Ministry of Defence Contract Award: Oceanographic Data Collection
Summary
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a direct contract valued at £8 million (including VAT) to Teledyne Webb Research for the supply of up to 15 oceanographic gliders and supporting systems. The contract is for a period of two years, with an option to increase the value for additional equipment and support.
What changed
The UK Ministry of Defence has directly awarded a two-year contract worth up to £8 million (including VAT) to Teledyne Webb Research for the procurement of up to 15 oceanographic gliders and associated support systems. This direct award is justified on technical grounds, citing incompatibility issues with alternative suppliers under the Procurement Act 2023.
Procurement teams involved in defence contracts should note this direct award and the specific justification used. While this is a contract award notice, it highlights the application of the Procurement Act 2023 and the 'single supplier - technical reasons' justification. Companies supplying specialised defence equipment should be aware of such direct award mechanisms and the importance of technical compatibility in procurement processes.
What to do next
- Review contract details for potential impact on related defence procurement activities.
- Note the use of direct award justification based on technical incompatibility under the Procurement Act 2023.
Source document (simplified)
Contract
FMDG Persistent Oceanographic Data Collect
- Ministry of Defence UK7: Contract details notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types
Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-028810
Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05fb72 (view related notices)
Published 29 March 2026, 7:20pm
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Contents
Scope Contract 1. FMDG Persistent Oceanographic Data Collect Other information Procedure Supplier Contracting authority
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Reference
715738451
Description
The Royal Navy intends to award a 2-year contract to Teledyne Instruments Inc. d/b/a Teledyne Webb Research for up to 15 gliders and supporting systems.
Contract 1. FMDG Persistent Oceanographic Data Collect
Supplier
Contract value
- £6,666,666.67 excluding VAT
- £800,000,000 including VAT Above the relevant threshold
Date signed
16 March 2026
Contract dates
- 16 March 2026 to 31 March 2028
- 2 years, 16 days
Main procurement category
Goods
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Contract is for an initial value of £6,666,666 (excluding VAT)/£8,000,000 (including VAT) with option to increaase value to £10,000,000 (excluding VAT)/£12,000,000 (including VAT) to purchase additional equipment and/or support.
CPV classifications
Gliders
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Key performance indicators
| Name | Description | Reporting frequency |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Delivery of equipment within agreed timescales | Number of days delivered after agreed date | 1 months |
| Equipment functional on delivery | Number of items which are not fully functional on delivery | 1 months |
| Support provided when required | Number of instances of required support not being provided | 3 months |
Signed contract documents
715738451 Contract Redacted.pdf
Contract For Transparency
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Special regime
Defence and security
Direct award justification
Single supplier - technical reasons
The Royal Navy intends to award a 2-year contract to Teledyne Instruments Inc. d/b/a Teledyne Webb Research for up to 15 gliders and supporting systems. This approach is lawful under Schedule 5, paragraphs 6 and 7 of the Procurement Act 2023, as competition is absent for technical reasons and a change in supplier would result in incompatibility and disproportionate technical difficulties.
Compatibility Context: Teledyne is the original equipment manufacturer and sole holder of proprietary design and integration protocols for the Royal Navy’s existing glider fleet (nine Teledyne Slocum Gliders). These gliders are integrated into MOD’s underwater battlespace architecture, including command-and-control systems and secure data exchange with strategic partners.
Disproportionate Technical Difficulties:
• Interoperability: Alternative gliders may fail to meet NATO-standard interoperability and encryption requirements, creating vulnerabilities in classified mission data exchange.
• Safety Risks. Currently only Teledyne Gliders have a safety Case for Royal Navy Operations. New gliders will require new safety policy and permissions.
• Operational Delays: Integration with existing systems would require extensive re-engineering and validation, delaying capability potentially up to 12–18 months.
• Cost Impact: Additional costs for bespoke middleware, retraining, support, and duplicating spares inventory would exceed the contract value. Note: RN has a funded two year sole Teledyne Glider Support Contract. A different glider contract will require additional funds for support and interoperability provision. Not scoped currently.
• Mission Continuity: Introducing a second platform would double logistic complexity and increase failure points during deployments.
These difficulties are disproportionate because they would compromise safety, delay delivery, and impose costs far beyond the contract value, with no operational benefit. Teledyne remains the only supplier able to guarantee seamless interoperability, security compliance, and mission readiness into the Current RN Glider Fleet.
Supplier
Teledyne Webb Research, a Business Unit of Teledyne Instruments, Inc
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVLD-7113-RTZD 49 Edgerton Drive
North Falmouth
MA 02556
United States
Email: arnar.steingrimsson@teledyne.com
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Contract 1. FMDG Persistent Oceanographic Data Collect
Contracting authority
Ministry of Defence
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHVX-4316-ZVGZ Navy Commercial, NCHQ, Whale Island
Portsmouth
PO2 8BY
United Kingdom
Email: lee.culshaw100@mod.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
Region: UKJ31 - Portsmouth
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
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