupted service on the existing Inmarsat-based GMDSS equipment across the MARDIR fleet. While MARDIR intends to run an open competition to establish a new three-year airtime contract, a gap in service during this transition would render vessels non-compliant with international maritime regulations and unable to deploy, directly impacting Border Force maritime operations and Government priorities. Given the critical nature of the GMDSS capability and the technical constraint that airtime can only be provided by an authorised Inmarsat agent, a direct award to NSSL Global until 31 March 2026 is essential to: • Maintain legal compliance with SOLAS GMDSS carriage requirements; • Ensure the safety and operability of the cutter and CPV fleets; • Avoid operational disruption during the period required to run a compliant procurement. This direct award is therefore justified on the grounds of extreme urgency and technical compatibility, where changing suppliers in the interim would result in unacceptable safety, compliance, and operational risks.

Linked Documents

No linked documents found for this notice.

Opportunity Context

Lots

Lot 1 Status: complete

Raw Notice JSON

Expand raw payload
{
  "awards": [
    {
      "id": "1",
      "items": [
        {
          "additionalClassifications": [
            {
              "description": "Ship-operating services",
              "id": "63726600",
              "scheme": "CPV"
            }
          ],
          "id": "1",
          "relatedLot": "1"
        }
      ],
      "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
      "relatedLots": [
        "1"
      ],
      "status": "active",
      "suppliers": [
        {
          "id": "GB-FTS-157973",
          "name": "NSSL Global"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PWGC-6513-PQLZ",
    "name": "Home Office"
  },
  "contracts": [
    {
      "aboveThreshold": false,
      "awardID": "1",
      "dateSigned": "2025-07-22T00:00:00+01:00",
      "documents": [
        {
          "datePublished": "2025-08-14T13:09:12+01:00",
          "description": "Contract details notice on Find a Tender",
          "documentType": "contractNotice",
          "format": "text/html",
          "id": "048744-2025",
          "noticeType": "UK7",
          "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048744-2025"
        }
      ],
      "id": "1",
      "period": {
        "endDate": "2026-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
        "startDate": "2025-09-01T00:00:00+01:00"
      },
      "status": "active",
      "value": {
        "amount": 20000,
        "amountGross": 25000,
        "currency": "GBP"
      }
    }
  ],
  "date": "2025-08-14T13:09:12+01:00",
  "id": "048744-2025",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0587dd",
  "parties": [
    {
      "address": {
        "country": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "London",
        "postalCode": "SW1P 4DF",
        "region": "UKI32",
        "streetAddress": "2 Marsham Street"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "name@homeoffice.gov.uk"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "Public authority - central government",
            "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE"
          }
        ]
      },
      "id": "GB-PPON-PWGC-6513-PQLZ",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PWGC-6513-PQLZ",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "name": "Home Office",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ]
    },
    {
      "address": {
        "country": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Surrey,",
        "postalCode": "RH1 3DR",
        "region": "UKJ26",
        "streetAddress": "6 Wells Pl, Redhill,"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "clive.trott@nsslglobal.com"
      },
      "details": {
        "scale": "sme",
        "vcse": false
      },
      "id": "GB-FTS-157973",
      "name": "NSSL Global",
      "roles": [
        "supplier"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "tag": [
    "award",
    "contract"
  ],
  "tender": {
    "description": "Each cutter\u2019s GMDSS suite is dependent on subscription-based satellite airtime to function. The currently installed equipment is fully integrated into the vessels\u2019 systems and operates exclusively on the Inmarsat network, for which NSSL Global is the current and original supplier.\nThese systems were installed during vessel construction under a Crown Commercial Service (CCS) contract previously held by HMRC and subsequently novated to the Home Office. The same standardised systems and supplier (NSSL Global) were used when the Cutter Patrol Vessels (CPVs) were later procured. As a result, NSSL Global remains the only provider capable of ensuring continued, uninterrupted service on the existing Inmarsat-based GMDSS equipment across the MARDIR fleet.\nWhile MARDIR intends to run an open competition to establish a new three-year airtime contract, a gap in service during this transition would render vessels non-compliant with international maritime regulations and unable to deploy, directly impacting Border Force maritime operations and Government priorities.\nGiven the critical nature of the GMDSS capability and the technical constraint that airtime can only be provided by an authorised Inmarsat agent, a direct award to NSSL Global until 31 March 2026 is essential to:\n\u2022\tMaintain legal compliance with SOLAS GMDSS carriage requirements;\n\u2022\tEnsure the safety and operability of the cutter and CPV fleets;\n\u2022\tAvoid operational disruption during the period required to run a compliant procurement.\nThis direct award is therefore justified on the grounds of extreme urgency and technical compatibility, where changing suppliers in the interim would result in unacceptable safety, compliance, and operational risks.",
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0587dd",
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "scheme": "UKPGA",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
    },
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "status": "complete"
      }
    ],
    "procurementMethod": "direct",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Below threshold - without competition",
    "status": "complete",
    "title": "NSSL \u202fContinuation of satellite airtime service to BFMC Cutters and CPVs"
  }
}